Following the advice of the high court, the state government requested the governor to approve the budget and address the session.
Published Jan 31, 2023 | 5:16 PM ⚊ Updated Jan 31, 2023 | 5:16 PM
The Telangana Governor summon the Second Telangana Legislative Assembly to meet for its Fourth Meeting of the Eighth Session. (South First)
Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan has issued a notification summoning the Assembly session — beginning on 3 February — ending speculation on whether she will be giving her speech at the session or not.
After smoothing things out with the Raj Bhavan, the K Chandrashekar Rao-led government on Monday evening, 30 January, approached Soundararajan and requested her to approve the budget and address the session.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (1) of Article 174 of the Constitution of India, I, Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan, Governor of Telangana, hereby summon the Second Telangana Legislative Assembly to meet for its Fourth Meeting of Eighth Session at 12:10 PM on Friday, the 3 February, 2023 in the Assembly hall, Public Gardens, Hyderabad,” the Governor’s notification, dated 30 January, read.
A row broke out last year when the governor’s customary address to the Assembly did not take place.
Soundararajan, who assumed office in 2019, has been complaining of the state government not following protocol with regard to her office for over a year.
She has noted incidents of officials not turning up, as per protocol, during her visits to districts, even as she maintained that it is not about her as an individual but that the office of the governor should be respected.
The ruling BRS leaders, however, denied allegation that the state government was disrespecting her.
The differences between the BRS government and Raj Bhavan came to the fore once again on 26 January this year, with KCR staying away from the Republic Day celebrations held at Raj Bhavan.
In a dramatic turn of events, the Telangana government on Monday moved a Lunch Motion before the Telangana High Court, seeking a direction to the governor to approve the file pertaining to budget presentation.
However, following the advice of the court, advocates of the state government and the Raj Bhavan held discussions and informed the court that they had come to an understanding and, hence, the court could dispose of the petition.
During the discussions, it was agreed that there would an address by the governor during the budget session and that the speech copy would be furnished by the state government.
Earlier in the day, the government knocked on the doors of the high court, stating that the state government was yet to receive the governor’s approval on the budget to be presented in the Assembly session.
The court expressed its opinion that both the constitutional functionaries should resolve the situation amicably and come to an understanding.
As per discussions, there will be a governor’s budget speech this time, said Advocate General BS Prasad said.
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