Chennai: Governor R.N. Ravi late on Thursday held back the order he had issued earlier in the day sacking minister without portfolio V. Senthil Balaji after he was advised by the Union home ministry to seek the advice of the attorney-general before going ahead with implementing his order.
Mr Balaji will remain a member of the council of ministers till the legal opinion of the attorney-general is received, Raj Bhavan sources said.
The intervention of the Union home ministry came after Mr Ravi, in an unprecedented move that set him on a collision course with the elected government, dismissed Mr Balaji from the council of ministers.
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, reacting to the order, said the Governor had no such powers and that they would face the situation legally.
A press release from the Raj Bhavan said that Mr Balaji was facing serious criminal proceedings in a number of cases of corruption, including taking cash for jobs and money laundering.
“Abusing his position as a minister, he has been influencing the investigation and obstructing the due process of law and justice. Currently he is in judicial custody in a criminal case being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate. Some more criminal cases against him under Prevention of Corruption Act and the Indian Penal Code are being investigated by the state police,” the press release said.
Since there were reasonable apprehensions that that continuation of Mr Balaji in the council of ministers would adversely impact the due process of law, including fair investigation that may eventually lead to breakdown of the constitutional machinery in the state, the Governor had dismissed him from the council of ministers with immediate effect, the press release said.
The Governor had earlier expressed his displeasure over Mr Balaji continuing in the council as a minister without portfolio when the Chief Minister had recommended a reassignment of ministries held by him to other ministers.
While reallocating the electricity portfolio to industries minister Thangam Thennarasu and the prohibition and excise portfolio to housing and urban development minister S. Muthusamy, a Raj Bhavan press release had said that the Governor was not in favour of Mr Balaji continuing in the council of ministers without a portfolio.
The Chief Minister had asked for the reassignment of portfolios after Mr Balaji was admitted to hospital on June 14 after he was arrested by officials of the ED who had earlier held raids at his house and office.
The governor’s contention had then led to a public debate on his powers in determining who could be a minister. However, the Governor came out with the clear announcement of the dismissal of the minister, triggering another bout of debate and discussions.
