Punjab governor vs AAP govt: Assembly summoned on March 3, apex court told

Amid a tussle between the Punjab governor Banwarilal Purohit and the AAP government over the issue of convening the assembly, the former has summoned the Assembly for the budget session on March 3, his counsel told the Supreme Court on Monday (February 27).

The top court, which was hearing the state government’s plea against the governor’s alleged “refusal” to summon the budget session for March 3, said the Punjab government is duty-bound to furnish information as sought by the governor. At the same time, the court said the governor too is also duty-bound to accept the recommendations of the Cabinet on the convening of assembly.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the governor, told a bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud that the plea filed by the Punjab government does not survive in view of the governor’s decision to convene the Assembly.

Also read: SC to hear Punjab govt’s plea against governor’s refusal to summon budget session

“The problem may not survive. The Hon’ble governor has passed this letter,” Mehta told the bench also comprising Justice PS Narasimha.

The tussle between Punjab governor Banwarilal Purohit and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had worsened last week, with Purohit indicating that he is in no hurry to summon the assembly’s budget session. He also reminded the CM about his “derogatory” response to a letter from the Raj Bhavan.

Also read: Punjab Guv to Mann govt: Give details of principals’ training event in Singapore, received complaints

In that February 13 letter, the governor had asked Mann to explain the process of selecting 36 government school principals for a training seminar held recently in Singapore, and raised other issues as well.

The Punjab cabinet had decided to call the assembly session on March 3 and had requested the governor to summon the House.