Parliamentary Secretary to the Chief Minister K. Lakshminarayanan has warned officials about initiating contempt proceedings against them if they failed to comply with the recent Madras High Court order upholding the powers of an elected government.
Mr. Lakshminarayanan, who filed a Public Interest Litigation in the HC questioning the powers of Lieutenant Governor, in a two page letter to the Chief Secretary and Secretaries, said the court in its judgment on April 30 had ruled out the interference of administrator in the day to day affairs of the government.
The decision taken by the Chief Minister and his Council of Ministers was binding on the secretaries and other officials, he stated in the letter. The court had vested the powers with Head of the Department — the Minister it, he said quoting the HC verdict. “A reading of all the conclusions of the court makes it clear and is self explanatory. In this regard, please note that any violation by any of the government servants or officers would invite a contempt application before the High Court,” he said. Mr. Lakshminarayanan added it was imperative of all concerned to “obey and punctually observe” the court directions “in letter and spirit”.
The letter mentioned the Special Leave Petition filed by the administrator and Central government in the Supreme Court challenging the order. Interim stay was not granted by the apex court as both were praying in the SLP for admission and interim relief, the letter said.
