HC rejects plea for full-time guv in TN

The Madras High Court has dismissed a petition seeking appointment of a full-time governor for Tamil Nadu, holding that the Constitution provides for appointment of the same person as governor for two states.

The first bench rejected the writ petition filed by social activist V Anbazhagan.

The petition sought a court direction to the President and the Union home ministry to appoint a full-time governor for Tamil Nadu by implementing the recommendations of the Sarkaria Commission.

When the matter came up last week, the bench said, “Article 153 of the Constitution of India provides that there shall be a governor for each state. The proviso makes it clear that nothing in that Article shall prevent the appointment of the same person as governor for two or more states.”

Noting that appointment of a governor is in the realm of powers of the office of the President of India, the bench said, “In view of the proviso to Article 153 of the Constitution of India, the interference of the court is not warranted.”

Earlier, the petitioner had submitted that Maharashtra Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao has been holding additional charge of Tamil Nadu for the past seven months and hence there was no “effective administration of the executive”.