Kerala Government Takes Governor to Supreme Court Over Bills Dispute

The Kerala government has taken its dispute with Governor Arif Mohammed Khan over the delayed clearance of bills to the Supreme Court. The government is seeking the court’s intervention to compel the Governor to promptly clear the backlog of eight bills, three of which have been pending for over two years.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s government has filed a petition with the Supreme Court, requesting “appropriate orders” to address the Governor’s inaction in processing these bills. The government argues that the Governor is obligated to dispose of bills presented to him within a reasonable time frame, in line with democratic processes and public interest in welfare measures and other laws.

Also Read: Sons of Rajasthan Congress Chief Summoned in Money Laundering Case Related to Paper Leak

The petition highlights that the Governor had already expressed satisfaction with the legislative competence of the state, which should lead to granting assent to the bills. Therefore, the government views the continued inaction on these bills as arbitrary, illegal, and a failure to fulfill constitutional responsibilities.

Among the bills pending with the Governor is one aimed at removing Mr. Khan as the Chancellor of state-run universities. This move follows previous accusations by the Governor of the ruling party appointing family members of party leaders to key positions.

Also Read: Delhi Liquor Policy Case: Link to Arvind Kejriwal’s AAP Government

The ongoing tensions between Chief Minister Vijayan’s government and Governor Khan have been escalating over the past few years, with numerous instances of disagreement. Recently, Governor Khan accused Chief Minister Vijayan of failing in his constitutional duty to brief the Head of State, claiming that the Chief Minister often sends Cabinet Ministers and officials instead of coming to Raj Bhavan himself.

This dispute in Kerala comes in the wake of a similar conflict in Tamil Nadu, where the ruling DMK has accused Governor RN Ravi of intentionally delaying the clearance of bills sent to him. The Tamil Nadu government has claimed that several bills and orders have not been cleared on time, including 12 bills, four prosecution sanctions, and files related to the premature release of prisoners.

Also Read: “The summon notice is illegal and politically motivated”: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal

In April of the same year, the Supreme Court, while considering a similar petition from Telangana against its Governor, observed that Governors should return bills “as soon as possible” as per Article 200 of the Constitution.