CHENNAI: With Governor RN Ravi refusing to read the state government’s prepared speech once again, Chief Minister MK Stalin on Tuesday vowed to abolish the practice of governors delivering a customary address to the state legislatures. He announced that the DMK, with the support of like-minded parties, would pursue constitutional amendments in Parliament to dispense with the practice of the Governor’s Address at the beginning of each year.
The CM said repeated refusals by governors to read the customary addresses have been occurring in several states.
The governor walking out of the House without reading the address prepared by the government is a violation of constitutional provisions, legislative rules and long-established conventions of the Assembly, Stalin said, adding that the governor’s walkout amounted to an affront to the dignity and prestige of the House.
Guv violated Article 176 of Constitution by leaving the Assembly abruptly, says Stalin
“Critical governance, education, and cultural issues were also bypassed, including declining educational standards, faculty shortages, stalled village panchayat elections undermining grassroots democracy, and mismanagement of temples despite court directions, deeply hurting public and devotees’ sentiments,” the governor’s office added. As soon as the House began its business for the day, the governor greeted Speaker Appavu, CM MK Stalin and members of the Assembly. He also extended New Year and Pongal greetings in Tamil.
Immediately after the Thamizh Thaai Vaazhthu was rendered, the governor made a remark, which did not go on the records of the Assembly. Speaker Appavu had brief back-and-forth exchanges with the governor, following which Ravi walked. Just after the governor left, the House adopted a resolution moved by Stalin stating that the customary address prepared by the government was deemed to have been read by the governor. The CM termed the governor leaving the House abruptly as a violation of Article 176 of the Constitution, legislative rules, and long-standing conventions, and an affront to the dignity of the century-old Assembly.
After the business advisory committee meeting of the House, the speaker met the press. On why he interrupted the governor, the speaker said that his interruption was required and he had only made a humble request to the governor. “Only the 234 MLAs of the House can express their views, according to the Constitution, and the governor’s duty was just to read out the prepared speech in the House,” Appavu said.
Regarding the allegations made by the governor, the speaker said, “People can criticise the government. Elected members can speak about the strengths and shortcomings of the government. But the governor is not a politician to speak about these things. If he wishes to do so, he should come out of the Lok Bhavan and join a political party and express his views”.
“Since the governor is the Constitutional Head of the State, it is his duty to honour the dignity of the House. Speaking beyond that brief is against the conventions of the House. We cannot allow that. When the speaker speaks, rest of the mikes would be switched off. Similarly, the governor’s mike might have been switched off,” he added. “Will the President’s address be delivered in the same way in Parliament,” Appavu asked.