Chief Secretary Chetan B.Sanghi now has been posted with the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD).
Mr. Sanghi was transferred in December last and posted as Joint-Secretary of the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development in New Delhi. As the Puducherry government was keen on retaining the officer for preparing the annual budget, he was not relieved immediately.
Whereas in the first week of February, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs sent a letter stating that in case no reply was received within 15 days of the receipt of the letter, it would be presumed that the officer would not be relieved by the Cadre Controlling Authority. The department would accordingly go ahead with the cancellation of appointment of the officer and notify the debarment with its attendant consequences.
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In yet another twist to the transfer, an order of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs dated April 8 said, “The joint cadre authority of AGMU (Arunachal Pradesh–Goa–Mizoram–Union Territories) cadre approved the transfer and posting of the IAS officer from Puducherry to GNCTD with immediate effect.” However, the order said he would continue in Puducherry till new incumbent joins duty.
Budget preparation ahead
It seems that the Opposition’s strong view touched the conscience of those in power. Recently, Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly and former Chief Minister V. Vaithilingam complained to President Pranab Mukherjee on the manner in which the business in Legislative Assembly was being conducted. He also sought to declare the business of passing the Vote-on-Account by the Puducherry Legislative Assembly null and void. Mr. Vaithilingam also requested the President to order the Legislative Assembly to reassemble and transact the business for the regular budget with the available funds.
Immediately on the next day, the ruling All India NR Congress government reconvened the Legislative Assembly to present the annual budget for 2015-16 . The official machinery is now busy with the preparation of the budget.
Dismal state of heritage building
There are posters announcing marriage, a notice from the Elections Department and various other flyers on the gates of this building. To add to the defacement, there is graffiti on the compound wall too. A first-time visitor is unlikely to recognise this as one of Puducherry’s finest heritage buildings. Vacated in the aftermath of the Mairie building’s collapse in November, along with two other schools owing to safety concerns, the Calve College Government Higher Secondary School (College Calve Enseignement Secondaire) on Mission Street paints a sorry picture. A mix of Indian and colonial styles, the school founded in 1875 and named after Calvé Souprayachettiar (Kalavai Subburaya Chettiyar), boasts of renowned alumni such as V. Subbiah and M.O.H. Farook. Very little of all this is evident though to anyone passing by.
Reporting by R.Sivaraman,Annie Philip