Goel direct his officers to ignore LG order on Assly Secretary

In the wake of 'tussle' over repatriation order of Delhi Assembly Secretary Prasanna Kumar Suryadevara by Lt Governor, Speaker Ram Niwas Goel has directed all officer of his Secretariat to "ignore" orders issued by anyone other than him relating to Suryadevara.

Earlier this week, Services Department of Delhi Government had issued an order to repatriate the Assembly Secretary to his parent organization - Prasar Bharti - on the directives of Lt Governor Najeeb Jung.

However, Goel in his letter to LG refused to relieve the officer, saying that he has directed Suryadevara to continue to discharge his duties as Assembly Secretary as his decision was solely aimed at "upholding the Constitution".
 

In an order issued by Goel's Secretary, Speaker's office said, "Speaker held that the order dated August 29 issued by the Services Department of GNCT of Delhi is invalid as it amounts to encroaching into powers of the legislature for which he (Goel) is the sole custodian and such as the order need not to be taken cognisance of."

"All the officers and staff of this Secretariat of the Legislative Assembly are hereby directed by Speaker to ignore orders issued/to be issued by anyone other than Speaker regarding the position of Secretary as Speaker is of the considered view that it is Constitutionally his sole prerogative."

After LG repatriated order of Suryadevara, Goel had said, ""As he is holding Constitutional post, LG cannot repatriate the Assembly Secretary without his concurrence.