Speaker relieves missing Assembly Secretary

NEW DELHI: A day ahead of the commencement of the Budget session of Delhi Assembly, Delhi Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel issued a statement that Assembly Secretary Prasanna Kumar Suryadevara has been relieved from the position, following the latter's sudden and mysterious disappearance from his office since March 10.

Goel on Thursday directed that C Velmurugan, Joint Secretary of Delhi Assembly, will officiate as Secretary till further orders.

No official comments have yet been made over Suryadevara's whereabouts.

Sources in Delhi Assembly said that Suryadevara is on leave and likely to report back to Prasar Bharati, from where he had come on deputation in July 2016.

According to sources in Delhi Secretariat, Suryadevara is likely to join as Secretary in Telangana Secretariat.

Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly Vijender Gupta had earlier said, "Suryadevara's continuation had become a bone of contention among the Centre, Assembly Speaker, Prasar Bharti and the then Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung.

“When he was repatriated to his parent office by the Centre, the Assembly continued to retain him, despite the LG'S order on the contrary," Gupta had further said.

Reacting to Gupta's press statement, Speaker Goel had said the Assembly's secretary is a very "esteemed post", and he should not make "baseless allegations".

Before moving to the Delhi Assembly, Suryadevara had served in the Lok Sabha for five years and the Rajya Sabha for over six years