Advocate M.L. Ravi, representing the Desiya Makkal Shakthi Katchi political party in Tamil Nadu, has filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Madras High Court, raising concerns about V. Senthilbalaji, a minister without portfolio in the Stalin cabinet, being allowed to continue in his position despite being in judicial custody in a money laundering case initiated by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED).
The petitioner specifically challenged a press release issued by the Director of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) on June 16, which stated that Senthilbalaji would remain a minister in the cabinet, even though his portfolios, including Electricity, Excise, and Prohibition, had been reassigned to two other ministers.
Advocate Ravi highlighted that the DIPR press release was issued shortly after the Raj Bhavan released a communique clarifying that Governor R.N. Ravi was open to divesting Senthilbalaji of his portfolios and transferring them to other ministers. However, the communique explicitly expressed the Governor's opposition to the continuation of the arrested minister in the cabinet.
The petitioner emphasized the constitutional provision outlined in Article 164, which states that ministers hold office at the pleasure of the Governor. Therefore, the petitioner questioned how the Tamil Nadu government could disregard the Governor's stance and permit an individual in judicial custody to retain their ministerial position.
According to the petitioner, allowing the minister to continue in the cabinet while in judicial custody is unjust and unwarranted, highlighting the need for the Madras High Court's intervention in the matter.
The PIL seeks the quashing of the DIPR press release and raises concerns about the propriety of Senthilbalaji's presence in the cabinet, urging the court to address the issue and ensure compliance with constitutional principles regarding ministerial appointments and judicial custody.
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