The Supreme Court issued a sharp rebuke to Tamil Nadu Governor R. N. Ravi for his refusal to administer the oath of office to senior DMK leader K Ponmudy, whose conviction was stayed by the apex court earlier this month. The bench, led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, expressed serious concern over the Governor’s actions, questioning his defiance of the Supreme Court’s order.
Disqualified Tamil Nadu minister K Ponmudy was reinstated following the Supreme Court’s decision to stay his conviction and three-year jail sentence in a disproportionate asset case on March 13, 2024. Despite this, Governor RN Ravi has declined to accept the recommendation of Chief Minister MK Stalin to appoint Ponmudy as a minister.
In response to the state government’s request for Ponmudy’s swearing-in, Ravi stated in a letter on Sunday that he cannot administer the oath of office as Ponmudy’s conviction has not been struck down by the Supreme Court, citing the pending nature of the case.
The Supreme Court, however, strongly criticized Ravi’s stance, questioning whether the state is governed by the rule of law. The court emphasized that once the substantive order of conviction is set aside, there is no conviction, and therefore, the Governor cannot claim that the minister is tainted.
The bench granted the Attorney General time to provide instructions on behalf of the Governor and scheduled the matter for further hearing on Friday. The court’s intervention underscores the importance of upholding the rule of law and respecting judicial decisions in governance.
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