Officials not obliged to attend ‘review’ meetings with Governor, says Law Minister

Law Minister R. Nirmalkumar said on Friday that there is no need for officials to attend any ‘review’ meeting conducted by the Governor.

Addressing the District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DISHA) meeting in Madurai, Mr. Nirmalkumar said officials will only attend meetings organized by elected representatives and conducted in accordance with the law. He said officials are not obliged to organize or attend meetings called by officials such as Governors.

His remarks came after reports that Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar wanted to hold a ‘review’ meeting with officials at the Madurai Circuit House on Thursday.

Madurai MP Su. Venkatesan said he has planned a review meeting on various projects at the Governor’s Circuit House, which is in Madurai on a university assignment. He said as the news spread among senior officials in the Secretariat, objections increased and the proposed meeting was ‘withdrawn’.

However, a press release issued by the Information and Public Relations Department late in the evening on Thursday stated that Collector Nishant Krishna and Commissioner of Police S. Rajendran had summoned the Governor. “It was a courtesy visit by two police officers,” the statement said.

Mr. Venkatesan said only elected MPs have the authority to manage and chair DISHA meetings.

When asked about the governor’s call to clean the Vaigai river in Madurai and the Lok Bhavan stepping in if people here fail, Mr. Venkatesan said the district administration has plans to clean the river. It will soon turn into a popular movement.

He wondered whether the governor would ask the judiciary a similar question regarding the continuation of cases and other matters. “Will the Governor say Lok Bhavan will step in if the courts fail to resolve the issue of detention?” he asked.