C O M M O N O R D E R

When these matters were taken up today, Mr.P.Kumaresan, learned Additional Advocate General appearing for the respondents 1, 3 & 4 submitted that similar such relief claimed by the similarly placed persons like petitioners have been dismissed by this Court in W.P.Nos.18749 & 30285 of 2022 dated 21.09.2023. But on perusal of the order, it is seen that the petitioner involved in the above Writ Petition has been appointed as a Designated Officer on deputation basis under Section 36 of Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

2. Mr.K.Srinivasa Murthy, learned counsel for the petitioners submitted that the petitioners have been appointed as Food Safety Officers but not on deputation basis. The only parameter for consideration is all those Sanitary Inspectors who had opted to be appointed as Food Safety Officers on deputation / transfer and who did not exercise their lien within the prescribed time limit are deemed to be the Officers of the respondents'

Food Safety Department and cannot be reverted back to the local bodies.

3. In fact, an order has been passed by the Madurai Bench of this Court in W.P.(MD)No.15073 of 2018 dated 26.09.2022 by observing that the Food Safety O