Kagodu bats for an outsider' as Assembly secretary, but staff lobby for an insider'

Bengaluru: The insider-outsider bug seem to have bitten the legislature secretariat too, with Assembly Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa considering appointing a senior district judge to the post of Assembly secretary, which will fall vacant after incumbent secretary, S.Y. Kulageri retires on February 29.

It is reliably learnt that Mr Thimmappa is hesitant to promote anyone from the Legislature Secretariat especially after the embarrassing  episode involving Justice Subhash B. Adi. Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, a senior bureaucrat observed that Mr Thimmappa felt such a post should only be occupied by a person well versed in legal issues.

According to the source, Mr Thimmappa was upset with his existing team of officers who he thought, had misguided him on the issue of moving an impeachment motion involving Upalokayukta, Justice Subhash Adi last year.
“The Speaker has powers to appoint a senior district judge to this post. His predecessors – K.R. Pete Krishna had appointed Robinson D’ Souza during the tenure of the Janata Dal (Secular)-Bharatiya Janata Party coalition government and H.M. Bharateesh was appointed when Jagadish Shettar became Speaker during the Bharatiya Janata Party rule,” the source added.

Upset over the development, several employees in the Assembly secretariat have started lobbying hard to convince Mr Thimmappa that the post needs to be filled from the bureaucracy itself, as an “outsider” might not be able to understand the nuances of functioning of the legislature. “Whoever occupies the position will be qualified for it. But he or she may not know much about the sensibilities required while dealing with legislators. Apart from this,  eight to ten staff members get promotions automatically if one of them is promoted, so it would not be right on  the part of the Speaker to think of installing an outsider in the post,” the source contended.

Meanwhile, sources said Mr Thimmappa has convened a meeting of the Special Board comprising Legislative Council chairman, D.H. Shankar Murthy, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Law and Parliamentary Affairs minister, T.B. Jayachandra to take a final call on this matter. The meeting is likely to take place in a day or two.

After incumbent Assembly secretary S.Y. Kumlageri retires on Feb. 29, automatically, Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah's OSD Mirza Mehdi qualifies for the post based on seniority. But his chances of returning to his department look bleak as he is reportedly “happy” to be with the Chief Minister.