Punjab Governor Banwari Lal Purohit has replied to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s query regarding the status of five pending bills. The Governor expressed that the issue is actively under review, ensuring a swift decision aligning with the Supreme Court’s judgment dated 10-11-2023.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, highlighting the Supreme Court’s validation of the session’s legality, mentioned the letter sent to Governor Banwarilal Purohit, urging a prompt decision on the pending bills.
However, the Supreme Court order said, “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. Consequently, if the Governor decides to withhold assent under the substantive part of Article 200, the logical course of action is to pursue the course indicated in the first provision of remitting the Bill to the state egislature for reconsideration.”
The Governor is yet to provide assent to four bills, notably The Punjab Police (Amendment) Bill, 2023, and the Sikh Gurdwaras (Amendment) Bill, 2023. The former aims to establish an independent selection process for the Director General of Police, while the latter aims to liberate Gurbani broadcasting from exclusive family control.
Additionally, the Governor has withheld approval for the contentious Punjab University Laws (Amendment) Bill 2023, introduced during a special session on June 20. This bill, contested for its legality, intends to transfer the university chancellor powers to the Chief Minister.
Previously denouncing the June 19 and 20 session as “patently illegal,” the Governor indicated the need for legal counsel to ascertain the bills’ legality for his assent, given the session’s disputed status.
