Vacation Bench permits lawyer to move plea against appointment of Ricky Rathan Pandit Vettrivel as Officer on Special Duty to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister
Madras High Court Allows Plea Challenging Appointment of Astrologer as OSD to Tamil Nadu CM
The Madras High Court on Wednesday allowed a lawyer to file a petition challenging the appointment of astrologer Ricky Rathan Pandit Vettrivel as Officer on Special Duty (Political) to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay.
Background of the Controversy
The controversy began after the Tamil Nadu government issued an office proceeding on May 12. The order appointed Vettrivel as Officer on Special Duty to the Chief Minister (Political) with immediate effect.
The appointment drew criticism from opposition parties and political commentators. Many questioned the decision to appoint an astrologer to an official government post.
Vettrivel, also known as Ricky Rathan Pandit, had earlier attracted attention for predicting the electoral success of Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.
Proceedings Before the High Court
The matter was mentioned urgently before a vacation bench comprising Justice Victoria Gowri and Justice N. Senthilkumar.
Advocate Krishnamurthy sought permission to challenge the appointment before the Court. He argued that the government made the appointment without following statutory provisions and issued no prior official announcement.
During the hearing, the Bench questioned the urgency of the plea. In response, the lawyer stated that the appointment had already taken effect. He also sought liberty to approach the Court after the government’s scheduled floor test.
Court’s Response
The Bench allowed the lawyer to file the petition. The judges observed that the Court could hear the matter the following day if the plea was formally filed.
However, the Court did not examine the merits of the challenge during the mentioning proceedings.
Political Reactions
The appointment triggered criticism from several political parties and organisations. Critics argued that appointing an astrologer to a government position goes against constitutional values and scientific temper.
At the same time, some leaders defended the decision. They said the government may have appointed Vettrivel for his political or organisational role rather than for his work as an astrologer.
