M A I N   N E W S

Tamil Nadu Governor resigns
Resignation letter forwarded to govt

New Delhi, July 1
President K. R. Narayanan tonight forwarded Tamil Nadu Governor Fathima Beevi’s letter of resignation to the government for review.

Earlier, Fathima Beevi had submitted her resignation to the President following Centre’s decision to recall her.

Andhra Pradesh Governor C Rangarajan is being asked to take additional charge of Tamil Nadu and will be sworn in shortly.

CHENNAI: Ms Fathima Beevi had an eventful term in Tamil Nadu, culminating in her resignation following the Union Cabinet’s decision recommending her recall by the President after she failed to ‘discharge her constitutional obligations’ and inform the President on the happenings in the state, including the arrest of Mr M. Karunanidhi, Mr Murasoli Maran and Mr T. R. Baalu.

A retired Supreme Court Judge, Ms Fathima Beevi became the Governor on January 25, 1997. Before assuming the office, she was a member of the National Human Rights Commission.

Ironically, Mr Karunanidhi, as the Chief Minister of the state, was instrumental in bringing her as the Governor as she hailed from a minority community.

He himself demanded her recall after she had sworn in his arch-rival J. Jayalalithaa as the state Chief Minister despite the AIADMK supremo being disqualified from contesting the Assembly polls due to her conviction in two corruption cases.

In one of her first acts as Governor, Ms Beevi, in March, 1997, sanctioned the prosecution of Ms Jayalalithaa in the disproportionate wealth case on finding prima facie evidence against her.

During her tenure as Governor, the state had witnessed many turbulent events, including the Coimbatore serial bomb blasts in February, 1998, and the conviction of Ms Jayalalithaa in two corruption cases last year.

When the Tamil Nadu Government decided to ban the Al Umma, an Islamic fundamentalist organisation in 1998, she reportedly expressed her reservation over the decision.

Mr Karunanidhi, during his term as Chief Minister, maintained a perfect working relationship with Ms Beevi by meeting her frequently and briefing her on all major decisions taken by his Cabinet.

Ms Jayalalithaa, who was sworn in as Chief Minister on May 14, also had a good relationship with her. She had called on the Governor at least four times during the past 47 days.

Ms Jayalalithaa, during her earlier tenure as Chief Minister, had avoided calling on the then Governor Dr M. Chenna Reddy, after he gave permission for her prosecution. PTI, UNI