TN Governor RN Ravi Incurred Disqualification By Accepting 'Office Of Profit': Plea In Madras High Court

The petitioner, M Kannadasan submitted that as per Section 13 of the Auroville Foundation Act, the Chairman was entitled to salaries and allowances along with other benefits like leave, pension, provident fund etc as fixed by the Central Government. Drawing attention to Article 158(2) of the Constitution of India which prohibits the Governor from holding any other office of profit, Kannadasan submitted that the moment Ravi accepted the position of Chairman, he was disqualified to continue in the office of the Governor.

The petition further states that Ravi was acting against the mandate of the Constitution and violating the oath of his office. Once he had violated the provisions of the Constitution, he was not entitled to continue in the position of Governor of Tamil Nadu and was liable to be removed from office forthwith, it is contended.

Ravi assumed office as the Governor of Tamil Nadu on 18th September 2021. On 6th October 2021, exercising powers conferred under section 11 read with section 12 of the Auroville Foundation Act 1988, the Ministry of Education issued a notification nominating Ravi as the Chairman of the Auroville Foundation and eight others as its members.

The petition also mentions that while being the Chairman of the foundation, Ravi has been acting against the charter of Auroville which is a non-religious, casteless humanitarian, multi-national spiritual organization. Attention was also drawn to the comments made by Ravi in his capacity as the Governor, where he was allegedly propagating the Sanatana Dharma.