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

Law Minister R. Nirmalkumar on Friday said officials need not attend any ‘review’ meetings conducted by the Governor.

Speaking at the District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DISHA) meeting in Madurai, Mr. Nirmalkumar said officials shall attend only meetings convened by the elected representatives and those conducted as per law. “Officials are not obliged to organise or attend meetings called by authorities such as Governors,” he said.

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

Madurai MP Su. Venkatesan said the Governor, who was in Madurai for a college function, had planned a review meeting on various projects at the Circuit House. As the news spread among senior officials at the Secretariat, objections were raised and the proposed meeting was ‘dropped’, he said.

However, a press release from the Department of Information and Public Relations, issued late in the evening on Thursday, said Collector Nishant Krishna and Commissioner of Police S. Rajendran had called on the Governor. “It was a courtesy call by the two officers,” the release added.

Mr. Venkatesan said only elected MPs had the authority to conduct and preside over DISHA meetings.

When asked about the Governor’s appeal to clean the Vaigai river in Madurai and that if the people here failed, the Lok Bhavan would step in, Mr Venkatesan said the district administration has plans to clean the river. Very soon, it would be transformed into a public movement.

He wondered if the Governor would ask similar question to the judiciary on the pendency of cases and among others. “If the courts fail to address the pendency, will the Governor say that the Lok Bhavan would pitch in,” he asked.