Punjab: After face-off with CM Bhagwant Mann, Governor approves Assembly session on Sep 27

Punjab Governor Banwarlilal Purohit has given his approval to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government to convene the state Assembly session on Tuesday, September 27. His approval comes after a week-long confrontation over the summoning of a Vidhan Sabha session.

The Governor on Friday asked for details of the legislative business to be taken up in the Assembly session, evoking a strong reaction from Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who had said "it's too much". 

The row between the Raj Bhavan and the AAP government had begun after the Governor withdrew an order summoning a special sitting of the Vidhan Sabha called by Mann to table a confidence motion on September 22.

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On Saturday, in a communication to the principal secretary to the Governor, the Punjab Vidhan Sabha Secretariat, while quoting a reply from the Department of Parliamentary Affairs, wrote that the government proposes to take up issues of GST, stubble burning and power scenario for the consideration of the legislature.

"In addition, business on different issues as per notices received from members may also be taken up during the session as per relevant provisions of the rules of procedure and conduct of business in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha," the communication said.

It requested that the draft order summoning the Punjab Vidhan Sabha on September 27 may kindly be approved and signed by the Governor. The communication also stated that as per procedure and prevalent practice, details of the legislative business to be taken up during the session of the state Assembly has never been earlier asked, therefore, never supplied by the Vidhan Sabha Secretariat to the office of Governor. Therefore, the demand for these details cannot be a condition for calling a session.

Any contrary approach would be unknown to law beyond the Constitution, contrary to precedent, practice and convention, hence, legally untenable, it said.
Meanwhile, the Punjab BJP hit out at the AAP government and accused it of deliberately trying to sabotage and undermine the Constitution by maliciously targeting the Governor, who is the constitutional head of the state.

Punjab BJP state General Secretary Subhash Sharma alleged that AAP is living up to its reputation of being "a party of anarchists and anarchy was their mission and purpose".
Otherwise, what is the point in adopting a combative and confrontationist attitude towards the Governor who has only raised constitutional queries, which he is entitled and authorised to do under the Constitution of the country, Sharma said.

Earlier in the day, the ruling AAP asked the Governor not to cross his "Lakshman rekha", alleging that he is acting at the behest of the BJP.

The Governor too wrote to Mann and "reminded" him of the duties of a chief minister and said, "After reading your statements in today's newspapers, it appears to me that perhaps you are 'too much' angry with me."

"I think your legal advisors are not briefing you adequately. Perhaps your opinion about me will definitely change after reading the provisions of Article 167 and 168 of the Constitution, which I'm quoting for your ready reference," he said.

The approval came hours after the government had written a protest letter to the Governor stating that the “demand for agenda/details” was “unknown to law, beyond the Constitution, contrary to precedent, practice and convention and hence legally untenable.”