From Kitchen To Secretariat: Rise And Fall Of Dulal Pegu & Questions Haunting Assam’s Assembly

Last Updated:May 31, 2026, 18:51 IST

According to allegations, Dulal Pegu's association with public life began not within the bureaucracy but as a cook at the residence of former Majuli Congress MLA Malching Pegu

The recent removal of former Assam Legislative Assembly Secretary Dulal Pegu has ignited one of the most significant debates in Assam’s administrative and political landscape.

What initially appeared to be a routine bureaucratic reshuffle has evolved into a controversy touching upon institutional integrity, eligibility norms, political patronage, compliance with service rules, and the credibility of one of the state’s most important democratic institutions.

At the heart of the controversy lies a remarkable career trajectory. According to allegations, Dulal Pegu’s association with public life began not within the bureaucracy but as a cook at the residence of former Majuli Congress MLA Malching Pegu. Sources allege that he subsequently secured a position in the Assam Legislative Assembly Secretariat in 1988 and began his government service as a lower-level Grade III employee.

Official records show that Pegu eventually rose through the ranks of the Assembly Secretariat. He was appointed Additional Secretary in 2020 before becoming Secretary of the Assam Legislative Assembly on 9 February 2022. However, it is the path leading to that appointment that has now become the subject of concern.

THE ALLEGATIONS AND DOUBTS

The controversy, however, is not centred merely on an individual’s rise through the administrative ranks. In government service, promotions are not unusual, and an employee may legitimately progress through departmental promotions over decades of service. In theory, even a lower-ranked employee can eventually reach senior positions if every promotion complies with service rules, educational qualifications, seniority requirements, departmental examinations, and administrative approvals.

The critical question being raised in the Assam Assembly case is whether every stage of that progression complied with the prescribed legal and administrative framework.

Opposition leaders have pointed to the eligibility norms associated with the post of Assembly Secretary. According to allegations, the position requires specific legal qualifications, including an LLB degree, along with experience in legal practice. Reference has also been made to judicial observations and administrative provisions governing appointments to senior positions within legislative institutions.

Demanding an inquiry into the matter, opposition leaders have alleged that Dulal Pegu did not possess the required legal qualifications. If official records substantiate these claims, it would inevitably raise questions about how his promotions to the positions of Additional Secretary and subsequently Secretary were approved.

Every promotion within a government institution passes through multiple layers of administrative scrutiny. Files move through departmental channels, recommendations are made, eligibility is assessed, and approvals are granted by competent authorities. Therefore, if any procedural irregularity occurred, responsibility may not rest solely with the beneficiary of the promotion but could also extend to those who facilitated, recommended, or approved the process.

THE EXTENSIONS

Reports indicate that Dulal Pegu was originally due to retire in January 2024. However, multiple extensions reportedly allowed him to continue in office beyond the normal retirement age. Such extensions, particularly in senior constitutional and legislative positions, are expected to satisfy strict standards of necessity, legality, and transparency.

Questions surrounding these extensions intensified after reports suggested that concerns had been raised regarding their legality. The controversy gained further momentum when Assembly Speaker Ranjeet Kumar Dass removed Pegu from the post amid allegations of irregularities. The removal itself has generated considerable interest, prompting questions about what led to the decision and whether deeper administrative concerns had come to light.

“Mr Pegu had received two extensions, but I was not aware of the matter earlier. However, when it was brought to my notice, I found that a government employee can be re-engaged for a maximum period of two years. Since he has already completed two years of re-engagement, he must now leave," stated Ranjeet Kumar Dass, Speaker of the Assam Legislative Assembly.

Another dimension of the controversy relates to the role of the Assembly leadership during the period in which Pegu received promotions and service extensions. Questions have been raised about whether institutional safeguards were adequately followed and whether political considerations influenced administrative decisions. Particular attention has been directed towards the period during which Pegu was elevated to the position of Secretary and subsequently granted extensions beyond retirement.

A lower-ranked employee rising through the ranks is not inherently irregular. What requires investigation is whether educational qualifications, eligibility criteria, seniority norms, recruitment regulations, and promotional procedures were followed at every stage of the process.

News india From Kitchen To Secretariat: Rise And Fall Of Dulal Pegu & Questions Haunting Assam’s Assembly

Read More