Governor Banwarilal Purohit has reserved three controversial Bills passed by the Punjab Vidhan Sabha for the consideration of President Droupadi Murmu. The Bills, which have been a point of contention between Purohit and the Bhagwant Mann-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, include the Sikh Gurdwaras (Amendment) Bill, 2023, Punjab Universities Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2023, and Punjab Police (Amendment) Bill, 2023.
1. Sikh Gurdwaras (Amendment) Bill, 2023: Aims to provide free-to-air telecast of Gurbani from Golden Temple in Amritsar, preventing commercialization under the Sikh Gurdwaras Act, 1925.
2. Punjab Universities Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2023: Seeks to replace the governor with the chief minister as the chancellor of 11 state-run universities.
3. Punjab Police (Amendment) Bill, 2023: Aims to change the Supreme Court-mandated procedure in the selection of state police chiefs.
As per Article 200 of the Constitution, the governor has reserved these Bills for the consideration of the President of India. Earlier, the Supreme Court declared the June 19-20 session, during which these Bills were passed, as constitutionally valid and instructed the governor to make decisions on the pending Bills.
In its November 10 judgment, the Supreme Court emphasized that governors cannot indefinitely delay decisions on Bills. The state government and the governor were both criticized for their actions, with the court upholding the Speaker's supremacy in conducting the House's business.
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After the Supreme Court's order, Mann and Purohit exchanged letters, with Mann urging prompt assent to the Bills. The governor responded, stating the Bills were under consideration, and decisions would be made in accordance with the law.
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