Puducherry Lt.Governor flays Chief Secretary; he defends his action

Chennai, April 5 (IANS) Puducherry Lt. Governor Kiran Bedi on Wednesday came down heavily on Chief Secretary Manoj Parida, describing his official conduct in a matter as "immature, unprofessional and irregular".

However, the senior bureacrat defended his actions, obviously in connection with the transfer of the Puducherry Municipal Commissioner, and said the Lt. Governor is "not aware of rules".

In a tweet, Bedi said: "The irresponsible and immature conduct of the Chief Secretary has brought huge anguish and rift in the governance of Puducherry."

In another tweet, she said the Chief Secretary's role was unprofessional and irregular in hounding an officer despite directions and rules.

While her tweets are on her Twitter handle, a message below said "this tweet is unavailable".

In response, Parida told IANS on phone: "I have full competence to give additional charge to an official. The Chief Secretary has full powers to give additional charge. I have done that several times. She is not aware of the rules."

He said there was a direction from the Puducherry assembly Speaker on the matter.

"Some officer is kept out temporarily. The officer may be brought back after a week. Why is she getting worked up?" Parida said.

He wondered why Bedi is taking on officials in the Union Territory.

Major political parties in Puducherry have teamed up against Bedi, a former Indian Police Service officer, and want her recall by the Centre.

The latest spat is part of the battle for supremacy between elected Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy and Bedi over the transfer of Puducherry Municipal Commissioner R. Chandrasekaran.

The issue cropped up when Chandrasekaran held a function on Swachh Bharat Mission without inviting a local legislator, who in turn sought action against the official.

The Chief Secretary, in an order dated March 30, gave the additional charge of Municipal Commissioner to S. Ganesan, Director of Arts and Culture.

The order specified that Chandrasekaran will report to the Chief Secretary for further posting.

But Bedi, quoting rules, said only the Lt. Governor has the powers to transfer officials and reinstated Chandrasekaran on the post after cancellation of the transfer orders.