The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has annulled the suspension of three Tasmac salesmen—M Mayakannan, S Murugan, and V Ramasamy—who were suspended in August 2022 after speaking to the media about alleged corruption within the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (Tasmac).Justice B Pugalendhi, leading the bench, observed that the available documents indicated systemic issues within Tasmac. He emphasized that as a government-run entity aimed at preventing casualties from illicit liquor, Tasmac should be free from corruption. The judge noted that the employees’ complaints were not adequately addressed, leading them to express their grievances publicly.
The trio had filed a petition with the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC), alleging that Rajeswari, then district manager of Tasmac in Madurai South, colluded with supervisor Selvam to collect monthly bribes ranging from ₹3,000 to ₹5,000 from each shop under her control. They also claimed that Rajeswari retained employees who violated Tasmac’s directives and demanded ₹30,000 for transfers, punishing those who objected.
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Although an inquiry was initiated based on their petition in May 2022, no subsequent action was taken, prompting the employees to approach the media.
The court’s decision not only reinstates the suspended employees but also brings attention to the need for transparency and accountability within Tasmac’s operations.