The Supreme Court on Friday reprimanded the Governors of both Punjab and Tamil Nadu for delaying Bills passed by their respective State Legislature.
Calling it a matter of very serious concern, the Bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Misra told Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit and Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi not to deflect the course of bills passed by a duly elected Assembly.
While taking up the writ petition filed by the Punjab government, the Apex Court expressed its unhappiness over the current situation in Punjab and said that the Governor was ‘playing with fire’.
Noting that India has been running on established traditions and conventions, which needed to be followed, the Bench said if the Governor behaved in such a way, then how could India remain to be a parliamentary democracy.
It further directed the Punjab Governor to decide on the four bills, including money bills, which have been submitted for his assent. Governor Purohit had withheld assent to the Bills by doubting the validity of the June session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, in which they were passed.
Declaring the June Session of the Punjab Assembly as valid, the Bench ruled that it was within the powers of the Speaker to adjourn the budget session convened in March 2023, instead of proroguing it, and calling back the session again in June. It further said that the Governor could not doubt the session..
Noting that 12 bills were pending with Governor Ravi, the Apex Court issued notice to the Union government on the writ petition filed by the State of Tamil Nadu.
The Bench further took view of the fact that several decisions taken by the Tamil Nadu government regarding the grant of premature release to prisoners, sanction for prosecution and appointment of members to the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission were pending with the Governor.
The Bench sought the presence of the Attorney General for India or the Solicitor General of India for assistance and listed the writ petition filed by the state of Tamil Nadu for further hearing on November 20.