The AAP-led government wanted to get 3 money Bills passed in the Vidhan Sabha, which were related to amendments in the GST Act.
Published Oct 30, 2023 | 11:38 AM ⚊ Updated Oct 30, 2023 | 11:38 AM
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Governor Banwarilal Purohit. (Commons)
The ongoing deadlock between the Punjab government and the state’s Governor over three money Bills seems to be headed to a thaw.
With the Punjab government moving the Supreme Court against Governor Banwarilal Purohit for withholding three money Bills, the latter softening his stand in a letter to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, said that he had decided to consider them.
Governor Purohit, in the letter, said that he was in consultation with all those concerned and, in the larger interest of the welfare of the people of Punjab, had decided to examine all the Bills on merit, as well as in terms of various provisions of the Constitution of India.
The letter read, “I may point out that after your taking over as Chief Minister of Punjab, I have already given assent to 22 Bills out of 27 Bills passed by the Punjab Vidhan Sabha.”
“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 in the coming days. I will convey my decision to you accordingly,” the Governor had written.
A letter written by the office of the Governor to the Secretary Vidhan Sabha, refusing to allow them permission to hold the two-day special sitting of the House on 20-21 October, is the basis on which the government has approached the Supreme Court.
The petition of the same is expected to come up for a hearing on Monday, 30 October.
The office of the Governor had declined permission, saying that the state government cannot hold a special sitting of the House post adjournment of the House sine die and that such a session would be illegal and any business conducted in the session would be unlawful and an void ab initio.
The state government wanted to get three money Bills passed in the Vidhan Sabha, which were related to amendments in the GST Act, which amongst other things included setting up a GST Appellate Tribunal and imposition of GST on online games.
The Aam Aadmi Party government in the state is going to the Supreme Court for the second time against the Governor during its two-year rule in Punjab. The government had earlier approached the apex court in February this year after the Governor had refused to summon the Budget session.
Punjab’s AAP chief spokesperson Malvinder Singh Kang, while talking to South First said, “The Punjab Vidhan Sabha session has always been legitimate and the Bills passed are according to the Constitution and are legal. It is very unfortunate for Punjab that the Governor is interfering with the work of the elected government.”
He further added, “This is true for every non-BJP state. With no option left, we went to the Supreme Court regarding this and we had been given a date of 30 October.”
“But today, we received a letter from the Governor and he gave assent to 22 Bills out of the 27 Bills passed in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha. He will consider the remaining Bills as well. This is a constitutional win and the win of the elected government,” Kang said.
