Prasar Bharati has turned down Delhi Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel’s request to continue the services of Prasanna Kumar Suryadevara as Vidhan Sabha Secretary on a permanent basis.
Suryadevara, newsreader-cum-translator with the All India Radio, was on July 17 last year appointed the Vidhan Sabha secretary for a period of one year. In a letter to deputy secretary (services) Anupma Chakravorty, AIR's Deputy Director (Administration) V Sripathi said there has been no recruitment for years in the AIR which has led to acute shortage of the staff in all cadres, particularly in the cadre of the newsreader-cum-translator.
He said since the AIR was in dire need of experienced professionals like Suryadevara, the directorate has expressed its inability to concur with the desire of the Speaker for the absorption of the said officer.
Sripathi said Suryadevara’s deputation has already elapsed on July 16 and requested that the officer be relieved and repatriated immediately with the directions to report to the Directorate General of the AIR.
On June 21, the Assembly Speaker had requested the Delhi Government that Suryadevara be posted on a permanent basis as the Vidhan Sabha secretary. Deputy Secretary (Services) Anupama Chakravorty had conveyed the Speaker's request to the AIR DG.
Prior to Suryadevara, the post was held by DANICS officer PR Meena, who was later transferred to the Delhi Government. Goel had chosen Suryadevara for this assignment to aid and assist him in running the House and its Secretariat.
Before moving to the Delhi Assembly, Suryadevara served the lok Sabha for five years and the Rajya Sabha for more than six years.