Minsters, Chief Minister did not violate law: Defence Counsel

Petitioner Anazhagan of Virudhunagar, had stated that on February 22, 2017, the AIADMK spokesperson in his interview to a private television channel said that the state government would be led by the advice and command of VK Sasikala, who is in jail at Parappana Agrahara in Karnataka. 

On February 28, four ministers, Sengottaiyan, Sellur K Raju, Dindigul C Srinivasan and R Kamaraj, met Sasikala. After their return, they said they had discussed with her about the functioning of the government. The Chief Minister did not make any objection to the spokesperson’s statement and the ministers’ meeting with Sasikala in prison. 

Thus, they violated the constitutional provisions as per which they are not supposed to do so, the petitioner claimed. In the previous hearings, judges KK Sasidharan and GR Swaminathan had sent notice to the CM and four other ministers and also to the Speaker, Secretary of State Assembly and also to The Secretary of Election Commission of India (ECI) and also directed the Speaker to be included as one of the respondents in the case. 

When the petition was heard on Wednesday, the counsel, representing the ministers, informed the court that the ministers and Chief Minister had not violated any constitutional provision and meeting Sasikala in prison did not amount to any violation of the secret oath that the ministers took during their appointment.

Following the argument, the judges directed the pleader to submit their arguments as affidavit in the court and adjourned the case to September 13.