The State governments of Punjab and Tamil Nadu have initiated legal action in the Supreme Court, raising concerns about delays in obtaining the necessary approvals from their respective Governors for bills that have been passed by their State assemblies.
In two separate petitions, these two States have appealed to the Supreme Court for intervention to expedite the processing of bills awaiting approval from the Governors. Both petitions were officially submitted on October 28.
The Punjab government’s petition has been accepted for listing, while the current status of the Tamil Nadu government’s petition remains uncertain. Punjab’s Governor, Banwarilal Purohit, has granted assent to only 22 out of the 27 bills passed by the Punjab Legislative Assembly during the tenure of the incumbent government led by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
Upon learning of Punjab’s government’s move to approach the Supreme Court due to the Governor’s delay in granting assent, Governor Purohit reassured Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann that a decision on the remaining bills would be made in the coming days. He stated, “The rest of the five bills passed by the Assembly as well as three money bills sent by the Government recently are under my consideration, and I will take a decision after due consideration on them in the coming days.”
Previously, the Punjab government had also approached the top court to address Governor Purohit’s failure to convene the budget session of the assembly. This plea was eventually resolved after the Governor convened the assembly as advised by the council of ministers.
Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu government has reported that 12 of the bills passed by the State are awaiting approval in the office of Governor RN Ravi. The government has further alleged that the Governor is delaying decisions on matters related to the prosecution of public servants and the premature release of prisoners.
In their plea filed through advocate Sabarish Subramanian, the State government has urged the Supreme Court to direct the Governor to handle these matters within specified timeframes. Additionally, the government has referred to the recommendations of the Sarkaria Commission and requested the issuance of guidelines regarding time limits for Governors to grant assent to bills passed by the Assembly.
The plea states that the Governor’s inaction is causing a significant disruption in the administration and creating an adversarial relationship with the State government. It emphasizes that the Governor’s failure to perform their constitutional duties is undermining the will of the citizens.
The relationship between Governor Ravi and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam-led State government has been strained for some time. In January, the Governor left the Assembly before the national anthem was played after Chief Minister MK Stalin objected to the Governor omitting portions of the speech prepared by the State government.
This dispute between State Governors and governments has resulted in numerous legal battles in the Supreme Court in recent months. In April, the Supreme Court took note of Governors delaying their assent to bills passed by State legislatures and urged them to fulfill their duty under Article 200 of the Constitution, which requires them to clear bills “as soon as possible.”
Previously, the State of Telangana had also approached the apex court, seeking directives for the State’s Governor, Tamilisai Soundararajan, to grant her assent to ten crucial bills passed by the State legislature.
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Punjab and Tamil Nadu Petition Supreme Court Over Governor Delays in Bill Approval
The State governments of Punjab and Tamil Nadu have initiated legal action in the Supreme Court, raising concerns about delays in obtaining the necessary approvals from their respective Governors for bills that have been passed by their State assemblies.
In two separate petitions, these two States have appealed to the Supreme Court for intervention to expedite the processing of bills awaiting approval from the Governors. Both petitions were officially submitted on October 28.
The Punjab government’s petition has been accepted for listing, while the current status of the Tamil Nadu government’s petition remains uncertain. Punjab’s Governor, Banwarilal Purohit, has granted assent to only 22 out of the 27 bills passed by the Punjab Legislative Assembly during the tenure of the incumbent government led by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
Upon learning of Punjab’s government’s move to approach the Supreme Court due to the Governor’s delay in granting assent, Governor Purohit reassured Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann that a decision on the remaining bills would be made in the coming days. He stated, “The rest of the five bills passed by the Assembly as well as three money bills sent by the Government recently are under my consideration, and I will take a decision after due consideration on them in the coming days.”
Previously, the Punjab government had also approached the top court to address Governor Purohit’s failure to convene the budget session of the assembly. This plea was eventually resolved after the Governor convened the assembly as advised by the council of ministers.
Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu government has reported that 12 of the bills passed by the State are awaiting approval in the office of Governor RN Ravi. The government has further alleged that the Governor is delaying decisions on matters related to the prosecution of public servants and the premature release of prisoners.
In their plea filed through advocate Sabarish Subramanian, the State government has urged the Supreme Court to direct the Governor to handle these matters within specified timeframes. Additionally, the government has referred to the recommendations of the Sarkaria Commission and requested the issuance of guidelines regarding time limits for Governors to grant assent to bills passed by the Assembly.
The plea states that the Governor’s inaction is causing a significant disruption in the administration and creating an adversarial relationship with the State government. It emphasizes that the Governor’s failure to perform their constitutional duties is undermining the will of the citizens.
The relationship between Governor Ravi and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam-led State government has been strained for some time. In January, the Governor left the Assembly before the national anthem was played after Chief Minister MK Stalin objected to the Governor omitting portions of the speech prepared by the State government.
This dispute between State Governors and governments has resulted in numerous legal battles in the Supreme Court in recent months. In April, the Supreme Court took note of Governors delaying their assent to bills passed by State legislatures and urged them to fulfill their duty under Article 200 of the Constitution, which requires them to clear bills “as soon as possible.”
Previously, the State of Telangana had also approached the apex court, seeking directives for the State’s Governor, Tamilisai Soundararajan, to grant her assent to ten crucial bills passed by the State legislature.
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