Close X
Sunday, November 10, 2024
ADVT 
India

'Playing with fire': SC comes down heavily on Punjab Governor for withholding assent on bills

Darpan News Desk IANS, 10 Nov, 2023 01:52 PM
  • 'Playing with fire': SC comes down heavily on Punjab Governor for withholding assent on bills

New Delhi, Nov 10 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Friday came down heavily on the Punjab Governor for withholding assent to the bills passed by the state legislature.

A bench, headed by CJI D.Y. Chandrachud, said that the Governor and the elected government being at loggerheads is a matter of "serious concern".

"How can you (the Governor) sit in a judgment whether a session has been validly prorogued or otherwise?” asked the bench, also comprising Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Misra.

It questioned whether there exists any provision under the Constitution conferring jurisdiction on the Governor to decide if the session has been "invalidly" called by the Speaker.

The Supreme Court also said that the Governor of Punjab is "playing with fire" by deflecting the course of bills passed by a duly elected Assembly. It ordered the Governor to decide on the bills forwarded for his assent after being passed by the state legislature.

"We are governed by a parliamentary form of government where the government is accountable to the legislature. The Governor is a titular head of the state," it added.

The Punjab Raj Bhawan had objected over holding of the special session of the Assembly on June 19-20. The Sikh Gurdwaras (Amendment) Bill, 2023, the Punjab Universities Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2023, the Punjab Police (Amendment) Bill, 2023, and the Punjab Affiliated Colleges (Security of Service) Amendment Bill, 2023 are still awaiting the Governor's assent.

Based on legal advice, the Governor had said that calling of such a session was "illegal, against the accepted procedures and practice of the legislature, and against the provisions of the Constitution".

|urther, the Governor has said the October 20-21 session, which was projected as an extension of the budget session, was "bound to be illegal" and any business conducted during it "unlawful".

Governor Banwarilal Purohit has been involved in a running feud with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.

In its plea filed before the apex court, the Punjab government had said that the Governor cannot indefinitely sit over the bills as he has restricted powers under Article 200 of the Constitution and such "unconstitutional inaction" has brought the entire administration to a "grinding halt".

MORE India ARTICLES

Fake call centre cheating US citizens busted in Goa

Fake call centre cheating US citizens busted in Goa
The accused persons were directing the victims to pay processing fee/security deposit through online options such as Google Pay gift card, Apple Pay gift card, Walmart gift card and Target gift card.  

Fake call centre cheating US citizens busted in Goa

Smriti Irani slams Rahul Gandhi over his alleged gesture of flying kiss

Smriti Irani slams Rahul Gandhi over his alleged gesture of flying kiss
“Never before has the misogynistic behaviour of a man been so visible in Parliament as what was done by Rahul Gandhi today. When the House of the people, where laws are made to protect the dignity of women, during the course of a session stands witness to a man's misogyny, my question is should he be brought to task?” Irani told reporters here

Smriti Irani slams Rahul Gandhi over his alleged gesture of flying kiss

Manipur unrest: ITLF delegation meets Amit Shah

Manipur unrest: ITLF delegation meets Amit Shah
During the meeting, Shah assured that the deployment of the Central forces in the state will be further strengthened and reoriented to plug vulnerable gap areas, the statement said.  The Home Minister also assured that necessary arrangements will also be made to facilitate transportation and identification of dead bodies, it claimed.     

Manipur unrest: ITLF delegation meets Amit Shah

Four suspected members of Bambiha gang held in Punjab

Four suspected members of Bambiha gang held in Punjab
The criminals opened fire on police and in self-defence, the police party fired back, resulting in the accused sustaining gunshot injuries, he said. Three other criminals were arrested along with three pistols and 20 cartridges and a snatched car.  

Four suspected members of Bambiha gang held in Punjab

Sukhbir Badal seeks probe against Punjab ministers for land ‘fraud’

Sukhbir Badal seeks probe against Punjab ministers for land ‘fraud’
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Badal on Tuesday demanded registration of an FIR against Punjab ministers Lalchand Kataruchak and Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal for colluding with each other with the motive of transferring 100 acres of government land to private people for alleged gains.

Sukhbir Badal seeks probe against Punjab ministers for land ‘fraud’

Nuh: 57 FIRs, 170 arrested as Haryana Police action continues after violence; situation calm

Nuh: 57 FIRs, 170 arrested as Haryana Police action continues after violence; situation calm
Meanwhile, a 10-member delegation of the Haryana Congress, comprising Rajya Sabha member Deepender Singh Hooda, state Congress chief Chaudhary Udaybhan, and others, was stopped on Tuesday from entering Nuh by the police.  

Nuh: 57 FIRs, 170 arrested as Haryana Police action continues after violence; situation calm