Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi on Friday informed the Supreme Court that he has duly invited MLA K Ponmudi to swear in as the state cabinet minister at 3:30 PM today.
Appearing for the Governor, Attorney General (AG) R Venkantaramani submitted to the three judge bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud that the Governor conveyed that he had least intent to disregard the Court. He further submitted that as per the Governor, he only took the decision based on certain judgements of the Supreme Court on the issue.
Meanwhile, Senior Advocate P Wilson representing the State of Tamil Nadu, expressed that the intervention of the Supreme Court in matters requiring constitutional morality help keep Parliamentary Democracy afloat.
The Supreme Court on Thursday expressed disappointment at the Tamil Nadu governor RN Ravi for refusing to re-induct MLA K Ponmudi as a minister, even after his conviction was suspended by the Supreme Court.
The bench of CJI DY Chandrachud, Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Misra remarked that they are seriously concerned about the conduct of the governor in the case, adding that RN Ravi is defying the Supreme Court of India. The bench further observed that when a two-judge bench of the top court stays a conviction, the Governor has no business to tell the court that this does not wipe off the conviction and it is non-existent. Eventually, the court had directed the Governor to take action within 24 hours.
The governor had earlier refused to reinduct K Ponmudi, whose conviction and three-year sentence in a disproportionate assets case was stayed by the apex court recently. The Governor’s decision followed despite Chief Minister M K Stalin’s recommendation. Subsequently, the Tamil Nadu Government had moved the Supreme Court over the refusal of Governor RN Ravi to re-induct MLA K Ponmudi as a Minister in the state government.