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`Seek judicial remedy to ensure powers for Assembly Secretariat'

By Our Staff Reporter

Pondicherry April 29. The Deputy Speaker, A. V. Subramanian, said a judicial remedy could be sought to ensure full-fledged powers for the Assembly Secretariat.

Presiding over certain part of the day's proceedings in the House, Mr. Subramanian said a writ petition could be filed in the court to establish the claim that the Assembly Secretariat was a separate entity and that its powers and privileges could not be obstructed. He also referred to the outcome of such a writ in respect of another department.

The Speaker, M. D. R. Ramachandran, who returned to the House after a few minutes, chaired the proceedings and listened to the points made by the Congress legislator, R. Kamalakannan. Mr. Kamalakannan said the Secretariat now lacked full powers and the staff were all stagnating in the posts without any push in their career. The watch and ward staff were among those facing obstacles in progress in their career.

He said he would be happy if the Ministers did their homework and got themselves acquainted with full details of subjects on which members were raising questions. He said the questions were presented at least 15 days in advance, but quite often replies given left much to be desired. The Ministers were only heard telling the House that they would look into the suggestions or get details later.

When he kept talking about the lack of powers for the Assembly Secretariat, the Speaker told him that he had sent to the General Administration Department (GAD) files for rectification of certain shortcomings in his own office. He said as long as the tie-up continued with the GAD, this problem of delay in having the matters settled would continue. He said even when he had written for return of certain files he had put to the GAD earlier, he was yet to get back them.

`Revise priests' salaries'

A. Anbalagan (AIADMK) has urged the Government to revise upward the wages paid to temple priests and `poojaris'.

Participating in a debate on district administration, legislature, agriculture and a few other departments in the Assembly , Mr. Anbazhagan said the `Annadhanam' scheme operated by the Tamil Nadu Government should be emulated by the Pondicherry Administration in view of its significance and practical relevance.

He said the administration should also safeguard property belonging to the Hindu religious institutions. Mr. Anbalagan said there should be error-free voter lists. Before finalising such a satisfactory document, how could there be any plan to hold civic polls, he asked.

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• `Seek judicial remedy to ensure powers for Assembly Secretariat'

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