Tamil Nadu Registration Department Grapples with Severe Staffing Shortage
The registration department in Tamil Nadu is facing a critical staffing crisis, with employees reporting that approximately half of the sanctioned posts across the state remain vacant. This significant shortfall has forced junior staff members to take on the responsibilities of senior positions, disrupting the normal functioning of sub-registrar and district offices.
Statewide Protests Highlight Broader Demands
This staffing issue is part of a larger set of grievances raised by registration department employees, who have initiated a statewide protest scheduled from January 21 to 30. Following this, a symbolic hunger protest is planned in Chennai on January 31, underscoring the urgency of their demands.
According to employees' associations, there are 550 sub-registrar offices throughout Tamil Nadu. Alarmingly, nearly half of these offices are currently operating under in-charge arrangements. An official explained, "In many offices, junior assistants or assistants are placed in charge of sub-registrar posts, a practice that has become routine due to the persistent vacancies."
Impact on Workload and Service Delivery
Representatives from the employees' side have highlighted that the staff shortage has led to increased workloads, heightened accountability risks, and elevated stress levels among the existing personnel. They have issued warnings that continued reliance on in-charge and deputation arrangements could severely impact service delivery in registration offices. These offices are crucial for handling property registrations and generating substantial revenue for the state government.
In addition to addressing the vacancy crisis, the employees have put forth several other key demands:
- Withdrawal of termination and disciplinary actions against staff members.
- Filling of vacancies at all levels within the department.
- Cancellation of long-distance and prolonged transfers, with postings to be made according to established norms and considering employee requests.
The ongoing protests and planned hunger strike in Chennai reflect the growing frustration among registration department employees, who are calling for immediate action to resolve these systemic issues and ensure efficient public service delivery.
