Tamil Nadu Speaker M Appavu on Thursday called a special meeting of the Assembly, hours after Governor RN Ravi returned 10 of the 12 bills sent to him for assent in the last three years, officials aware of the development said.
Officials said that on Wednesday night, the Governor returned 10 legislations passed by the Assembly and pending before him since 2020. However, he did not give any reason behind rejecting the bills. Besides, they are yet to take action on the remaining two bills, officials said.
Officials said that since the state government wants to pass these (returned) bills immediately and send them again to the Governor for approval, the Speaker has called a special session.
“He (the Governor) returned 10 bills on Wednesday night…a special session has been called to pass these bills again,” a government official said on condition of anonymity.
The Raj Bhavan move came days after the Supreme Court expressed serious concern and sought response from the Central government on a petition filed by the Tamil Nadu government against the Governor’s delay in processing 12 bills passed by the state legislature besides stalling several other files. Is. Relating to approvals and exemptions.
According to Article 200 of the Constitution, if a Bill is again passed by the House with or without any amendment, “the Governor shall not withhold assent thereto”.
“We will reintroduce the bills that he (the governor) has returned and re-adopt them,” Avappu said.
Raj Bhavan did not respond to HT’s calls and messages for comment on the matter.
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)-led Tamil Nadu government is at loggerheads with the Governor over various issues, including his pending assent on legislations.
In a petition filed in the apex court on October 31, Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary Shiv Das Meena alleged that Ravi was “playing with the mandate of the citizens” and directed Raj Bhavan to dispose of all pending laws and files forwarded by the Assembly and the government. Demanded to give instructions. Within a specified time frame.
“The issues raised are a matter of great concern. From the tabulated statement, it appears that no further action has been taken on about 12 Bills submitted to the Governor under Article 200 and other matters regarding proposal for approval, premature release and appointment of Public Service Commission are pending. Are. We issue notice to the Union of India represented by the Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs,” a bench headed by Chief Justice of India Dhananjay Y Chandrachud ordered on November 10.
The remarks of the top court have come at a time when there is a situation of confrontation with the elected government in the Raj Bhavans of many states. Over the past few months, apart from Punjab, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Kerala have approached the Supreme Court seeking directions to their respective governors on the pending laws.
Hearing the Punjab government’s plea on November 6, the top court said governors should remember that they are not elected representatives of the states and have limited power over the legislative functions of the elected government. It also says that governors should not force state governments to seek legal recourse every time they exercise their legislative powers.
Tamil Nadu Speaker said that the state government’s petition in the Supreme Court will not be discussed in the Assembly.
According to the official quoted above, the bills which were returned pertain to amendments in various laws governing state universities, giving more power to the state government over the appointment of vice-chancellors, and provide for the establishment of a university for siddha, ayurveda, unani, yoga & naturopathy and homoeopathy. Of the 10 bills, two were passed by the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) government in 2020, the official added.
Earlier, Ravi returned two bills – one to ban online gambling with stakes and another to abolish the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). However, the state government convened special assembly sessions in both occasions and re-adopted the bills.
The bill to abolish NEET was referred to President Droupadi Murmu for her assent in May last year. On October 27, chief minister MK Stalin handed over a representation to Murmu, reiterating the government’s request to accord assent to the bill.
While the anti-gambling legislation was cleared by the governor and notified by the government in April this year, the Madras high court upheld only some portions of the law.
“As per the law, the governor cannot deny assent to a bill sent to him for the second time,” law minister S Reghupathy had said in March.
