Chennai: The angst of the over 3.5 lakh sacked Tamil Nadu government employees continued for the second day also, as the government was yet to take a decision on revoking their dismissal orders but went ahead with recruiting freshers to fill up the vacancies.

The officials did not allow the employees, who had appealed against their marching orders, on the plea that the government was yet to decide on the issue.

The government on July 15 recruited over 100 persons to be posted as assistants in the state secretariat, which had been working with the depleted staff as most of the employees had been dismissed.

The government had not so far responded to the employees' association plea for revoking the dismissals, even as the rumours were agog that the government might reduce the retirement age from 58 to 55 further accentuating the mental agony of the staff.

The government offices in the state were functioning with depleted staff strength, due to the dismissals of the staff members for their participation in the strike, which was called off on July 12.

The government may not decide on revocation of the dismissals on July 16 also as the Chief Minister Jayalalithaa would be away at Namakkal.

The employees' organisations were expected to meet on July 15 night to chalk out the future course of action, with the government keeping mum on their demand.

PTI