Government allows DMK meets against AIADMK

Justice R Mahadevan before whom the plea moved by the DMK that the police officials had rejected the applications filed by all respective district and town secretaries, citing identical reasons revealed their intent to throttle their democratic voice said, “This is not the way the State can proceed. There seems to no rh0yme or reason in rejecting the applications, when permission sought seems to be areas notified by the police for holding public meetings.”

Subsequently, with the judge insisting Advocate General Vijay Narayan to get instructions and enable the DMK to hold its meeting as scheduled or else he would pass orders, it was informed later that permission has been granted to hold public meetings at 105 places and that it has been declined only in 18 places. In respect of five places, the DMK has been asked to opt for alternate sites, the Government said.

Earlier, Senior Counsel P Wilson appearing for the DMK had contended that the rejection of permission to the principal opposition party to hold public meeting revealed the lack of tolerance of the ruling party and that they were unwilling to face criticism. The DMK had scheduled their meetings on October 3 and 4 across the State under the title “Commission-Collection-Corruption” against the AIADMK Government.

Can corruption accusations against a sitting minister be referred either to the Chief Secretary or the Governor for prior permission to undertake a probe regards the allegation is set to be argued in context with the DMK moving the Madras High Court seeking the constitution of a special investigation team to probe into the corruption claims against Local Administration Minister SP Velumani in awarding government contracts.

When the plea came up before Justice A D Jagadish Chandira on Wednesday, Advocate General Vijay Narayan submitted that as per an amendment made to Prevention of Corruption Act with effect from July 26, 2018, even preliminary enquiry requires prior Government permission and hence the plea 

has been referred to the Chief Secretary.

He further noted that as per the stipulation there is a three-month period available for the Government to take a decision on this issue. However, senior counsel NR Elango appearing for the DMK argued that the very act of placing the issue before the Government, which is the accused in this instant case is illegal. 

He said though the Governor acts on the advice of the council of ministers, as per a Supreme Court order, corruption charges against the Chief Minister and ministers ought to be placed before the State Governor, who must make an independent decision, without consulting the Government.

With the senior counsel insisting that he would place his submission regards the fact that the Governor alone is the competent authority to grant permission to proceed with corruption complaints against the Chief Minister and other ministers, Justice Jagadish Chandira posted the case to October 23 for further hearing.

DMK in its plea had contended that Velumani has placed his benamis as Directors in some companies shortly before contracts were awarded to them by Chennai, Coimbatore, Salem, Tiruppur and Tiruchirapalli City Corporations, State Government, Public Works Department, Chennai Metro Rail Limited and Chennai Smart City.