Sunday, November 6, 2022

The government challenging the Governor!

Armed with advice from Constitutional experts and senior Supreme Court lawyers, the Pinarayi Vijayan government is planning to take legal recourse against Governor Arif Mohammed Khan.

The state government has sanctioned a total of Rs.45.9 lakhs for getting written legal opinion on the legislation pending before the Governor. The law department has come out with an order of 02 Nov, sanctioning Rs.30 lakhs to senior Supreme Court lawyer Fali S Nariman.

Going by the responses from legal experts on further action against the Governor, the government plans to point out in court that the Governor has failed to discharge his constitutional duties as per Article 200.

The Governor has not taken action on two controversial legislations viz. the Lok Ayukta and University Amendment Bills. Realising its  inability to get the bills cleared for their contents that he finds objectionable and not according to the laid down statutes, the government is contemplating the following actions :-

    (a) Legal options being explored as the Governor's action is unconstitutional.
    (b) Bring certain statements made by the Governor - making it clear that he would not give assent - to the court.
    (c) To bring in a legislation to remove the governor as chancellor of universities.
    (d) Plans to knock on the President's door.

My take

* In a democracy, unfortunately, the party in power usually tries to fill up educational and administrative posts with professionals who've allegiance towards it. 
* The LDF-government has appointed Vice Chancellors whose qualifications are suspect. In fact, the court had pointed out this discrepancy regarding the VC of the Kerala Technical University. Consequently, the Governor has appointed the new incumbent but the office staff - packed with LDF sympathisers - are not letting her function ( About 5,000 degree certificates are pending for the VC's signature). This is the story of the University Amendment Bill!
Similarly, with the proposed legislation regarding the powers of the Lok Ayukta, that authority will become a toothless, rubber stamp office which will cater to the tainted politicians' diktats!
* When there is an acute fund shortage in the government coffers to carry out developmental work, why is money being wasted for paying expensive lawyers just to have an ego-victory over the governor?
* Who is now carrying out governance - that has been paralysed; it is badly needed?
* A real sad state of affairs!


Tailpiece.

Got up around a quarter past 6, the chores and was ready by a 10' past 10.

Spoke to my sisters. Went about our usual work and saw snatches of Mammooty movies, 'Bhaskar the rascal' and 'One'.

A quiet evening thereafter.

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