Kiran Bedi, Narayanasamy lock horns over senior official's transfer

Puducherry [India], Apr 5 (ANI): A tussle of power is underway in Puducherry between Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi and the Congress Government headed by V. Narayanasamy over the transfer of a senior civil service official. "Pondicherry being a union territory, the service matters are squarely within the domain of the Lieutenant Governor as administrator. I do transfers and postings all the time. But this is a unique thing. I was away for a short tour to Delhi when the Chief Secretary issued a transfer order of Municipal Commissioner Mr Chandresekharan," Bedi told ANI. "When I found that he issued the order, I approached the Union Home Secretary Mr Rajiv Mehrishi and brought this order to his notice. Mr. Mehrishi immediately called the Chief Secretary and said why you have issued a transfer order without the file being produced before the Lieutenant Governor. I don't know what he said. The point is he committed a violation," she added. Bedi further stated that she declared the order invalid after discussion with the Union Home Secretary. "Whether the Chief Secretary is under pressure from the political masters, the question is whatever the pressure...file ought to have gone through me and particularly when I was available in next one-and-a-half day. So, I have asked for a departmental action to be taken against the Chief Secretary of Puducherry because he has committed a serious grave violation of rules and caused so much of disruption," she said. The Lieutenant Governor alleged that the Chief Secretary has played a very destructive and negative role, which is contrary to the professional norms. A delegation of Congress leaders will be meeting President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to apprise them of the political situation arising out of rejection of transfer of a senior civil service official by Bedi. (ANI)