AINRC demands Assembly session to discuss Statehood as differences emerge between L-G and CM
A delegation led by Minister for Public Works K. Lakshminarayanan on Wednesday met Speaker R. Selvam and submitted a representation requesting the convening of the Assembly at the earliest.
'We have urged the Speaker to convene the Assembly and discuss the Statehood issue before taking a final call on the future course of action,' a legislator, who was part of the delegation told The Hindu. The legislators belonging to the BJP were not part of the delegation.
The immediate trigger for the AINRC to raise the Statehood issue was the order issued by Under Secretary to Government (Health) S. Murugesan on Tuesday appointing S. Sevvel, Specialist (Senior Administrative Grade) as Director of Health and Family Welfare Services.
After the order came out, Chief Minister had informed Speaker R. Selvam, Home Minister A. Namassivayam (both representing the BJP) that Mr. Sevvel was not his (Mr. Rangasamy also holds the Health portfolio) choice for the post of Director of Health and Family Welfare Services. He had told his MLAs that he was unhappy over his nominee being overlooked by Lieutenant Governor K. Kailashnathan and bureaucrats, party sources said.
'We held a series of meetings at the Chief Minister's residence and the Assembly after the appointment of the new Health Director. Since an elected Chief Minister has got no right to choose the officer he wants, we have decided to fight for Statehood vigorously as the latest development related to the appointment of the Health Director showed where the power really lies,' said a legislator.
In a related development, Independent legislator Nehru alias Kuppusamy held a protest in front of the Assembly highlighting lacunae in the administration due to differences between the Lieutenant Governor and the Chief Minister.
New Health Director takes charge
Amidst the developments in the Assembly, Dr. Sevvel took charge as the Director of Health Department. Prior to this, he was holding the charge of Medical Superintendent of Indira Gandhi Government General Hospital since September 2021.
A specialist grade senior surgeon, Dr. Sevvel comes with vast experience after being the Head, Department of Surgery, Chief of government pharmacy and stand-in Medical Superintendent of GH, Karaikal during 2005-09. In addition to his MBBS degree and postgraduation from Jipmer, he holds an MBA in Hospital Administration from BITS Pilani and has several other certification programmes to his credit from various institutes, including IIM-Calcutta.
According to a senior official, the appointment was based on all prescribed rules, including the Central Health Services Rules 2014 and amendment rules of 2019. 'The appointment was done by selection-cum-seniority from the panel of specialist sub-cadre alone. It was based on well-established rules and procedures,' the official told The Hindu.
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