The matter of delaying approval of bills passed in the Punjab Legislative Assembly was brought before the Supreme Court on Monday, November 6, 2023. The Solicitor General informed the court that the Governor has made a decision on all 7 bills. The government will soon be informed about this decision. Punjab government has filed a petition in the Supreme Court against the delay in approving bills passed by the Legislative Assembly.
However, the Supreme Court postponed the hearing to Friday. The court commented that while the Governor has the right to return any bill to the government, such matters should be resolved by the Governors before reaching the court. The court also raised questions about the continuous running of the Legislative Assembly in Punjab, stating that it is not a provision in the constitution.
What Did the Supreme Court Say?
While hearing the petition of the Punjab government, the Supreme Court stated, “The Governors need to introspect a little; they should understand that they are not elected representatives of the people. The court has directed the Solicitor General to present an updated status report, and the hearing on the matter has been adjourned until November 10.
Before this, the matter was listed for a hearing before the bench of Chief Justice D. Y. Chandrachud, Justice J. B. Pardiwala, and Justice Manoj Mishra on Monday. The petition seeks directions to the Governor to act on bills passed by the Legislative Assembly.
What Is the Case About?
The petition argues that such ‘unconstitutional inaction’ has effectively paralyzed the entire administration. The state government’s argument is that the Governor cannot indefinitely delay bills, and their powers are limited under Article 200 of the constitution. This article outlines the powers of the Governor to return bills for reconsideration or to seek the President’s opinion. The ongoing tussle between Punjab Governor and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government is ongoing.