The Delhi High Court was o Tuesday informed that the Delhi Assembly Secretary, whose repatriation to his parent department — the All India Radio (AIR) — had become a contentious issue between the Speaker and the lieutenant Governor, has been sent back with effect from February 26.
The development was communicated to the High Court on behalf of Speaker Ram Niwas Goel, who had been opposing the repatriation of House secretary Prasanna Kumar Suryadevara even though then lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung had ordered that he be sent back to AIR.
The counsel for Goel also told the court that since Suryadevara has been repatriated, the Speaker was not pressing the plea challenging the l-G's decision to send him back.
In view of the submission made on behalf of the Speaker, Justice Rajiv Shakdher dismissed the matter as not pressed. According to the written instructions given to the lawyer for the Assembly, Goel had received a communication from the Speaker of Andhra Pradesh legislative Assembly requesting him to spare Suryadevara for them.
Besides this, the written instruction also said Suryadevara told Goel that his parent department has asked him in writing to return so that the proposal of deputing him to the Andhra Pradesh assembly could be considered.
"In view of the request of the Speaker of a sister legislature and keeping in view the future career prospects of the officer concerned in legislative arena, the Speaker (Goel), with the hope and belief that Suryadevara will not be further harassed by his parent department for simply following the instructions of the Speaker and the (Delhi) legislative Assembly, reluctantly agreed to relieve Suryadevara from his duties with effect from February 26, 2018.
"Accordingly, Prasanna Kumar Suryadevara stood relieved from the position of Secretary, legislative Assembly, NCT of Delhi," the court was informed by the lawyer. The lawyer for the l-G, meanwhile, told the court that since Suryadevara joined his parent department, he has faced disciplinary action there.