Pondy CM takes free rice issue to High Court

Chief Minister V Narayanasamy has challenged the order of the Union Home Ministry and Lt Governor Kiran Bedi in Madras High Court that cash be transferred directly to the bank account of beneficiaries instead of providing free rice here.

Talking to mediapersons on Friday, Narayanasamy said that he had moved the Madras High Court on providing free rice to the poor and the petition was admitted on Friday. The petition will come up for hearing next week, he added. He said it was a promise given by the Congress party in its election manifesto to provide 30 kgs of free rice and Union Civil Supplies Department had also agreed to provide rice for Puducherry.

But the Home ministry took different stance and directed to remit cash in the bank account of the beneficiaries instead of providing rice, the Chief Minister said. Narayanasamy said while Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh are providing rice, Puducherry is prevented to implement the same. He also pointed out that rural people in Puducherry and those from Yanam, also revolted against the order of the Lt Governor and demanded free rice.

On the issue of appointment of the State Election Commissioner (SEC) in Puducherry, the Chief Minister said that it is the legislative assembly to frame rules for the appointment.

But Bedi on her own framed a rule and gave an advertisement in newspapers for the appointment of SEC. The legislative assembly had declared it null and void and nominated retired IAS officer T Balakrishnan for the post and he is doing his work till date. Meanwhile, an advertisement appeared for the second time even though the Assembly had declared it as null and void and with Balakrishnan still holding the post.

Stating that no one could remove the SEC, Narayanasamy, said that it is a process like when a Judge is impeached. Wondering whether the Chief Election Commissioner or State Election Commissioners in different states are being appointed on the basis of advertisements, he said that the Lt Governor wanted to appoint Theevaneethi Das, her OSD for the post and that’s why she has taken all these efforts. Local Administration Minister A Namasivayam will move the Court against this, he added. On the issue of Congress legislator Dhanavelu from Bahour levelling charges that the Chief Minister lost his governing capacity and should resign, Narayanasamy said that his government had obtained the best governed State recognition from the Union government and that he do not want any certificate from the MLA.

He said the party high command was apprised of his action which would initiate appropriate action.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Malladi Krishna Rao who was also present, refuted the charges of Dhanavelu and said stock of medicines for the next three months is available with the Bahour Primary Health Centre (PHC).

He said that two Ambulances are there with six drivers. Some time back, Dhanavelu met him and asked him to transfer a driver from Bahour and appoint a person he recommend as a driver on contract had created this problem on Thursday, as his request was rejected, the Minister said. Rao also said that if the Lt Governor paid a visit to the PHC, she could understand the position.

It may be noted that Dhanavelu along with his supporters tried to picket the Bahour PHC yesterday when he charged that the Chief Minister had lost his governing power and medicines and Ambulance facilities were not available in the PHC.