RN Ravi, in a letter to the state government on Sunday, said he cannot administer the oath of office to Ponmudy as his conviction has not been struck down by the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court today strongly criticised Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi for refusing to re-induct a DMK leader as a minister despite a stay on his conviction. Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud rebuked the Governor, accusing him of “defying the Supreme Court,” and questioned the Centre, “If the Governor disregards the Constitution, what actions should the government take?”

The bench, which also includes Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Mishra, has granted the Governor until tomorrow to appoint DMK’s K Ponmudy as a minister. This decision comes after the MK Stalin government approached the Supreme Court when Ravi declined to reinstate Ponmudy into the state cabinet, citing concerns about Constitutional morality.

Ponmudi was disqualified as an MLA following the Madras High Court”s decision to overturn his acquittal in an assets case. However, the Supreme Court subsequently stayed his conviction and the two-year jail term. Despite this, the Governor maintained that Ponmudy”s conviction had only been suspended, not overturned.

“When the Supreme Court stays conviction, the governor has no business to say that the conviction is not wiped out. Once the substantive order of conviction is set aside, there is no conviction. You cannot say that the minister is tainted,” the court said.

“If we do not hear from your person tomorrow, we will pass an order directing the Governor to act according to the constitution. We are seriously concerned about the Tamil Nadu Governor and his behaviour. He has no business to do this. He is taking on the Supreme Court,” the Chief Justice warned. “We are keeping eyes open and tomorrow we will decide. We are seriously concerned,” the CJI doubled down.

In a letter addressed to the state government on Sunday, Ravi stated that he could not administer the oath of office to Ponmudy due to the pending case and the absence of a Supreme Court ruling overturning Ponmudy’s conviction.

“Those who have advised him have not advised him properly,” he said. “I may have a different perspective of the man/ minister, but we have to go by the constitutional law. The Chief Minister says we want to appoint this person, the Governor should do so as part of the parliamentary democracy. He”s a ceremonial head of the state.”

Ravi’s refusal to appoint Ponmudy as a minister marks the latest clash between his office and the MK Stalin government since he assumed the role of Tamil Nadu Governor in 2021. The DMK government has consistently accused him of obstructing its work.

Earlier, the state government had petitioned the Supreme Court regarding delays in Raj Bhavan”s approval of Bills. The court had ruled that the Governor must act upon the advice of the Council of Ministers. The dispute had also reached the Rashtrapati Bhavan when Chief Minister Stalin wrote to President Droupadi Murmu last year, urging the removal of Ravi from his position.