Expressing “grave concerns” over Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi’s actions regarding the refusal to reinduct senior DMK leader K Ponmudi as a minister in the state cabinet, the Supreme Court on Thursday instructed him to resolve the matter within 24 hours. The court asserted that Ravi was in defiance of its orders.
The governor has refused to re-induct Ponmudi, despite Chief Minister M K Stalin’s recommendation, even after the apex court recently stayed Ponmudi’s conviction and three-year sentence in a disproportionate assets case.
A three-judge bench of CJI D Y Chandrachud, alongside Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra questioned how the governor could assert that Ponmudi’s reinduction would contravene constitutional morality.
“Mr Attorney General, we are seriously concerned about the conduct of the governor. We did not want to say it out loud in court but he is defying the Supreme Court of India. Those who have advised him have not advised him properly. Now the Governor has to be informed that when the Supreme Court stays a conviction, it stays a conviction,” the bench told AG R Venkataramani.
“If we do not hear from your person tomorrow, we will pass an order directing the governor to act according to the Constitution. We will pass an order,” the bench told AG Venkataramani.
The governor has declined to reinstate the senior DMK leader and former higher education minister into the state cabinet, citing concerns about constitutional morality. The state government has sought a directive to the governor to act in accordance with the advice and guidance of the council of ministers led by Chief Minister M K Stalin.