HC seeks governments response on Delhi Speaker's plea

The Delhi High Court on Friday issued notice to the central and city government on a plea of Delhi Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel challenging the then Lt Governor's order repatriating a bureaucrat.

Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva, hearing the plea, said such issues relating to the tussle over posting of a central government official in Delhi should be "resolved amicably without coming to the court".

The then Lt Governor Najeeb Jung had ordered to repatriate the Delhi Assembly Secretary Prasanna Kumar Suryadevara, an officer belonging to Newsreader-cum-Translator (Telugu) cadre, to the All India Radio (AIR), his parent organisation.

Goel, however, had refused to relieve the officer saying his decision was solely aimed at "upholding the Constitution". The Speaker had sought his extension for another two more years, but AIR turned it down and thereafter, the Lt Governor ordered his repatriation.

Suryadevara has served in the office of the Lok Sabha Speaker for five years and that of the Rajya Sabha Chairman for over six years. He was appointed to the post of Delhi Assembly secretary in July 2015 for a year, on expiry ofwhich AIR had directed him to return.

The court would hear the plea next on January 17 and also sought Suryadevara's reply on the plea.

--IANS

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