Madras High Court orders notice on plea to disqualify T.N. Minister Ponmudy
The Madras High Court on Thursday (April 24, 2025) granted time till June 5 for Tamil Nadu government as well as Forest Minister K. Ponmudy, in his individual capacity, to respond to a public interest litigation petition filed by an advocate to disqualify the Minister from holding any constitutional post due to his recent derogatory speech against Saivites, Vaishnavites and women in general.
First Division Bench of Chief Justice K.R. Shriram and Justice Mohammed Shaffiq directed State Government Pleader Edwin Prabakar to take notice on behalf of the Home Secretary and ordered notice to Mr. Ponmudy too seeking their response to the case by June 5. The judges directed the High Court Registry to list the matter again on June 19 for further hearing.
During the course of arguments on Thursday, Advocate General P.S. Raman pointed out that the PIL petitioner B. Jagannath had made some highly objectionable statements against Chief Minister M.K. Stalin in an additional affidavit filed by him in support of his case. Immediately, the petitioner agreed to redact those statements, and the judges recorded his statement.
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