Kerala Govt To Move SC Against Governor Arif Mohammed Khan's Delay In Clearing 8 Bills

Pinarayi Vijayan stated that despite a long time, the 8 bills have not become law, and now the state government must only seek legal remedy regarding the issue.

Pinarayi Vijayan accused the Governor of acting against the spirit of Parliamentary democracy. ( Image Source :PTI )

The Kerala government is set to approach the Supreme Court against Governor Arif Mohammed Khan's delay in signing eight bills passed in the Assembly. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan made the decision to take the legal route public during a press address in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday.

Addressing a press conference, Pinarayi Vijayan said that the Assembly passed eight bills after detailed deliberations were submitted for the approval of the Governor under Article 200 of the Constitution. 

However, he said that those bills have not become law even after a long time and the state government now has to only seek legal remedy over the issue. 

The CM said that they already sought the opinion of senior lawyer Fali S Nariman on whether the Governor has the power to indefinitely hold the bills without giving a nod. 

He said, "The government is planning to approach the Apex court and seek the service of senior lawyer K K Venugopal to present the case."

Stating that there are 8 bills pending with the Governor of which three of them have been lying there for one year and 10 months, CM said that the Governor cannot unnecessarily delay the bills sent to him after the Assembly passes them as per the constitution. 

He said that the Governor has kept even Public Health Bill pending for more than 5 months. It should be noted that the Bill did not get any objections from any quarters. 

On the Vice Chancellor's appointments to universities, Vijayan said that it got delayed due to the delay in enacting important bills regarding the university administration.

He accused the Governor of acting against the spirit of Parliamentary democracy.

"The wishes of the people are represented through assembly. As a result, after the Assembly passes a Bill, the Governor must sign it right away," Vijayan said adding, states like Telangana and Tamil Nadu experience similar issues.