CHENNAI: Taking strong exception to remarks made by Governor R N Ravi, Chief Minister M K Stalin on Tuesday told the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly that the Governor walking out of the House without reading the customary address prepared by the State government amounted to a violation of constitutional provisions, legislative rules and long-established conventions.
The Chief Minister said the Governor’s action was an affront to the dignity and prestige of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly. Referring to Article 176 of the Constitution of India, Stalin said the Governor’s Address must be prepared by the elected State government and read in full by the Governor, without personal opinions or deletions.
“While the Constitution does not provide for clarifications regarding the address, the State Government had nevertheless responded to a letter sent earlier by the Governor seeking explanations. Despite this, the Governor had wilfully acted in breach of constitutional norms,” the Chief Minister said.
Stalin recalled that former Chief Ministers C N Annadurai and M Karunanidhi, despite ideological criticism of the Governor’s post, had always respected the office and its conventions as long as it existed. He said his government had followed the same principle and had taken steps to ensure that the Governor delivered his address.
Expressing regret that such conduct was being repeated, Stalin said a Governor was expected to act in the interests of the State, support public welfare, speak truthfully and cooperate with a government elected with a clear mandate. Instead, he alleged, the Governor was attempting to obstruct State administration and make political statements in public forums.
To protect the dignity of the House, the Chief Minister sought and obtained the Speaker’s consent to move a resolution treating the English version of the address already circulated to Members as having been read. The resolution was unanimously adopted.
Stalin said such refusals by Governors were occurring in several States and could not be seen as isolated incidents. He announced that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, with the support of like-minded parties, would pursue constitutional amendments in Parliament to clearly define and safeguard the practice of the Governor’s Address at the beginning of each year.