R ARIVANANTHAM

CHENNAI, JAN 25

Puducherry Local Administration Minister A Namassivayam’s petition against Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi over the issue of appointment of the State Election Commissioner in the union territory is maintainable, says the Madras High Court here on Friday.

When the plea came up for hearing, the division bench, comprising Justices M Sathyanarayanan and R Hemalatha said the petition is maintainable and directed the registry to number the same and list it for hearing and adjourned it for Tuesday.

The petitioner contended that the entire action by Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi was against the constitutional principles and the council of ministers has to be consulted.

The minister prayed for the entire move to be deemed illegal.

In December 2019, Bedi had declared the appointment of SEC T M Balakrishnan by the Narayanasamy-led government as ‘illegal and null and void.’ She had said the Centre had directed the Chief Secretary to appoint the SEC through an exclusive selection committee after giving publicity through an all India advertisement.

Subsequently, the Chief Minister had said neither the Lt Governor nor the Home Ministry had any authority to rescind the appointment, made through a unanimous resolution adopted on the floor of the House in July last year.