Supreme Court takes stern view of reinstating Senthilbalaji as Tamil Nadu Cabinet Minister
The Hindu
T.N. Minister Senthilbalaji’s appointment was criticised by the SC; “straightaway” after money laundering bail, emphasizing justice and witness protection concerns.
The Supreme Court on Monday (December 2, 2024) took a stern view of the appointment of V. Senthilbalaji as a senior Cabinet Minister of Tamil Nadu “straightaway” after getting bail from the apex court in a money laundering case.
A Bench headed by Justice A.S. Oka was hearing an application seeking the withdrawal of its bail order of September 26, 2024.
“What is this? There are serious charges against him, and he straightaway becomes a Minister! This must stop. People would be justified now for their apprehension that witnesses would come under pressure,” Justice Oka addressed senior advocate Siddhartha Luthra, appearing for the Tamil Nadu government.
Mr. Senthilbalaji, represented by senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi and advocate Ram Sankar, was sworn in as a Cabinet Minister on September 29. He is accused of playing a “central and pivotal role” in the “job racket scam” during his tenure as Minister. The case involves kickbacks for jobs in the Metropolitan Transport Corporation of Chennai and Tamil Nadu State Corporation when Mr. Balaji was the Transport Minister.
Justice Oka emphasised that the “basic principle here is that justice should not only be done, but manifestly seen to be done”.
Reiterating the law laid down in the Senthilbalaji bail judgment that liberty cannot be withheld as a form of punishment, Justice Oka said its focus now would only be confined to the subsequent factual development of Mr. Senthilbalaji’s appointment as a Minister in this particular case.
The court, which did not issue formal notice in the case, said it would hear the allegation raised in the current application that now the witnesses would “not be in the frame of mind to oppose the Cabinet Minister”. The court listed the case for further hearing on December 13.
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