PARLIAMENT

Hon. Kaveenthiran Kodeeswaran,—To ask the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government,— (1)

(a) Is he aware that—

(i) Kalmunai North, which was established as an Assistant Government Agent Division in 1989, has been upgraded as a Divisional Secretariat Division with the Cabinet Approval dated 28.09.1993 given based on the Cabinet Memoranda No. 93/600/034 dated 17.03.1993 and No. 93/600/034(I) dated 31.03.1993 and the Cabinet Sub-Committee report dated 09.07.1993 ;

(ii) it has been functioning as an independent Divisional Secretariat for more than 34 years accordingly; and

(iii) that there are attempts to downgrade the Kalmunai-North Divisional Secretariat  Division (Tamil Division) to the level of a sub-office of the Kalmunai-South Divisional Secretariat Division?

(b) Will he inform this House—

(i) whether a cabinet  decision has been taken to downgrade  the divisional secretariat division mentioned in (a)(iii) above;

(ii) if so, whether he will submit the said Cabinet Paper;

(iii) if not, the basis for the decision regarding such downgrading;

(iv) whether a Ministry Secretary/Government official is vested with the authority to override a Cabinet decision and downgrade a divisional secretariat division into the level of a  sub-office; and

(v) if so, of the legal basis of such a measure?

(c) If not, why?