Kochi: Expressing concern over Governors sitting on bills, the Supreme Court today said that there has to be an end to the state governments approaching the Apex Court for getting bills cleared, media reports said.
A bench headed by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud said this while hearing a writ petition filed by Punjab government challenging Governor Banwarilal Purohit’s decision to delay clearing bills, the reports said.
Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta informed the court that the Governor has taken “appropriate decisions” on the bills and undertook to convey the details by Friday.
The Chief Justice asked why the Governors acted only after matters reached the Supreme Court.
The court pointed out a similar situation happened in Telangana where the court had to intervene.
“Governors should not be oblivious of the fact that they are not elected authorities”, the Chief Justice said.
Representing Punjab, Manu Singhvi, said that
the Governor not acting on important bills sent in July had affected the governance.
He said the Governor delayed clearing the The Solicitor General Tushar Mehta agreed to file a status report updating about the situation in Punjab.
Punjab Advocate General said that the Governor has given assent to two pending bills out of seven pending bills.
During the hearing, former Attorney General K K Venugopal said a similar petition was filed by Kerala government against the Governor Arif Mohammad Khan who was not acting on Bills that have been passed for the welfare of the people.
Venugopal appealed to the court to consider Kerala’s petition on Friday.
The bench agreed to post the petitions filed by Kerala and Tamil Nadu on Friday along with Punjab’s petition.
Bill clearance delay worries SC
