S BHUVANESWARI Vs. GOVERNMENT OF PUDUCHERRY

JUDGEMENT

(1.) As the common question of law and facts are involved in both the writ petitions, common order is being passed. For the sake of brevity, facts have been taken from W.P.No.25108 of 2010.

(2.) The petitioner is aggrieved by the order dated 09.09.2010 vide which the respondent No.3 Thiru K.Mohan was declared as "Head of Office" in respect of Legislative Assembly Secretariat. The impugned order reads as under: "No.35/SECY/PA/LAS/2010 GOVERNMENT OF PUDHCHERRY LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY SECRETARIAT Puducherry, dated 9th September, 2010 Sub: Declaration of Head of Office Orders Issued. The duties attached to the post of Editor of Debates have increased substantially over the years. As a result, the meetings of various Legislature Committees particularly of Public Accounts Committee and Estimate Committee could not be held as often as required and also the other works relating to Legislature matters such as publication of 'Official Reports' suffer. With a view to strengthen the Committee system and to speed up the process of publication of Official Reports it has been decided to withdraw the powers of Head of Office now with the Editor of Debates and to delegate it to one of the Tamil Reporters. 2. Accordingly, under rule 14 of the Delegation of Financial Power Rules 1978, Thiru K.Mohan, Tamil Reporter is declared as Head of Office in respect of Legislative Assembly Secretariat. He will also be the Controlling Officer under SR 191 for the purpose of countersigning T.A. Bills, MR bills, etc. in respect of Gr.C and D staff of Legislative Assembly secretariat. As already said in the preceding paragraph, the power of Head of office now conferred on the Editor of Debates is withdrawn.

(3.) This order will come into force with immediate effect.