Tensions grow between Raj Bhavan and AAP government after Punjab Governor withheld his approval for three Bills expected to be tabled in the two-day assembly session starting today. The Governor expressed his disapproval in a letter to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.
In his letter, Governor Banwarilal Purohit said, “strongly suggesting” the Bhagwang Mann government to either call monsoon or winger session in place of choosing to continue this “precarious course”.
Mr Purohit said said that if the Bhagwant Mann government continues the “patently illegal session”, he will be forced to take an action including reporting the same to the President.
The government said he received three Bills – the Punjab Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2023, The Punjab Fiscal Responsibility and Budegt Management (Amendment) Bill, 2023 and the Indian Stamp (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2023 for his approval to be presented in the ‘Special Session of the fourth Budget Session of the Vidhan Sabha’.
He said in his letters earlier in July and October he had already mentioned that the such a session was “patently illegal, against the accepted procedures and practice of the legislature, and against the provisions of the Constitution”. He had also said, “as the Budget Session stood concluded, any such extended session is bound to be illegal, and any business conducted during such sessions is likely to be unlawful, and ab initio void”
“In spite of these communications, disregarding the possibility of taking an unconstitutional step, it appears that a decision has been taken to call the session. For these reasons I withhold my approval to the above-mentioned Bills,” he said in his fresh letter to the Chief Minister.
