Today (18th March): The Governor of Tamil Nadu has refused to appoint Ponmudi as a minister, citing legal uncertainties. The matter followed after the announcement that the “Supreme Court would review Tamil Nadu’s appeal in Ponmudi’s case”.
NEW DELHI: On Monday (18 March): The Supreme Court agreed to consider the Tamil Nadu government’s plea challenging Governor RN Ravi’s decision to decline the appointment of senior DMK leader K Ponmudi as a minister in the state cabinet.
A bench comprising Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra took note of the submissions of senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for the state government. There was some urgency in the matter, which should be listed for a hearing.
“Please send an email. I will look into the email,” the CJI said.
Governor Ravi, in a letter to Chief Minister MK Stalin, emphasized that the Supreme Court’s interim order only suspended Ponmudi’s conviction. Consequently, the governor refused to include Ponmudi in Stalin’s cabinet. However, the state government had previously reinstated Ponmudi as a legislator following the Supreme Court’s suspension of his conviction in a disproportionate assets case.
Background
Tamil Nadu Governor R. N. Ravi has deferred the swearing-in of senior DMK leader and former minister K. Ponmudy, creating tension between the Raj Bhavan and the state government led by Chief Minister M. K. Stalin.
The matter comes to light because the Supreme Court stayed Ponmudy’s conviction in a disproportionate assets case, prompting a reconsideration of his position in the Cabinet.
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Ponmudy, a seasoned politician from Villupuram district, lost his seat in the Assembly after being sentenced to three years in jail by the Madras High Court in December 2023. But when the Supreme Court stepped in on March 11, that decision was reversed. So, the Tamil Nadu Assembly and the Chief Minister asked the Governor to swear Ponmudy in again.
However, the Governor doubted if it was legal to bring Ponmudy back into the Cabinet, so he delayed the swearing-in, saying he needed more legal advice.
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