Punjab guv-govt tussle back in spotlight amid chairman appointment row; CM says ‘not accountable to Centre-appointed guv’
Kanwar Inder Singh/ February 13,2023
Since Bhagwant Mann became the chief minister of Punjab, there have been multiple episodes of tussles between the governor’s office and the chief minister. The latest episode of the tussle started fuming after the state government initiated its move to send government school principals to Singapore for training and appointment of chairman of a corporation.
Governor Banwarilal Purohit has said that” in one of the letters addressed to me you had mentioned that because of the heavy mandate by the people of Punjab you are the CM, I fully agree with you on this count but you should also keep it in mind that people of the State elected you for running the administration as per the Constitution and not as per whims and fancies. As per Article 167 of the Constitution of India you are bound to furnish me full details and information asked by me, but you have not furnished the same and never cared to reply and treated all my queries with contempt. To maintain cordial relations I have not revealed these letters to press because I thought you will fulfil the mandate of the constitution but now it appears to me that you have decided to ignore my letters and I am compelled to release these letters to the press/media,” he said.
Purohit said he had sought the information earlier. He said he would be compelled to seek legal advice for further action if it is not furnished within a fortnight, “since I am duty bound to protect the Constitution”.
In a statement issued here today, the Chief Minister apprised the Governor that he has came to know about his letter through the media. He said that all the issues raised by Governor are the issues related to jurisdiction of the state. Bhagwant Mann said that for these issues he is accountable to the 3 crore Punjabis who have elected him with a whopping mandate.
The Chief Minister unequivocally said that the state government is not at all responsible to any person appointed by the centre government. He categorically said that this was his answer to all the questions raised by the Governor. Bhagwant Mann said that rather than giving sermons to him the Governor must focus on smooth discharge of his duties as enshrined in the constitution.
Governor Banwarilal Purohit on Monday wrote Punjab chief minister another letter questioning the selection of principals for Singapore training and the appointment of Gurinderjit Singh Jawanda a “tainted” person as chairperson of Punjab Infotech, saying he was accused in a property grabbing case and kidnapping case.
Punjab guv-govt tussle back in spotlight amid chairman appointment row; CM says ‘not accountable to Centre-appointed guv’. The Governor has questioned the government’s silence in his letter regarding non disbursal of scholarship by the Government, removal of the illegally appointed Vice Chancellor of PAU, promotion and appointment of former SSP Chandigarh, Kuldeep Singh Chahal as commissioner of police Jalandhar, presence of Naval Aggarwal in meetings of senior officers, where sensitive and confidential matters of security of the country are discussed, details of advertisements.
(royalpatiala.in News)
