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CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu governor R N Ravi has rejected CM M K Stalin’s recommendation to appoint and swear in K Ponmudy as minister again. In a communication sent by Raj Bhavan and addressed to the CM on Sunday evening, Ravi said since Ponmudy remained “tainted of corruption, re-induction as minister would be against constitutional morality”.
Ponmudy, who was the higher education minister, ceased to be a minister after Madras high court convicted him in a corruption case in Dec last year.On March 11, Supreme Court stayed the conviction, following which govt sent the recommendation to the governor.
In his communication to the CM on Sunday, the governor said, “It is pertinent to note that SC, in the light of Sec 8(3) of Representation of the 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 Ponmudy though existent has been made non-operative. It has not been set aside.”
It further said, “The offences for which he has been held guilty are very serious relating to corruption he committed as a public servant. As he remains tainted by corruption, re-induction as minister would be against constitutional morality. Hence unable to accede to your request.” Last week, Stalin had sent a communication to Ravi “to appoint and swear in” Ponmudy as minister “either on Wednesday evening or Thursday morning”.
On March 13, two days after Supreme Court suspended Ponmudy’s conviction and sentence in an assets case, assembly speaker M Appavu said his previous notification announcing vacancy of Tirukkoyilur assembly seat represented by the former minister would become inoperative.
Ponmudy, who was the higher education minister, ceased to be a minister after Madras high court convicted him in a corruption case in Dec last year.On March 11, Supreme Court stayed the conviction, following which govt sent the recommendation to the governor.
In his communication to the CM on Sunday, the governor said, “It is pertinent to note that SC, in the light of Sec 8(3) of Representation of the 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 Ponmudy though existent has been made non-operative. It has not been set aside.”
It further said, “The offences for which he has been held guilty are very serious relating to corruption he committed as a public servant. As he remains tainted by corruption, re-induction as minister would be against constitutional morality. Hence unable to accede to your request.” Last week, Stalin had sent a communication to Ravi “to appoint and swear in” Ponmudy as minister “either on Wednesday evening or Thursday morning”.
On March 13, two days after Supreme Court suspended Ponmudy’s conviction and sentence in an assets case, assembly speaker M Appavu said his previous notification announcing vacancy of Tirukkoyilur assembly seat represented by the former minister would become inoperative.
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