- Wednesday, April 16, 2025
The State Platform for Common School System-Tamil Nadu said Ravi failed to abide by the Constitution and urged president Droupadi Murmu to remove him from his post
By: India Weekly
TAMIL NADU governor R N Ravi’s reported remarks asking students of a college in Madurai to chant “Jai Shri Ram” have triggered a controversy with educationists calling for his removal citing violation of his oath of office to abide by the Constitution and is secular principles.
The State Platform for Common School System-Tamil Nadu (SPCSS-TN), said Ravi failed to abide by the Constitution, respect its ideals and institutions, and urged president Droupadi Murmu to remove him from his post.
“Ravi should be removed from the office of governor of Tamil Nadu forthwith for deliberately violating Article 159 (oath by governor) of the Constitution of India,” SPCSS-TN General Secretary, PB Prince Gajendra Babu, said in a statement.
Ravi was invited by a government-aided college in Madurai as chief guest to distribute prizes to the winners in a literary contest.
Delivering his address on April 12, he had asked the students to chant the name of a God of particular religion (Jai Shri Ram) thrice.
The SPCSS-TN appealed to the president to ensure that Ravi is removed from the office of Governor of Tamil Nadu.
According to the Constitution education is a secular activity aimed to develop scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform.
However, Ravi failed to preserve, defend and protect the Constitution by chanting the name of the God of a particular religion, SPCSS-TN said.
SPCSS-TN is a body of educationists and educational activists following socialist principles.
Congress MP (Tiruvallur) Sasikanth Senthil said in a post on ‘X’: “After being slammed by the Supreme Court and blocked by the State Government, he’s now resorting to stunts like making students chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’ just to irritate the system. Clearly frustrated, he’s sending a message that “Even if the courts rule against me, I will find other ways to push my agenda.” It’s a dangerous mix of arrogance and defiance that undermines democratic institutions and the principles of the Constitution!
On April 8, 2025, the Supreme Court’s bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan said the 10 Bills withheld by Governor Ravi were deemed to have been given assent.
The court came down heavily on Governor Ravi and said him reserving 10 Bills for the consideration of the President was against constitutional provisions.
It was considered a major victory for the DMK government and a legal setback for Governor Ravi.
On April 12, Tamil Nadu government duly notified the 10 Acts in the state gazette. (PTI)
