Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Governor T.V. Rajeshwar is seeking legal opinion on the Allahabad High Court's rap cancelling all orders of the Raj Bhavan secretariat pertaining to his additional legal adviser.

A senior officer the secretariat, whom the Governor has dispatched to New Delhi for seeking legal remedy, said on condition of anonymity that the Full Bench's order was being studied in detail.

The face-off between the Raj Bhavan and the court was a fallout of the tussle over the continuation of Pradeep Dubey as additional legal adviser.

He had been holding the post for the past 12 years. Earlier this month, the court transferred him out of the Raj Bhavan. As the order was not complied with, the court placed Mr. Dubey under suspension.

However, Mr. Rajeshwar sent a letter to the court stating it was mandatory to seek the Governor's concurrence on the appointment and transfer of officials posted in theRaj Bhavan. But the court stuck to its decision.

Official suspended

As Mr. Dubey was suspended, the Government appointed Vijay Verma additional legal adviser.

But he could not take charge of the assignment as the Governor refused to relieve Mr. Dubey, who continued to attend office after the Raj Bhavan cancelled the suspension order.

Chief Minister's stand

On Wednesday, Mr. Rajeshwar summoned Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav and reportedly expressed his anguish over the appointment of Mr. Verma. The Chief Minister told him that the Government respected the court order and it would not be possible to withdraw the notification on the appointment of Mr. Verma.

Full Bench ruling

On Friday, the Full Bench comprising Justices Rakesh Tewari, A.P. Sahi, S.S. Kulshreshta, Prakash Krishna and D.P. Singh not only called for the immediate recall of Mr. Dubey but also declared "otiose, ineffective and inoperative" all orders from the Governor's secretariat "regarding the cancellation of suspension of the then additional legal adviser."

The Bench directed Mr. Dubey to take charge as additional district judge (under suspension) in Ballia. It asked the Principal Secretary to the Governor, Luv Verma, to appear before the court on July 4.

According to Raj Bhavan sources, Mr. Dubey was in office till 8 p.m. on Friday.

As Saturday and Sunday are holidays, it remains to be seen whether he will attend office in the Raj Bhavan on Monday or take up his new posting in Ballia.

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