Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi wrote to CM Stalin and said that the order of dismissal of the Minister V Senthil Balaji may be kept in abeyance until further communication. The decision as per the Governor came after the Union Minister of Home Affairs said that it would be prudent to seek the opinion of the Attorney General also.
In a letter, Governor RN Ravi on Thursday said, "You may refer to my D.O. Letter No.0013/RBTN/2023 of today (29.06.2023) regarding the status of Thiru V. Senthil Balaji. In this regard I have been advised by the Hon'ble Union Minister of Home Affairs that it would be prudent to seek the opinion of the Attorney General also. Accordingly, I am approaching the Attorney General for his opinion. Meanwhile, the order of dismissal of the minister Thiru V.Senthil Balaji may be kept in abeyance until further communication from me."
The letter came soon after Governor informed about the dismissal of the Minister.
In a letter from Raj Bhavan on Thursday, Governor said, "There are reasonable apprehensions that continuation of Thiru V.Senthil Balaji as a Minister will continue to obstruct the due process of law and disrupt the course of Justice. Such a situation may eventually lead to breakdown of the Constitutional machinery in the State."
"Under such circumstances and the powers conferred to me under Articles 154, 163 and 164 of the Constitution of India, I hereby dismiss Thiru V.Senthil Balaji from the Council of Ministers with immediate effect," he said.
Following this, DMK members opposed the move. Posters have also cropped up near DMK headquarters questioning Governor about Union Ministers with pending cases against them.
Meanwhile, Chennai Sessions Court principal Judge Senthil Balaji ordered an extension of judicial custody of Balaji till July 12. The judge earlier remanded Balaji to 14-day judicial custody from June 14.