Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit on Friday wrote a letter to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and warned him for failing to "furnish information relating to the administration of affairs of the state". Purohit said that in spite of the letters, the Punjab CM did not provide the information sought by him.
“I am once again constrained to write to you in connection with my correspondence dated 1st August, 2023. In spite of these letters, you have still not given the information sought by me. It appears that you are deliberately refusing to give the information asked for by me,” the letter read.
“I regret to note here that in spite of the clear provisions of Article 167 of the Constitution of India which makes it mandatory for the Chief Minister to furnish all such information relating to the administration of affairs of the State as the Governor may call for, you have failed to supply the information sought by me,” the letter further stated.
The governor warned Bhagwant Mann of action against him if he failed to respond to his letters. He said that not furnishing the information sought, “would be plainly in dereliction of the constitutional duty which is imposed on the CM”.
"Not furnishing the information which was sought by the Governor would be plainly in dereliction of the constitutional duty which is imposed on the CM....failing which I would have no choice but to take action according to law & the Constitution," Purohit said in the letter to CM Mann.
“Bound as I am by the duty placed on the Governor under the Constitution to see that the administration is carried on a level which would be regarded as good, efficient, impartial and honest, and that the proposals enunciated by the government are not contrary to the law of the land, I, therefore, advise you, warn you and ask you to respond to my letters and give me the information sought,” he said in the letter.
In the letter, the Governor also stated that he would have to resort to sending a report to the President if the requisite information is not provided.
“Before I am going to take final decision regarding sending a report to the President of India under Article 356 about the failure of the constitutional mechanism and take a decision about initiating criminal proceedings under section 124 of the IPC, I ask you to send me the requisite information sought for under my letters referred to above, as also in the matter of the steps taken by you concerning the problem of drugs in the State, failing which I would have no choice but to take action according to law and the Constitution,” the letter stated.
Punjab Governor Seeks Information On Drug Situation In The State
Banwarilal Purohit also sought information on the matter of drugs in Punjab. Citing a report of the Parliamentary Standing Committee, he stated that one in five are exposed or addicted to drugs in the state.
“I have received reports from various agencies regarding rampant availability and abuse of the drugs in Punjab. It is common knowledge that they are available in chemist shops, a nevi trend is observed that they are being sold in the Government controlled liquor vends. Recent action by Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and Chandigarh Police who have sealed 66 liquor vends in Ludhiana who are selling drugs, in a joint operation,” the letter stated.
“Recent report of the Parliamentary Standing Committee that one in five are exposed or addicted to drugs in Punjab. These facts point out to the breaking down of the law and order system In Punjab so much so that now villagers have started protest on the streets in a large numbers and decided to setup their own village defence committees to protect themselves from drugs. Please send a report concerning the action taken by you in the matter of these drugs to my office Immediately,” the letter further read.