'Appropriate Decision Will Be...’: Punjab Guv As CM Mann Asks Him To Clear Pending Bills

Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit, in his letter to CM Bhagwant Mann, wrote decision on the five Bills will be taken as per law and in keeping with the Supreme Court judgment.

Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.

New Delhi: Hours after Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann wrote to Governor Banwarilal Purohit urging him to clear five Bills that are yet to be approved, the latter replied saying appropriate decision will be taken as per law, keeping with the Supreme Court judgment.

“It is submitted that the five Bills were passed by the Punjab Vidhan Sabha which are pending at your end for accord of assent…In your earlier communications, you had stated that the validity of the special sittings of the Vidhan Sabha, was in doubt, was an impediment for clearing the Bills. The issue has been held to be valid by the Supreme Court of India in its orders pronounced in court on 10.11.2023. I would request that in keeping with the constitutional obligation and spirit of democracy, these Bills be cleared forthwith,” CM Mann wrote in his letter to the Punjab Governor.

Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann writes to Governor Banwarilal Purohit requesting him to clear five Bills the approval of which is pending in his office. pic.twitter.com/ey7uTlkPto

— ANI (@ANI) November 24, 2023

Responding to the chief minister’s letter, Governor Purohit wrote, “The five Bills mentioned in your letter are under my active consideration and appropriate decision according to law will be taken expeditiously, in keeping with the judgment of Supreme Court.”

It is to be noted that while hearing a plea filed by Bhagwant Mann-led AAP government in Punjab, alleging Governor Purohit was not giving his assent to four Bills passed in the state legislative Assembly, the top court said the Governor cannot “misuse” his powers to “thwart the normal course of lawmaking”.

“The Governor, as an unelected Head of the State, is entrusted with certain constitutional powers. However, this power cannot be used to thwart the normal course of lawmaking by the state legislatures. We are, therefore, of the view that the Governor of Punjab must now proceed to take a decision on the Bills which have been submitted for assent on the basis that the sitting of the House which was conducted on 19 June 2023, 20 June 2023, and 20 October 2023, was constitutionally valid,” the Supreme Court order read.