What were you doing for two years? Supreme Court asks Governor

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court harshly criticized Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan. The court criticized the Governor for the delay in taking decisions on the bills passed by the assembly. The apex court directed that there should be a consensus to solve the issues. The court did not interfere with the Governor's action in sending seven bills to the President.

The court said the Governor's manner of withholding bills could not be justified. The court observed that the Governor cannot sabotage the rights of the government. The court also asked what the Governor was doing for two years without settling the bills. While considering the case earlier, the court had said that the Governor was only a symbolic head.

Citing the judgment in the case against the Governor of Punjab, the court pointed out that the Governor cannot obstruct the legislative process of the legislature using his powers. The court also reminded the Governor of the constitutional responsibility of the governorship.

KK Venugopal, senior advocate for Kerala, pointed out that the Governor signed one bill and left seven bills to the President after the court sent a notice on the government's petition. Eight other bills, including a money bill, are still being withheld by the Governor. This is affecting state governance, Venugopal said.

The court asked shouldn’t there be transparency in the activities of the Governor. Eight bills passed by the Kerala Assembly were submitted to the Governor for assent. The state government approached the court after it was held without taking a decision.

The Supreme Court had criticized Arif Muhammad Khan's practice of sitting on the bills without taking a decision. The court had directed the Governor to study the verdict criticizing the Punjab Governor.