Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram took a swipe at Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi after the Supreme Court said governors cannot be at liberty to keep bills pending indefinitely without taking any action. While Supreme Court made the observation while directing Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit to decide on the bills passed by the Assembly, Chidambaram said the judgment was a stern "rebuke" to all governors.
The senior Congress leader called on Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi to read the entire ruling of the apex court. The remark came after the Tamil Nadu Governor returned 10 nills passed by the state Assembly. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin also slammed Governor Ravi for withholding the bills due to his "whims and fancies."
"The judgement of the Supreme Court on the Governor's powers is a stern rebuke to not only the Governor of Punjab but to all Governors. Mr R N Ravi, Governor of TN, should read every line of the judgement and, if he thinks it necessary, call a competent senior advocate to explain the judgement to him," Chidambaram said.
The Supreme Court earlier directed Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit to decide on the bills that were passed by the legislative Assembly during its "constitutionally valid" session that was held on June 19 and 20. The apex court said that the Governor's power cannot be used to "thwart the normal course of lawmaking," as reported by PTI.
The top court, in its judgment of November 10, which was uploaded on Thursday night, was hearing a plea by the AAP government in Punjab that the Governor was not granting assent to four bills that were passed by the assembly, PTI reported.