more-in As bad as acid tests of loyalty every other day or being subjected to harangues from one boss for implementing the orders of the other can be, Government officers in Puducherry now seriously dread the prospects of the conflict between the Raj Nivas and the Congress government taking a heavy toll on their careers. The dispute between Lt. Governor Kiran Bedi, the titular head of the UT and Chief Minister V. Narayansamy, its political commander, over the boundaries of power in day-to-day governance has already claimed a few scapegoats and tarred reputations. “A sense of insecurity has gripped the administration, especially as anyone can be hauled over the coals for simply carrying out orders emanating from the Raj Nivas or the government,” an official said. Caught in the crossfire of the battle, one Pondicherry Civil Services Officer has been suspended, but later reinstated, and a Municipality Commissioner shunted out and along with a Raj Nivas official, is facing charges of contempt of the Assembly. Former Puducherry Municipality Commissioner R. Chandirasekaran, a regular for the Lt. Governor’s weekend cycling trips to inspect garbage pile-ups and distressed lakes and ponds, could never have imagined the wheels coming off his career on a question of allegiance. Contempt proceedings As an officer not always mindful of being politically correct, who had hurt many toes when he launched a drive against political hoardings during the previous regime, Mr. Chandirasekaran now faces contempt proceedings initiated by Puducherry Assembly Speaker V. Vaithilingam. On March 30, the Speaker directed the government to remove and put on compulsory wait the Commissioner until the Assembly Privileges Committee disposed of a complaint against the official by AIADMK (Amma) legislator A. Baskar---the MLA’s grouse was that his position as elected representative in Mudaliarpet constituency was being undermined by the then Commissioner who “only took orders only from the Lt. Governor.” Mr. Chandirasekaran, obviously on the counsel from the Raj Nivas, tried to defy the Assembly ruling and report for duty, and will now undergo contempt proceedings before the Privileges Committee. The Lt. Governor’s Secretary G. Theva Neethi Dhas is also facing contempt charges for “abetting R. Chandirasekaran to act against the rulings given by the Speaker.” For the Lt. Governor, what must have been infuriating was that all this transpired in spite of her direction to reinstate Mr. Chandirasekaran. Launching a fusillade against the government, Ms. Bedi had singled out Chief Secretary Manoj Parida for what she perceived as a violation of the Rules of Business of Government of Pondicherry, 1963. “There is no question of any violation of rules in this matter. Not implementing the Speaker’s order is tantamount to contempt of the House,” says Mr. Parida. “The Chief Secretary, who at the highest level, is accountable to the Ministry of Home Affairs, has full powers to give additional charge to any officer temporarily,” he said. It is also pointed out that though the issue had been flagged with the Ministry of Home Affairs, there has been no overruling of the Chief Secretary’s decision. Ms. Bedi has since raked up mounting PF default payment of employees’ share by PSUs, blamed the government for not responding to matters flagged by the Raj Nivas and alleged inaction on referred Vigilance inquiries, while the government hit back denying the claims. In the political landscape, the Opposition, barring the AINRC and BJP, has closed ranks against the alleged attempts by the Lt. Governor to undermine the legislature, and even decided on sending an all-party delegation to Delhi to seek Ms. Bedi’s recall. However, in the likelihood of a protracted faceoff causing a wobble or two for the Congress government, the temptation to make political capital would be hard to resist in the Opposition ranks.

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