‘Didn’t Say I Won’t Sign Bill’: Kerala Guv Says Vijayan Govt Has ‘No Respect’ For Law, Constitution

Governor Khan's remarks came at a time when the Kerala government had sought the Supreme Court against the Governor's refusal to sign key laws, causing them to be delayed indefinitely.

Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan.

Source : PTI

Amid a controversy over the 'sitting over' of bills in many state Raj Bhavans, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Monday claimed that the state government has not been responding to the queries raised against the land reform bill, news agency ANI reported. His remarks came at a time when the Kerala government had sought the Supreme Court against the Governor's refusal to sign key laws, causing them to be delayed indefinitely.

Speaking on the land reforms bill, Governor Khan stated: "We have received so many representations and we have sent to the government to answer the queries so that we can suitably send replies to those who have sent the representation against this bill...At no point in time, I have said that I would not sign the bill. What I have said is that there are certain queries, please come and explain it. If they do not want to come and explain, how will I take the decision...Why can't they explain the questions which have been raised and all these pressure tactics, they can try somewhere else. I am not the one who buckles under pressure...They have no respect for the law. They have no respect for the constitution."

#WATCH | Thiruvananthapuram: On the land reforms bill, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan says, "We have received so many representations and we have sent to the government to answer the queries so that we can suitably send replies to those who have sent the representation… pic.twitter.com/1cN5JmSTnC

— ANI (@ANI) November 13, 2023

On November 8, chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan stated that Khan was obliged by the Constitution. The Governor has previously accused the state administration of abusing the legislature for reasons other than those intended.

Meanwhile, Raj Bhavans in some states have been at odds with elected administrations. Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, and Kerala have all petitioned the Supreme Court for orders to their respective governors in recent months. The Supreme Court expressed dissatisfaction with the behaviour of both the Raj Bhavan and the state government in directing the Punjab governor to'make a decision' on the pending legislation.