After Court Warning, Tamil Nadu Governor Backs Down, To Swear In Minister
NDTV
The Tamil Nadu Governor last week said he was unable to administer the oath to Mr Ponmudy as it would be against constitutional morality.
Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi has invited Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader K Ponmudy to be re-inducted into the state cabinet at 3.30 pm. This comes after the Supreme Court on Thursday warned the Governor over his refusing to swear-in Mr Ponmudy - who was the Higher Education Minister - after his conviction, and three-year jail term, in a 2011 disproportionate assets case was stayed.
Post the staying of the conviction, the DMK leader was reinstated as the MLA from Tirukkoyilur in Villupuram district. After this, Chief Minister MK Stalin recommended Mr Ponmudy be brought back into the cabinet; he had been dropped after the Madras High Court reversed his acquittal.
The Tamil Nadu Governor, however, last week had refused to accept the recommendation, saying he was unable to administer the oath to Mr Ponmudy as it would be against constitutional morality. Mr Ravi pointed out that the Supreme Court had only stayed, and not reversed, the conviction.
