Punjab Governor said the Aam Aadmi Party government would review every measure on its merits when it goes the Supreme Court

 Punjab Governor said the Aam Aadmi Party government would review every measure on its merits when it goes the Supreme Court

The governor sent a letter to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann stating that he had approved 22 of the 27 laws that the Assembly had passed since Mann assumed office. He added that he will make his judgment on the other measures individually in the next days.

Following the Punjab AAP government's Supreme Court challenge to Governor Banwarilal Purohit's denial of assent for three laws, the governor told the chief minister on Sunday that he would review each measure on its merits in the greater interest of the state's citizens' welfare.

The governor sent a letter to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann stating that he had approved 22 of the 27 laws that the Assembly had passed since Mann assumed leadership. He added that he will make his judgment on the other measures individually over the next several days.

On October 20, the AAP government adjourned the two-day Punjab Assembly session, and Mann said that his administration will file a case in the Supreme Court against the governor for refusing to sign the three measures that were scheduled to be brought before the House.

According to official sources, the state administration has filed a case against the governor in the Supreme Court, but a hearing has not yet been scheduled for the subject.

"Serious doubts" have been raised regarding the propriety and constitutionality of calling the Punjab assembly and continuing the session "in breach of the various provisions of the Constitution that govern India as well as the rules of procedure governing the conduct of business by the Punjab Vidhan Sabha," Purohit wrote in his most recent correspondence. "But, after consulting with all relevant parties and considering the greater good of the Punjabi people, I decided to investigate all the bills on merits as well as in terms of various safeguards of the Constitution of India," he wrote.

"I will convey to you my choice of what on each and every bill separately in the subsequent days," said Purohit.

"I may point out that after that you are taking over as Chief Minister of Punjab, I had previously provided assent to 22 bills out of 27 bills that were approved by Punjab Vidhan Sabha," the governor stated in his additional letter. "I'm considering the remaining five measures that the Assembly has approved, together with the three money bills that the government just submitted. In the next few days, I'll make a decision after giving them careful thought. Purohit responded, "I will let you know what I decided."

After Purohit refused to give his approval to three bills—the Punjab Fiscal Responsibility as well as Budget Management (Amendment) Bill, who was 2023, the Punjab Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2023, as well as the Indian stamped (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2023—the ongoing power struggle between the Raj Bhavan and the Bhagwant Mann government erupted.

Purohit had already said that any business done during the session scheduled for October 20–21—which was envisioned to be an extension of the Budget session—was "unlawful" and "bound to be illegal."

Prior to the House's sine die adjournment on October 20, Mann had severely criticized Purohit for casting doubt on the legitimacy of the session that his administration had summoned.

The AAP administration is addressing the SC for the second time this year. The Punjab administration had already petitioned the Supreme Court, claiming that the governor had not "reverted" to the cabinet's decision to call the March budget session.

Purohit had previously communicated on October 19, asking the Bhagwant Mann government to convene the Monsoon or Winter session. He also threatened to take appropriate action, including reporting the issue to the President, if the Mann government persisted in holding the “patently illegal session” (October 20–21).

The same special session in June was previously referred to as "patently illegal" by the Raj Bhavan.

Following the chief minister's insistence that he sign the Sikh Gurdwaras (Amendment) Bill, 2023, which would guarantee a free-to-air broadcast of "Gurbani" from the Golden Temple in Amritsar, Purohit responded.

During the June 19–20 session, four measures were approved, including this one.

The Punjab Police (Amendment) Bill, 2023, the Punjab Province's Universities Regulations (Amendment) Bill, 2023, including the Punjab Affiliated Colleges (Security of Service) Amendment Bill, 2023 comprised the three other bills.

The Punjab Police (Amendment) Bill, 2023 paved the way for the establishment of an independent mechanism for the selection and appointment of qualified candidates to the position of Director General of Police. The Punjab Universities Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2023 called for the chief minister to succeed the governor as chancellor of state-run universities.

The governor is currently considering these proposals and has not given his approval.