New Delhi: Tamil Nadu government on Monday moved the Supreme Court against refusal of Governor RN Ravi to appoint K Ponmudy as minister. Senior advocate A M Singhvi, representing the Tamil Nadu government, mentioned the plea before a bench led by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud. Singhvi urged the court to grant urgent hearing in the matter. The CJI asked him to circulate an email and he will examine the request.
Governor Ravi has refused to accept the recommendation of Chief Minister MK Stalin to appoint K Ponmudy as a minister after he was reinstated as an MLA. Disqualified Tamil Nadu minister and DMK senior leader K Ponmudy was reinstated on March 13, days after the Supreme Court stayed his conviction and three-year jail sentence in a disproportionate asset case.
Governor RN Ravi in a letter written to CM Stalin said, "Following the Hon'ble Supreme Court's order of 11.03.2024, you, in your letter referred to above, have recommended re-induction of Dr.K.Ponmudy in the Council of Ministers. It is pertinent to note that the Hon'ble Supreme Court, in the light of Section 8(3) of Representation of People Act 1951, in the said order has suspended the conviction by way of 'interim relief to Dr.K.Ponmudy. It means the conviction of Dr. K.Ponmudy though existent has been made non-operative. It has not been set aside. The offences of which Dr. K.Ponmudy has been held guilty by the Hon'ble Madras High Court are very serious amounting to moral turpitude, relating to corruption he committed as a public servant. His re-induction in the Council of Ministers while he remains tainted of corruption would be against constitutional morality. Hence, I am unable to accede to your request."
In its plea filed in the Supreme Court, the Tamil Nadu government contended that the apex court specifically suspended the conviction of Ponmudy in order to save him from the disqualification of the Representation of Peoples Act. “While suspending the conviction, this Hon’ble Court has recorded a finding that disqualifying him for holding office of Minister & MLA would be an irreversible situation”, said the plea.
