Fathima Beevi had sworn in a disqualified Jayalalithaa as Chief Minister

Justice Fathima Beevi's tenure as Governor of Tamil Nadu (1997-2001) was mired in controversies, most notably her decision to administer the oath of office and secrecy to Jayalalithaa despite her disqualification. This sparked debate and criticism, and the Supreme Court eventually unseated Jayalalithaa. Beevi's tenure ended abruptly when the Centre found her report on Karunanidhi's arrest unacceptable and recalled her. She also rejected mercy petitions of four condemned prisoners in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, but the Madras High Court set aside her order.

The tenure of Justice Fathima Beevi, who died in Kerala on November 23, as Governor of Tamil Nadu during 1997-2001 was mired in controversies.

Her most controversial decision as Governor was to administer the oath of office and secrecy to former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa within hours of the AIADMK securing a majority in the Assembly elections in May 2001. Jayalalithaa had suffered disqualification from contesting elections that year on account of her conviction for a three year term in two TANSI land deal cases by a Special Court in Chennai.

However, her party legislators elected her as the leader of the AIADMK legislature party following which Jayalalithaa drove straight to the Raj Bhavan and handed over a letter conveying her election to Justice Beevi.

“Within a few hours, Jayalalithaa was back at the Raj Bhavan, and took oath as Chief Minister in the name of God,” reported The Hindu on May 15, 2001.

“Everything has happened in a rush. I myself did not expect that I would be sworn in today itself. Everything has taken place very smoothly. I am very happy. This is a victory for the people of Tamil Nadu,” she had told journalists after the swearing-in ceremony.

As a debate ensued, the office of the Attorney-General, Soli Sorabjee made it clear that “he has neither been consulted nor has he given any opinion on the question of inviting Jayalalithaa to form the government.

Senior advocate Rajeev Dhavan had strongly condemned the Governor’s decision and in his article in The Hindu, he said an entire tradition of democracy had been thrown out of a Raj Bhavan’s window.