Delhi Assembly Speaker talks tough on repatriation of Suryadevara

Delhi Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel on Friday said that he would write to the Lok Sabha Speaker and Rajya Sabha’s deputy Speaker and Information and Broadcasting Ministry over transfer of senior officer Prasanna Kumar Suryadevara and would seek permission to retain him in the Delhi government. 

Allowing discussion on the transfer order of Suryadevara, the Speaker announced in the House of Delhi Assembly’s one-day special session, that Suryadevara is continuing to discharge his duties as Secretary in this Assembly purely under his directions and any attempt to frustrate his directions will not be tolerated.

“The transfer order issued to him by Prasar Bharti would be taken up with Speakers of other state Assemblies,” said Goel adding that this House gave him the solemn responsibility of upholding the dignity and Constitutionally guaranteed independence of this House which reflects sovereign will of the people. “And he can not fail this House and the people who elected this House,” he said. It would be pertinent to mention that this was the first time that the House of Delhi Assembly debated on the transfer order of its secretary since its inception in 1993.

Earlier, hardening its stand on the extended deputation of its officer Prasanna Kumar Suryadevara as the Delhi Assembly Secretary, Prasar Bharati had directed him to join his parent organisation immediately failing which he will be treated to be on “unauthorised absence”. Prasar Bharati then in an office memorandum issued on September 2 said: “You (Suryadevara) have been relieved from Govt of NCTD Delhi and repatriated with directions to report to DG, Air. However, you have not reported for duty to DG, AIR till date.” “You are hereby directed to report for duty immediately failing which you will be treated on unauthorised absence,” it said.