Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi has extended an invitation to Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader K Ponmudi to be sworn in as a minister, following a contentious legal battle that reached the Supreme Court. 

The development comes after the apex court intervened, expressing serious concern over the Governor's refusal to reinstate Ponmudi despite the court's stay on his criminal conviction.

The Supreme Court bench, led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud, alongside Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, took a stern stance against the Governor's actions during a recent hearing. The court emphasized that the Governor's refusal to comply with its order amounted to defying the highest judicial authority in the country.

Ponmudi, who previously served as the State Higher Education Minister, faced legal complications after a conviction by the Madras High Court in December 2023, resulting in his disqualification as a legislator and subsequent removal from the ministerial position. However, the Supreme Court intervened by staying his conviction, leading to the restoration of his legislative membership.

Despite this legal reprieve, the Governor persisted in his refusal to administer Ponmudi's oath as a minister, citing concerns over "constitutional morality" and allegations of corruption. This stance sparked a legal battle between the State government and the Governor, with the former challenging the latter's interpretation of the Supreme Court's order.

The State government argued that the Governor's objections to Ponmudi's appointment as a minister overstepped his constitutional authority, as the suitability of ministerial appointments falls under the purview of the Chief Minister, not the Governor.

The Supreme Court, echoing the State's concerns, expressed dismay over the Governor's actions, emphasizing that its orders must be implemented without question. The court warned of potential intervention to rectify the constitutional impasse if the Governor continued to defy its directives.

In response to the State's plea, the Attorney General assured the court that the Governor had no intention of flouting its order and had invited Ponmudi to be sworn in as a minister. This development marks a significant resolution to the legal standoff, highlighting the critical role of the judiciary in upholding constitutional principles and ensuring the smooth functioning of democratic institutions.

Case: State of Tamil Nadu vs. Governor of Tamil Nadu and anr.