Persons with disabilities to be nominated to local bodies in Tamil Nadu; Governor clears bill
Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi has granted assent to bills that empower the state government to nominate persons with disabilities (PwDs) to positions in the municipal administration and rural development departments.
Chief Minister MK Stalin took a dig at Ravi while acknowledging the governor’s decision. “The Governor has approved the bill for disabled people today … It was expected as we passed it in the legislative resolution. Maybe he was afraid that we would go to court if he didn’t give his assent,” Stalin told the media.
The bills, which amends two key state laws, was introduced and passed in the Assembly on April 16. It gives the government the authority to directly nominate PwDs to various departments of local governance.
Prior to this, representation of PwDs in Tamil Nadu’s local bodies was notably low, with only 35 individuals serving in urban local bodies, according to reports.
Governor Ravi’s assent marks a significant development, particularly in light of a recent Supreme Court ruling concerning the governors’ constitutional responsibilities. Governor Ravi had earlier withheld assent to several bills, leading the state to petition the Supreme Court. In a landmark judgment, the court criticised the Governor’s inaction as unconstitutional and unlawful, and directed that specific timelines be followed when dealing with bills.
Although the disability-related bills were not part of the case before the Supreme Court, the Governor’s approval is seen as a step towards respecting legislative processes in the wake of the court’s ruling.