Fresh spat between Guv, AAP govt: Setting the stage for a fresh tussle between the Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, the Raj Bhawan has strongly objected to the two-day session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha on October 20.
The special session has been called by the Bhagwant Mann-led government from October 20 as an “extension of the budget session”.
The governor’s office stated in a letter to the secretary of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha that any such extended session is bound to be “illegal,” and any business undertaken during such sessions is “unlawful, and ab initio void.”
The notice cited Governor Banwarilal Purohit’s letter to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann dated July 24, in which he (the governor) expressed his reservations in regard to a similar extended session, called “The Special Session of the 4th (Budget) Session of the 16th Punjab Vidhan Sabha” and scheduled for June 19 and 20.
“Based on legal advice, and for reasons stated in the said letter, the governor had pointed out that the calling of such a session was patently illegal, against the accepted procedures and practice of the legislature, and against the provisions of the Constitution,” the letter sent by the under-secretary, Punjab Raj Bhawan, with the approval of competent authority (governor) stated.
The letter from the Raj Bhavan has set the stage for a new spat between the governor and the AAP government. Malvinder Singh Kang, AAP’s Punjab chief spokesperson, stated that the session was called legally and in accordance with Vidhan Sabha rules and procedures. “It is a valid session. The session will go ahead as planned,” he stated.
A short time later, the Vidhan Sabha secretary also announced the proposed date-wise schedule of the House’s business for the October 20 and 21 sittings.
According to the schedule, the session will begin on October 20 with obituary references, followed by legislative business. “Revised programme, if any, will follow,” the statement stated. The government of the Punjab also plans to address the Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal issue.
