L-G may review his order to relieve House secretary: Delhi HC

New Delhi: In the never ending tussle between the lieutenant-governor and the Delhi government, the judiciary gave yet another set back to the Delhi government and Assembly Speaker. On Friday, the Delhi high court left it to the L-G to decide whether or not to review his order relieving Delhi Assembly secretary P.K. Suryadevara, who is in the middle of a tug-of-war between the Speaker and the Prasar Bharati over his posting. The court had earlier also observed that the Assembly Speaker approaching the court is one of a kind situation. Since the L-G will have the last say, the court said it will wait for the L-G to take a call.

Without giving directions, the court gave a free hand to the lieutenant-governor, “Let the L-G have a re-look at his order, but not as a direction from this court. Place it before him. If he decides not to review it, then we will take it up,” Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva told Delhi government standing counsel Rahul Mehra.

While agreeing to place the matter before L-G Anil Baijal, Mr Mehra said the decision to appoint the officer, Prasanna Kumar Suryadevara, and to extend his deputation, was taken after a discussion between the chief minister and Speaker.

While deferring the matter to February 2, the court said it will not injunct or interfere in the disciplinary proceeding against the official on account of his newspaper article —- “Neither Office, Nor Profit” — saying, “on that you (official) take your own remedies”.

The court decided to await the lieutenant-governor’s decision as the discussion between Speaker Ram Niwas Goel and the director general of All-India Radio, over posting of Mr Suryadevara, failed to arrive at solution to the impasse.

The meeting was held on the court’s suggestion to find an “amicable solution” to the issue. Mr Suryadevara has been one of the senior officials caught in the tussle between the AAP government and the Centre.

As per a letter handed over to the court during the hearing, a meeting was held on January 13 which concluded with DG AIR saying that “granting of extension or facilitating absorption can be considered after the enquiry has been concluded”.

After perusing the letter, the bench said, “you cannot keep extension conditional on that” and asked “what is the problem in granting an extension?”    The court also sympathised with Mr Suryadevara, saying “what would the poor officer do” as he was caught between the orders of the Speaker and the Prasar Bharti.