Overview

• Governor R N Ravi gave assent on June 3 to two bills that will allow state government to nominate persons with disabilities to urban and rural local bodies following a top-court verdict.
• The Supreme Court ruled in April that his earlier decision to withhold assent from several Assembly-passed bills was “illegal” and set deadlines for gubernatorial action subject to judicial review.
• The amendments to the 1998 Urban Local Bodies Act and the 1994 Panchayats Act empower direct nomination of persons with disabilities to municipal corporations, councils, panchayats and district bodies.
• Nominated members will serve five-year terms with honoraria and allowances equal to elected representatives, functioning in an advisory capacity without voting rights.
• Chief Minister M K Stalin described the assent as expected and suggested the Governor may have acted to avoid another legal challenge.