Governor is only a 'postman' between Centre and State: Tamil Nadu CM M K Stalin

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin stated on Thursday that the Supreme Court’s verdict on the authority of the Governor is “just the beginning” in the fight for state autonomy. He emphasized that the ruling reinforces the DMK’s long-standing position that the Governor is “merely a postman” between the Union and state governments.

In a detailed statement, Stalin hailed April 8 as a “Red Letter Day,” describing the Supreme Court’s decision as a “monumental judgment” that curtails the Governor’s overreach and safeguards states’ rights.

The statement follows the apex court’s ruling two days earlier, which deemed ten bills—previously withheld by Governor R N Ravi—as having received assent, in a case filed by the Tamil Nadu government.

The Chief Minister accused Governor R N Ravi of engaging in “unethical politics” within universities, alleging that he misused his position as Chancellor to “paint campuses saffron.”

The state government had challenged the Governor’s actions in court after he withheld bills passed by the Assembly and forwarded them to the President.

“On April 8, the Supreme Court declared the Tamil Nadu Governor’s actions illegal and affirmed that it is the Governor’s duty to grant assent to resolutions passed by the Assembly. As the DMK has consistently argued, the court made it clear that the Governor’s role is merely that of a postman between the Union and state governments,” Stalin said.

He also noted that an all-party meeting was held on Wednesday—boycotted by AIADMK and BJP—where it was resolved to expedite a Supreme Court case filed by the Tamil Nadu government against the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for medical and dental college admissions.

“The DMK, a pioneer in the struggle to protect state rights, will continue its legal battle to secure an exemption from NEET, uniting with supportive forces. The Supreme Court verdict is just the beginning, and this fight will persist in the NEET case as well,” he added.