New Delhi: The Kerala government has filed a second plea in the Supreme Court against Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, alleging that he is unreasonably delaying his decision on several bills passed by the state legislature. This is the second time in recent weeks that the state government has challenged Khan's actions.
The latest petition, filed on Wednesday, challenges a Kerala High Court judgment from last year that refused to set a deadline for the governor to act on bills. The state government argues that the delay in considering these bills is causing significant harm to the people of Kerala and is a violation of their fundamental right to life.
"Many of the bills involve immense public interest and provide for welfare measures that would be denied to the people due to the delay," the state government stated in its petition. "This is a grave injustice to the people of the state and their representative democratic institutions."
The state government also criticizes Khan's apparent belief that he has absolute discretion over when to approve or reject bills. It argues that this interpretation of the Constitution is incorrect and is preventing the state from enacting important legislation.
This is not the first time that the Kerala government has accused Khan of obstructing the legislative process. Last week, the state filed a similar petition in the Supreme Court, arguing that Khan had failed to fulfill his constitutional duties by delaying consideration of eight bills.
The Supreme Court has shown a willingness to intervene in such matters in recent weeks. Last Monday, the court issued a strong rebuke to Governor RN Ravi of Tamil Nadu for allegedly obstructing the legislative assembly from carrying out its duties.
The court also heard a petition from the Punjab government against Governor Banwarilal Purohit, who has been accused of not acting on seven bills passed by the state legislature.