Ordinance administration is not good, everything cannot be signed in one day; government's efforts to persuade governor backfired

NEW DELHI: Governor Arif Muhammad Khan is of the stand that he will not sign eleven ordinances including the amendment to the Lokayukta Act, even after it expires today. The government's efforts to persuade the governor failed. These ordinances will be void if they are not signed today. The ordinance cannot be signed without examining it in detail, the governor clarified while speaking to the media in Delhi.

"Need time to examine the details of the ordinance. Ordinance administration is not good. Democratic values should be upheld. If governed by ordinances, then why legislatures? The Supreme Court itself has clearly stated its position on this matter. I don’t know whether the government tried to curtail my powers. Ordinances should be promulgated in emergency situations.

I need time to think whatever file comes from the government. I can't sign any files. I don't do anything without fulfilling my heart. The national media hadcrucified the president who had done this before. Why all the ordinances come together one day. I can't do anything in haste. I want a clear explanation, the governor said.

The governor is irked by the government's move for an ordinance to take away his powers as chancellor in appointing VCs. The government's move is to remove the governor's powers, barred by the ordinance that constituted the search committee for the appointment of the VC.

If the government compromised on the proposed ordinance, the government hoped that the governor would sign the ordinances. The governor needs to sign it before 12 tonight. Governor in Delhi can pass ordinances through digital signature.

Lokayukta: Old law will follow if void
If the amendment ordinance empowering the Lokayukta to prevent high-level corruption is repealed, the Lokayukta will be restored to its old powers. The amendment ordinance was passed on February 7 last when complaints against Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, some ministers and former ministers were under consideration by the Lokayukta. The amendment said that even if there is a Lokayukta verdict in a corruption case, the governor, chief minister or the government can consider the appeal and the government has the final authority to implement the verdict.

If the governor does not sign the proposed ordinances, the government can introduce the ordinances into bills in the assembly. The Governor can send back the bill only once. If the government sends it for the second time, it should be signed.