In June, too, the Punjab government had extended the House, overruling the objections made by the state Governor.
Published Oct 13, 2023 | 8:13 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 13, 2023 | 8:13 PM
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann with AAP chief Aravind Kejriwal. (Supplied)
The Bhagwant Mann-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government and Punjab Governor Banwari Lal Purohit are at loggerheads yet again — this time over the forthcoming special session of the Vidhan Sabha.
The Governor’s objection came three days after the AAP government announced its decision to call the two-day meeting of the Vidhan Sabha amid the ongoing political slugfest in the state over the Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal.
The Punjab Vidhan Sabha Secretariat also issued, on the same day, a notice summoning the Assembly.
“Under second provision to Rule 16 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Punjab, the Speaker has been pleased to call the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, which was adjourned side-die on June 20, 2023, to meet at 11 am on October 20,” read the notice sent to all members of the Assembly.
Objecting to the session in a letter to the secretary Punjab Vidhan Sabha, the Governor’s office wrote that any such extended session is bound to be “illegal”, and any business conducted during such sessions is “unlawful, and ab-initio void”.
The letter highlighted a previous letter written to the chief minister in July in which the Governor had recorded his objection to a similar extended session, styled as “the Special Session of the 4th (Budget) Session of the 16th Punjab Vidhan Sabha”, and called on 12 June for 19 and 20 June.
Based on legal advice, and for reasons stated in the previous letter, the Governor had pointed out that the calling of such a session was patently illegal, against the accepted procedures and practice of the legislature, and against the provisions of the Constitution.
“In the present case also the calling of a Special Session of the 4th Budget Session of the 16th Punjab Vidhan Sabha suggests that it is a continuance of the fourth session, which was adjourned sine-die on June 20, is nothing but an attempt to extend the budget session which was summoned by the Governor for March 3, and which stood concluded on March 22, after the completion of the agenda for business of the said session,” read the letter.
Four controversial Bills — 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; passed during the Special Session are still pending with the Governor and political circles are abuzz that they will be brought up again in latest extended session.
It may be noted that the Opposition parties were also demanding a special session following the direction of the Supreme Court asking the Union government to survey the portion of land in Punjab that was allocated for constructing the SYL Canal, which has been hanging fire since 1990.
Though AAP is yet to react to the Governor’s apprehension, a senior AAP leader said there was nothing wrong with convening the House as the Budget session had been adjourned sine-die, not prorogued.
