Jalandhar2 hours ago
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The war between Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann and Governor BL Purohit did not stop. The governor has again written a new letter to the CM on the special session of the assembly called on June 19-20. The Governor said that in the last letter he had called the session of the government and the 4 bills passed in it illegal. It was not my opinion but the opinion of the expert.
The governor said this because yesterday CM Bhagwant Mann had said that it is unfortunate that the governor does not know whether the session is legal or illegal.
The governor further wrote in the letter that reply quickly to my letters which you were calling love letters in the assembly. According to the constitution, the CM is bound to reply to the letters given by the Governor. Not replying to my letters is a violation of Article 167 of the Constitution.
The governor wrote to the CM in a warning tone that many complaints of corruption are coming to him. So reply to my letters as soon as possible, otherwise it will be considered a violation of the constitution.
The governor wrote – It is being said in the unfortunate media that no legal opinion was taken
In a letter to the Chief Minister of Punjab, the governor said that it is very unfortunate that it is being said in the media that the governor had not taken any legal opinion regarding the assembly session. He said that I want to bring to your notice that the Vidhansabha session was called on 19th and 20th June for which opinion was taken from an expert of the constitution.
For your information, the essence of the opinion given by him is also being attached, in which he has clearly written that the called assembly session was completely illegal. There is nothing left to respond to your comments now.
Letter written on behalf of Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday.
The Governor has written in his letter to the Chief Minister that he is reminding you again and again that no response has been received to the letters I sent to you, which you call love letters. I want to bring it to your notice that according to the Constitution, the Chief Minister is answerable to whatever information the Governor has sought. Not providing the sought information is a clear violation of Article 167 of the Constitution. The Governor has written in a letter to the Chief Minister that you have criticized the Governor in the Vidhan Sabha, which has not been liked by the people, because according to his position in the Vidhan Sabha, it does not behove the Chief Minister to make such statements.
Governor Banwarilal Purohit has further written in his letter that he should keep in mind that I, as the Governor, am a constitutional authority appointed by the President of India. I have been entrusted with the duty of ensuring that there is a fair, honest administration and to see that there is a corruption free government.
In the end, the governor has written that during the past days he has received many complaints regarding corruption. On which I request you to send me their reply without delay. Otherwise, it would be considered a gross violation of the Constitution.
Special session was held on 19 and 20 June
A special session of the Punjab Legislative Assembly was called on June 19 and 20 and four bills were passed. After this, the Chief Minister had urged the Governor to approve these four bills, but the Governor flatly refused and said that he is taking advice from the Attorney General and other legal experts as to what should be the final decision on these bills?
After this, on July 15, the Chief Minister wrote a letter to the Governor asking him to give his assent to the four bills with immediate effect. Responding to the Chief Minister’s letter, the Governor had written, ‘I have many grounds to believe that the assembly session, in which the four bills were passed, was in violation of law and legal process.
This raises doubts on the validity and legality of those bills. The governor did not stop here. He further wrote that it is evident from your letter that you are concerned about certain actions of a particular political family, which has prompted you to get the bill passed against them in the assembly. This is also a matter of concern.
These bills were passed in the special session
- The Sikh Gurdwara Amendment Bill- 2023 : Under this, the Gurbani to be held at the Golden Temple in Amritsar will be broadcast free of cost across the world. Till now only PTC channel had the right to broadcast Gurbani. Members of Congress and BJP were not present in the House during the passing of this bill while the Akali Dal opposed the bill. The Chief Minister himself introduced this bill in the House.
- Punjab Police (Amendment) Bill- 2023: After this bill, now the Punjab government will be able to appoint the Director General of Punjab Police (DGP) on its own. For this, the government will form a committee in which former Chief Justice or former judge of Punjab and Haryana High Court will be the chairman. The committee will make a panel of three officers for DGP, out of which one will become DGP. The Chief Minister himself introduced this bill in the House.
- Punjab University Law Amendment Bill- 2023: Through this bill, the Chief Minister was given the right to appoint the Vice Chancellor (VC) of the universities run by the Punjab government. Earlier this authority was with the Governor. This bill was introduced in the House by Education Minister Harjot Bains.
- Punjab Affiliated Colleges (Security of Services) Amendment Bill- 2023: This bill was introduced in the House by Education Minister Harjot Bains.
Already fixed in CM-Governor
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Governor Banwarilal Purohit have been at loggerheads since day one. There has been a serious confrontation between the two on many issues. The amount of correspondence that took place between the current CM Mann and Governor Purohit even on legal issues was never seen before in Punjab. Bhagwant Mann has been alleging that the Governor is doing politics at the behest of the Centre.
- Raising questions on the appointment of Vice Chancellors (VCs) in the universities of Punjab, the Governor said that the government was taking decisions beyond UGC norms. After this, the state government passed the Punjab University Laws (Amendment) Bill 2023 in the assembly. According to this, the Chief Minister will now have the right to select the Vice-Chancellor in the University run by the Punjab Government.
- While visiting the border districts of Punjab, the Governor raised questions on the functioning of the government regarding drugs while talking to the people there. The governor even said that drugs are being sold openly at grocery shops in the border belt.
- When CM Bhagwant Mann raised questions on the governor regarding the use of government helicopter, Governor Purohit even said that as long as he is in Punjab, he will never use the government’s helicopter.
- When the Governor asked the government to answer about sending government teachers abroad for training, the Chief Minister said that he is answerable to 3 crore Punjabis; Not towards any selected person.
- Refusing to approve the budget session of the Punjab Vidhansabha on March 3, 2022, the governor asked the government to send the agenda first. On this, the government went to the court. After that the governor gave approval to call the session.
- Chandigarh SSP Kuldeep Chahal was sent back to Punjab in his parent cadre 10 months before the end of his term on the orders of the Governor. Bhagwant Mann raised a public objection to this decision of the Governor. After this, the Chief Minister made Chahal the Police Commissioner of Jalandhar.
- On January 26, 2022, on Republic Day, Governor Purohit was to take salute at the state level program in Jalandhar but Police Commissioner Kuldeep Chahal kept distance from him. Expressing public objection to this, the governor called it a violation of protocol.