In a significant development, the Tamil Nadu government has taken the unprecedented step of moving the Supreme Court of India against Governor RN Ravi, citing alleged delays in clearing bills and Government Orders that have already been passed by the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly. The writ petition, filed under Article 32 of the Constitution of India, seeks a declaration that the Governor’s inaction, omission, and failure to fulfill his constitutional duties is unconstitutional and detrimental to the state’s administration.
The petition highlights several areas of concern, focusing on the delay in Governor Ravi’s assent to bills and his non-consideration of crucial files and Government Orders. The Tamil Nadu government has accused the Governor of arbitrary and unreasonable behavior in exercising his powers, which it claims amounts to a malafide exercise of power.
The writ petition lists a total of 12 Bills that are currently pending with the Governor, despite considerable time having passed since their submission. This backlog has led to a significant hindrance in the legislative process and the implementation of various government initiatives.
Additionally, the petition draws attention to files that are pending with the Governor, including those related to the sanction for prosecution and investigation of corruption cases involving public servants and the premature release of prisoners. The failure to act on these files has raised concerns about the Governor’s approach towards tackling corruption and maintaining law and order in the state.
The petition also raises issues related to the Governor’s reluctance to sign remission orders, day-to-day files, appointment orders, and approve recruitment orders. Furthermore, it questions the Governor’s resistance in granting approval to prosecute Ministers and Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) involved in corruption cases, even in cases where the Supreme Court has ordered a transfer of the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
The cumulative effect of these delays and non-cooperation, according to the petition, has brought the entire state administration to a grinding halt and fostered an adversarial attitude between the Governor’s office and the state government.
In response to these actions, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin sent a 15-page letter to President Droupadi Murmu, expressing his concerns and dissatisfaction with Governor Ravi’s activities. The Chief Minister’s letter asserted that the Governor’s actions were not in the best interests of the people of Tamil Nadu and ran contrary to the principles of democratic governance.
The writ petition, therefore, seeks a clear and specific directive from the Supreme Court, compelling Governor RN Ravi to promptly clear pending bills, files, and Government Orders. This legal action marks a rare instance of a state government challenging the actions of a sitting Governor in India.
As the case unfolds in the Supreme Court, it raises important questions about the balance of power between state governments and Governors, as well as the responsibilities and obligations of constitutional authorities in upholding the democratic process and ensuring efficient governance. The outcome of this legal battle will be closely watched and could have significant implications for the functioning of India’s federal system.