Retd judge to lead TN panel to 'protect rights of states'

Tamil Nadu chief minister and DMK president MK Stalin on Tuesday announced a high-level committee headed by a retired Supreme Court judge to protect the rights of states, a move that comes shortly after the state won a legal battle in the Supreme Court over the powers of the Governor to stall state business (the court effectively ruled that there were none).

- Divya Chandrababu

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu chief minister and DMK president MK Stalin on Tuesday announced a high-level committee headed by a retired Supreme Court judge to protect the rights of states, a move that comes shortly after the state won a legal battle in the Supreme Court over the powers of the Governor to stall state business (the court effectively ruled that there were none).

The committee will be headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice Kurian Joseph to "protect the legitimate rights of the state" as provided in the Constitution and strengthen the relationship between the Union and state governments, according to Stalin.

The other two committee members are Ashok Vardhan Shetty, a retired IAS officer and former vice-chancellor of the Indian Maritime University, and M Naganathan, former vice-chairman of the Tamil Nadu State Planning Commission.

While announcing the composition of the committee, Stalin spoke of Tamil Nadu's opposition to the national medical entrance exam NEET and the National Education Policy (NEP) which mandates a three-language formula.