Law Minister Nirmal Kumar Directs Officials to Skip Governor Reviews After Madurai Meet

Tamil Nadu Law Minister R Nirmal Kumar has asserted that Governor R V Arlekar has no legal authority to review government administrative work, directing state officials not to participate in such exercises without state approval. The minister's directive follows a meeting on Thursday between the Governor and senior district officials at the Circuit House in Madurai.

Speaking to officers during a District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DISHA) meeting in Madurai on Friday, Minister Nirmal Kumar stated that administrative powers to review government work rest solely with the elected government and its representatives. He clarified that the governor has no legal authority to summon officials or conduct reviews of government schemes, and that Lok Bhavan lacks the power to oversee administrative works.

The directive was issued a day after Governor Arlekar met with Madurai Collector Nishant Krishna, City Police Commissioner S Rajendiran, and District Superintendent of Police N Devanathan. Although the three officers subsequently issued a statement describing their meeting with the Governor at the Circuit House as a "courtesy call," the interaction triggered a fresh political confrontation.

The opposition DMK strongly criticized the ruling TVK government for allowing the meeting to take place, alleging that the governor was interfering in administrative work. Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin condemned the TVK administration, stating that by allowing the governor to carry out the review, it had become clear that the ruling party compromised state rights. He questioned whether the ruling party, which he accused of illegally indulging in the panic-buying of opposition MLAs, allowed the governor's inspection out of anxiety that he might otherwise take action.

This dispute marks the first major confrontation between the governor and the state government since the TVK assumed charge in Tamil Nadu.