The ongoing tussle between Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Governor Banwarilal Purohit has once again ignited a communication war on Friday. The Chief Minister, citing a recent Supreme Court directive, urged the Governor to expedite the approval of five pending bills passed by the Punjab Vidhan Sabha. In response, Governor Purohit assured that the bills were under “active consideration”, and that a decision will be taken expeditiously, aligning his stance with the recent judgment of the Apex Court.
The developments came after the Supreme Court's intervention, directing the Governor Purohit to decide on the bills that were passed during the “constitutionally-valid” session held on June 19 and 20. The Court emphasized that the Governor's powers should not be used to thwart the normal legislative process.
In a letter addressed to the Governor, the Chief Minister Mann highlighted the passage of five crucial bills — The Sikh Gurudwara (Amendment) Bill, 2023; The Punjab Police (Amendment) Bill, 2023; The Punjab Affiliated Colleges (Security of Service) (Amendment) Bill 2023; The Punjab Universities Laws (Amendment) Bill 2023; and The Punjab State Vigilance Commission (Repeal) Bill, 2022.
At the same time, he urged Governor Purohit to expedite the approval process, citing the recent validation of the June session by the Supreme Court.
Mann, in his letter to the Governor, said, “It is submitted that the five Bills were passed by the Punjab Vidhan Sabha which are pending at your end for accord of assent. Four of these Bills were passed in the sittings of the budget session held on June 19 and 20, 2023….In your earlier communications, you had stated that the validity of the special sittings of the Vidhan Sabha, was in doubt, was an impediment for clearing the Bills. The issue has been held to be valid by the Supreme Court of India in its orders pronounced in court on 10.11.2023. I would request that in keeping with the constitutional obligation and spirit of democracy, these Bills be cleared forthwith.”
Governor Purohit responded to Mann’s letter, acknowledging that the bills were under “active consideration” and assuring that an appropriate decision, in accordance with the law, will be taken expeditiously.
He expressed satisfaction with the cessation of the practice of adjourning the Assembly sine die and recalling it without proroguing, attributing this positive change to the Supreme Court’s intervention. The Governor also reminded the Chief Minister Mann to follow the agreed-upon procedures, as he had advised before.
This exchange of letters marks another episode in the ongoing discord between the AAP-led Punjab Government and Punjab Raj Bhavan.
The extension of the Budget session, which was adjourned sine die in March without being prorogued, has been a contentious issue between the Bhagwant Mann dispensation and the Raj Bhavan. The Supreme Court, in its judgment on November 10, declared the June session legal, emphasizing the Governor's role as an unelected head of state and warning against interference in the legislative process.
The recent back-and-forth between Chief Minister Mann and Governor Purohit carries significant implications. It eliminates the need for the Punjab Government to table the four bills that were passed during the June session. The Government, which was awaiting detailed orders, has received a boost as the Supreme Court's order has clarified the legality of the session.
The Chief Minister, addressing the media on Friday, welcomed the Supreme Court's declaration, emphasizing the legality of the June session. He reiterated the contents of the Government’s letter to Governor Purohit, urging a swift decision on the pending bills.
The bills awaiting approval encompass critical legislation, such as The Punjab Police (Amendment) Bill, 2023, designed to establish an independent mechanism for the selection of the Director General of Police; The Sikh Gurudwaras (Amendment) Bill, 2023, aims to diminish undue control over the broadcast rights of sacred Gurbani; the controversial Punjab University Laws (Amendment) Bill-2023, which challenges the Governor's role as chancellor, remains in limbo.
The Supreme Court's criticism of the Governor's prolonged withholding of assent underscores the need for adherence to constitutional processes. The Court highlighted that the Governor's powers shouldn't obstruct the normal course of lawmaking by state legislatures.
As the political drama continues to unfold, the two-day session of the Punjab Assembly scheduled for November 28 looms large. The pending bills, if approved, will significantly impact governance and legislative measures in the State.
Purohit had on November 15 prorogued the budget session after the Punjab Vidhan Sabha secretariat wrote to him requesting it.
