The Andhra Pradesh government headed by chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu has terminated the services of Gajjala Venkata Lakshmi as the chairperson of Andhra Pradesh Women’s Commission, a statutory appointment made by the Governor.
During the Jagan Mohan Reddy government, the post was held by Vasireddy Padma, who was appointed in August 2019 for a period of five years. Her term, as per the norms, would end on August 25.
However, Padma resigned from her post on March 4 on the ground that she wanted to take active role in the election campaign for YSR Congress party.
On March 15, the Jagan government appointed Gajjala Venkata Lakshmi as AP Women’s Commission chairperson.
According to the latest government order, Venkata Lakshmi ceases to be the chairperson of the commission after August 26, as according to the rules, a person appointed in place of the resigned chairperson shall hold office for the remaining period of the term of the person in whose place such person is appointed.
“As such, Venkata Lakshmi shall cease to hold the office of chairperson, APWC on completion of the remaining period of the term of Vasireddy Padma on August 25,” the order said.
However, the Naidu government has been upset with the style of functioning of Gajjala Venkata Lakshmi, as she was making statements against the government.
For example, she strongly opposed the report of the police on not finding any secret cameras in the girls’ hostel of Gudlavalleru Engineering College and asserted that there were indeed secret cameras in the hostel and the police were trying to hush up the case.
Venkata Lakshmi also refused to take up the issue of Mumbai-based actress Kadambari Jethwani who lodged a complaint against three IPS officers. She said Jethwani should complain in Mumbai, and not in Andhra Pradesh.
