Contending that in view of conflict of interest the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa cannot hold office till the disposal of the disproportionate case against her; a public interest writ petition has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking a direction in this regard.
The petitioners, Traffic K.R. Ramaswamy and advocate Subrata Das said five representations had been sent to the Tamil Nadu government questioning whether Ms. Jayalalithaa, prime accused in the DA case pending in a Bangalore court being prosecuted by the Tamil Nadu government could remain in office but till now there had been no response.
Citing the recent interim order passed by the apex court asking the BCCI President N. Srinivasan to step down and not to discharge his functions in view of the conflict of interest (in view of India Cements holding the franchise for Chennai Super Kings) till the completion of an enquiry, the petitioners said similarly Ms. Jayalalithaa should step down till the disposal of her DA case in the trial court.
The petitioners said they had raised an important question “whether a minister or elected representative being the minister/head of a particular department which is probing into charges of corruption and other criminal charges against the said minister in his/her capacity as prime accused/accused in a particular case dealt by it” could hold office during the pendency of the enquiry.
