• Source:JND
Add as a preferred

Chief Minister MK Stalin on Thursday slammed the Centre over the Union government's Presidential reference in connection with the Tamil Nadu Governor case. The chief minister, in an X post, said it attempts to "subvert" the constitutional position already settled by the Supreme Court. His post comes hours after President Droupadi Murmu asked 14 questions to the Supreme Court over its April 8 verdict that fixed timelines for Governors and the President to act on bills passed by state assemblies

"I strongly condemn the Union Government’s Presidential reference, which attempts to subvert the Constitutional position already settled by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the Tamil Nadu Governor’s case and other precedents," Stalin's post read.

"This attempt clearly exposes the fact that the Tamil Nadu Governor acted at the BJP’s behest to undermine the people’s mandate. This is nothing but a desperate attempt to weaken democratically elected State Governments by placing them under the control of Governors serving as agents of the Union Government. It also directly challenges the majesty of law and the authority of the Supreme Court as the final interpreter of the Constitution," he added.

Stalin posed three questions in his post-

- Why should there be any objection to prescribing time limits for Governors to act?

- Is the BJP seeking to legitimise its Governors’ obstruction by allowing indefinite delays in Bill assent?

- Does the Union Government intend to paralyse non-BJP State Legislatures?

"Our nation stands at a critical juncture. The questions raised in the reference reveal the BJP-led Union Government’s sinister intent to distort the Constitution’s basic distribution of powers and incapacitate the State Legislatures dominated by opposition parties. Thus, it poses a clear exigent threat to State autonomy. In these grave circumstances, I urge all non-BJP States and party leaders to join this legal struggle to defend the #Constitution. We will fight this battle with all our might. Tamil Nadu will fight — and #TamilNadu will win!," he stated.

President Seeks SC's Opinion, Poses 14 Questions

Earlier today, the President 14 crucial questions to the Supreme Court over its April 8 verdict that fixed timelines for governors and the President to act on bills passed by state assemblies.

Exercising her power under the rarely used Article 143 (1), President Murmu said in the present circumstances, it appears that the following questions of law have arisen and they are of such nature and public importance that it is expedient to obtain the opinion of the Supreme Court of India thereon.

Article 143 (1) of the Constitution deals with the power of the President to consult the Supreme Court.

The provision says, "If at any time it appears to the President that a question of law or fact has arisen, or is likely to arise, which is of such a nature and of such public importance that it is expedient to obtain the opinion of the Supreme Court upon it, he may refer the question to that Court for consideration and the Court may, after such hearing as it thinks fit, report to the President its opinion thereon".

ALSO READ: ‘Can Timelines Be Imposed?’: President Murmu Questions SC's Deadline Ruling On State Bills

ALSO READ: What Shashi Tharoor Speaks Is Not Opinion Of Congress, Says Jairam Ramesh Amid Buzz Over Rift | Watch