Punjab Govt vs Governor: The Supreme Court on Tuesday said that the Punjab government is duty-bound to furnish information as sought by the Governor, but at the same time, the governor is also also duty-bound to accept recommendations of Cabinet on convening of assembly, PTI reported.
The Supreme Court was hearing the matter amid a face-off between Punjab government and Governor Banwarilal Purohit over convening the state's budget assembly session.
Representing the Governor, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said, "Punjab government's plea does not survive in view of Governor's decision to convene assembly as he has summoned assembly for Budget session on March 3."
The Punjab government told the court that the governor is hijacking the constitution.
As arguments continued in the court, SP Jain, Additional Solicitor General said, "For the last few days, the Punjab government was refusing to furnish information sought by Punjab Governor. In a letter to Governor, CM had stated that state government is answerable to the electorate, not selected few."
The Supreme Court has clearly said that under Article 167 of the Constitution, a state government is constitutionally bound to furnish information sought by the Governor. SC also said that all consitutuional bodies shoud maintain dignity of language used, SP Jain added.
The top court said that the Governor was duty-bound to summon the Budget Session of the assembly once the state cabinet recommended for it. So before SC judgement was delivered today, the Pujab Governor had ordered Punjab Assembly to convene from March 3, he informed.
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