The Supreme Court of India has strongly criticized the governors of Punjab and Tamil Nadu for their alleged delay in taking action on bills passed by the state assemblies. The Chief Justice of India, DY Chandrachud, leading the bench, urged the governors to promptly approve the bills that have been cleared by the elected assembly.
Expressing serious concern, the Chief Justice stated, “Please don’t obstruct the progress of bills passed by a duly elected assembly. This is a matter of great importance.” The bench further added, “You’re playing with fire. How can the governor act in this manner? We are not satisfied with the situation in Punjab. Are we still a parliamentary democracy?” The bench emphasized the need to adhere to established traditions and conventions that have been followed in India.
The Punjab government had approached the Supreme Court, alleging a delay by Governor Banwarilal Purohit in giving assent to bills passed by the state assembly. The plea highlighted the “unconstitutional inaction” by the governor, which had brought the entire administration to a standstill. Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, representing the Punjab government, stated that the governor had withheld seven bills, including those related to fiscal management and education. Singhvi argued that these bills had been sent for the governor’s approval in July, and the lack of action had adversely affected governance.
In response, the court has instructed Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to provide details of the actions taken by Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit regarding the bills passed by the assembly. It is worth noting that the Punjab governor has been engaged in a prolonged feud with the Aam Aadmi Party government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.
The Supreme Court’s strong remarks highlight the importance of respecting the democratic process and promptly addressing the bills passed by elected assemblies. The court has called for the governors to fulfill their constitutional duties and avoid any further delays.
