K Ponmudy sworn-in as Minister; Guv Ravi administered the oath of secrecy
This comes after the Supreme Court on Thursday warned the Governor over his refusing to swear-in Mr Ponmudy - who was the Higher Education Minister - after his conviction, and three-year jail term, in a 2011 disproportionate assets case was stayed.
K Ponmudy sworn-in as Minister and Guv Ravi administered the oath of secrecy in the presence of CM Stalin (File photo)
CHENNAI: A day after the Supreme Court pulled up the Governor RN Ravi over his refusal to re-induct the senior DMK leader and MLA K Ponmudy, whose conviction and sentence was stayed by the top court, into the State Cabinet, Ravi on Friday administered the oath of secrecy to K Ponmudy at the swearing-in ceremony held at Raj Bhavan.
Governor RN Ravi administered the oath of office and secrecy to Ponmudy in the presence of Chief Minister M K Stalin at Raj Bhavan.
"On the recommendation of the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, the Governor has approved the change of portfolios and subject allocations of the ministers K Ponmudy, R S Rajakannappan and R Gandhi, " a release from the Raj Bhavan read.
K Ponmudy, who had lost his ministerial berth in the Stalin cabinet, following a conviction by the Madras High Court in a disproportionate assets (DA) case last December, has now resumed his role as the State Minister for Higher Education.
The Tirukkoyilur MLA has been assigned the higher education portfolio including technical education, electronics, science and technology, which was temporarily held by Backward Classes minister RS Rajakannappan.
RS Rajakannappan will be the minister for Backward Classes Welfare, Most Backward Classes Welfare and Denotified Communities Welfare, Khadi and Village Industries Board.
R Gandhi will now have the portfolios of Handlooms and Textiles, Boodhan and Gramadhan.
Ponmudy's swearing-in as Minister marks the end of a dispute between the Chief Minister Stalin and Governor RN Ravi.
On March 13, CM Stalin had written to the Governor Ravi requesting Ponmudy's induction as Minister with the portfolio of Higher Education and later the Governor declined his request, stating that Ponmudy's re-induction into the state Cabinet would violate Constitutional morality while his conviction had only been suspended, not set aside.
On March 21, Thursday, the apex court expressed serious concern over the Governor's conduct and directed him to resolve the issue within 24 hours.
State Ministers Udhayanidhi Stalin, Ma Subramanian and others were present at the oath taking ceremony.
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