Face2News/Chandigarh
A fresh controversy has surfaced ahead of the one-day special session of the Haryana Legislative Assembly scheduled for Monday, April 27, with serious legal questions being raised over the appointment of its Secretary.
Even after more than nine months, concerns remain unresolved regarding the posting of a 2016-batch Haryana Civil Services (Executive Branch) – HCS officer, Rajiv Prasad, as Secretary of the Assembly—an appointment that, legal experts argue, may lack statutory backing under existing rules.
The issue has been reignited by an Advocate and legislative affairs expert Hemant Kumar, who has once again written to key constitutional and administrative authorities, including Governor Ashim Kumar Ghosh, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, Haryana Assembly Speaker Harvinder Kalyan, Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi & others
urging them to address what he describes as a “legal vacuum” surrounding the appointment.
Rules vs Reality
According to Hemant, the crux of the issue lies in the Haryana Legislative Assembly Secretariat Service Rules 1981, which, in their current form, do not recognize HCS officers as eligible for the post of Assembly Secretary.
“The rules clearly outline qualifications and modes of appointment—direct recruitment, promotion, transfer, or deputation—but nowhere do they include Haryana Civil Service officers,” the Advocate pointed out.
Call for Amendment
Legal opinion suggests that unless the 1981 Rules are formally amended to include HCS officers, the appointment may not withstand legal scrutiny.
“Recognition can only be achieved through a proper amendment to the rules,” Hemant emphasized, adding that the matter has been repeatedly flagged since July 2025, when the Personnel Department appointed Rajiv Prasad to the post.
Silent Anomaly Raises Eyebrows
In a curious development, sources indicate that Rajiv Prasad has reportedly refrained from using the “HCS” designation alongside his name during his tenure—fueling speculation that even the incumbent may be aware of the ambiguity surrounding his appointment.
Timing Raises Stakes
The controversy gains further significance as the Assembly prepares to take up key legislative business during the special session, including the proposed Haryana Clerical (Recruitment and Conditions of Service) Bill, 2026.
With constitutional authorities now formally apprised of the issue, all eyes are on whether the state government will move to amend the rules or clarify its legal position—before the matter potentially escalates into a judicial challenge.
