Governor RN Ravi dismisses minister Senthil Balaji from cabinet, later withdraw his order; Know about high votage drama unfolding in TN
It should be noted that Senthil Balaji is accused in a money laundering case. He was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case on June 14, and is in judicial custody till July 12.
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In a fast-moving political drama that unfolded in Tamil Nadu on Thursday, hours after the Tamil Nadu governor RN Ravi dismissed jailed minister Senthil Balaji as minister, now the governor has kept order in abeyance till further communication.
But why governor dismissed him
It should be noted that Senthil Balaji is accused in a money laundering case. He was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case on June 14, and is in judicial custody till July 12. He is facing serious criminal proceedings in a number of cases of corruption, including taking cash for jobs and money laundering.
He has been hospitalised after being arrested in an alleged cash-for-jobs case dating back to 2014 when he was the transport minister under the previous AIADMK government. He joined the DMK in 2018. The arrested minister had undergone a bypass surgery in a private hospital in Chennai on June 21.
Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi dismisses jailed former electricity minister V Senthil Balaji from the Council of Ministers with immediate effect. pic.twitter.com/8aVE6Ca2P3
— Megh Updates 🚨™ (@MeghUpdates) June 29, 2023
Balaji was a minister without portfolio and those handled by him were re-allocated to his cabinet colleagues Thangam Thennarasu and S Muthusamy. The DMK leader's arrest had triggered a flashpoint in the Tamil Nadu governor vs govt tussle.
Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi dismisses jailed V Senthil Balaji from the Council of Ministers with immediate effect. pic.twitter.com/fhDJdxUZxE
— ANI (@ANI) June 29, 2023
The Governor Ravi had dismissed the jailed DMK minister from the Council of Ministers with immediate effect over corruption charges, In an official release, the Raj Bhavan said: “There are reasonable apprehensions that the continuation of V. Senthil Balaji in the Council of Ministers will adversely impact the due process of law, including fair investigation that may eventually lead to the breakdown of the Constitutional machinery in the State.”
Incidentally, nearly a month ago, the Chief Minister had rejected Mr. Ravi’s demand to drop Mr. Senthilbalaji, who was then holding the Electricity and Excise and Prohibition portfolios from the Cabinet.
As per the report's Ravi had invoked the powers conferred on him under Articles 154, 163 and 164 of the Constitution of India to “dismiss” Mr. Senthilbalaji from the Council of Ministers with “immediate effect”.
But hours later, after much political outrage over the unconstitutionality of his actions, the Governor called back his order
It govenor act was right
There are only two or three situations in which governors can take their own decisions: one is to use one’s own political judgement about which leader to call to form a government when election results are inconclusive; another is to ask a chief minister to face a trust vote in case there is some doubt about majority support; and the third is to send back for reconsideration legislation that he or she thinks may not pass constitutional muster.
In the dismissal of Balaji, who admittedly faces corruption charges and whose judicial custody has been extended till 12 July by a Chennai court, the Governor clearly acted unconstitutionally by not seeking the elected government’s advice.
Now What?
The governor will take the Attorney General of India's advice in the matter, the reports added.
Bharati Web
Mes, Pune
