Governor obstructs new bills as well; public health, and private forestry bills hang by balance

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Apart from the six bills which have been passed by the Assembly but are stalled at the Raj Bhavan, the Governor will also block the controversial bills passed in the last Assembly session. The controversy is over the public health bill and the private forestry bill.

Eight bills, including the Municipality Amendment Bill and the Panchayat Raj Amendment Bill, were passed by the Legislative Assembly last month and sent for approval. The main complaint in the public health bill is that the AYUSH category was not given enough consideration. Registered medical practitioners have been given the authority to issue disease-free certificates to those affected by infectious diseases, but Ayurveda and Homeo sects do not have complete freedom of treatment. The authority to decide the treatment protocol rests with a committee headed by allopathic doctors. The Allopathic Medical Officer will be empowered to conduct examinations at AYUSH treatment centers without prior notice and to refer patients to other places. This bill may be postponed for further examination.

The governor's position is that the bill which amended the Kerala Private Forests (Vesting and Assignment) Act, 1971 by giving relief to small and marginal farmers holding up to 50 cents of private forest land will require a detailed examination. The proposal in the bill is to grant ownership rights to the land by considering the ownership documents submitted by the farmers as evidence. Earlier, the forest department had raised objections regarding giving concessions to farmers and on the issue of proof. The Governor has received information that the amendment was brought to override the Supreme Court's 2019 order that the title deed is an authentic document in the case of forest land as well. The government's argument is that there is an error in determining the ownership of private forests on the basis of land titles only, and 20,000 hectares of dense private forest land will be lost, and the amendment is to protect private forests. The amendment bill was passed after the Ordinance was passed seven times.

Unsigned bills

1. A bill to remove the Governor and make academic experts as chancellors
2. Two University Laws (Amendment) Bills passed in November 2021
3. Bill for 5-member search committee to take away Governor's power to appoint VC
4. Amendment enabling the Lokayukta order to be reviewed by the Assembly, the Chief Minister, and the Government
5. Amendment to grant voting rights to nominated members of the Milma Governing Body

Governor to Bengaluru

The Governor is going to Bengaluru this evening and will return on the 11th after the programs there and in Kozhikode. The next day he will go to North India.