Senior DMK leader K Ponmudy was reinstated as a minister in Tamil Nadu on Friday, a day after the Supreme Court slammed Governor RN Ravi for his refusal to re-induct him.
Ponmudy, who had lost his position following a conviction by the Madras High Court in a disproportionate assets case last December, has now resumed his role as the state Minister for Higher Education.
In ceremony held at the Raj Bhavan, Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi administered the oath of office and secrecy to Ponmudy. The event was attended by Chief Minister MK Stalin and a few other Ministers, including Udhayanidhi Stalin and Ma Subramanian.
Ponmudy has been assigned the higher education portfolio, which was temporarily held by Backward Classes Minister RS Rajakannappan. The responsibility for the Khadi and Village Industries Board, previously held by Rajakannappan, has been returned to him. Additionally, R Gandhi, who previously managed Handlooms and Textiles, had also overseen the subject of Khadi.
In December, following Ponmudy’s conviction, there was a reshuffle of portfolios.
Ponmudy’s swearing-in as Minister marks the end of a dispute between Stalin and Ravi. On March 13, Stalin had written to Ravi requesting Ponmudy’s induction as Minister with the portfolio of higher education. However, the Governor declined, stating that Ponmudy’s conviction had only been suspended, not overturned. In response, the DMK government sought intervention from the Supreme Court.
During the hearing, the apex court expressed “serious concern” over Governor Ravi’s conduct, as he refused to re-induct Ponmudi even after his conviction was suspended. The Supreme Court directed him to resolve the issue within 24 hours.
Noting that Ravi was defying the top court’s order, a three-judge bench led by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud questioned how the governor could claim that Ponmudy’s re-induction would violate 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 apex court bench, also comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, informed 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 had told the AG.
Venkataramani raised technical objections to Tamil Nadu’s plea, stating that the application (against the governor’s refusal to reinstate Ponmudy) had been submitted as an interlocutory application in a pending writ petition addressing a separate issue regarding bills approved by the state legislature but awaiting action at the Raj Bhavan.
(With inputs from PTI)
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