ADVOCATE QUESTIONS TIMING OF APPROVING ORDINANCE SINCE THEN PUNJAB ASSEMBLY WAS IN SESSION
NEWLY CONSTITUTED 16th PUNJAB ASSEMBLY WAS FIRSTLY SUMMONED ON MARCH 17, ADJOURNED SINE-DIE TWICE BY SPEAKER, ON MARCH 22nd AND APRIL 1st
HOWEVER IT PROROGUED BY STATE GOVERNOR ON APRIL 16 ALTHOUGH VIDHAN SABHA SECTT. NOTIFIED IT ON APRIL 18
CHANDIGARH-(KNN)- On April 13, Punjab Cabinet in a meeting presided over by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann approved the Punjab Rural Development (Amendment) Ordinance.
The aforesaid Ordinance seeks to amend Punjab Rural Development Act, 1987 in line with the revised principles laid down by the Department of Food and Public Distribution, Ministry of Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution, Government of India on February 24, 2020.
However, the aforesaid Ordinance is yet to be promulgated by Punjab Governor B.L. Purohit even after passage of ten days since its approval by the State Cabinet for the reasons best known to the concerned authorities.
Meanwhile, an Advocate at Punjab & Haryana High Court, Hemant Kumar, has raised legal (read constitutional) questions over the timing of decision of Bhagwant Mann’s Cabinet pertaining to approval to the aforesaid Ordinance.
The Advocate asserts that under Article 213 of Constitution of India, any Ordinance can be promulgated by the Governor of a State only when the Legislative Assembly of that State is not in session.
He says as far as current 16th Punjab’s Assembly is concerned, it got duly constituted on March 11, 2022 vide issuance of statutory notification by Election Commission of India (ECI) under Section 73 of Representation of the People Act, 1951 however its First Session was summoned via a Notification dated 16 March 2022 issued by the State Governor under Article 174(1) of Constitution of India from March 17, 2022 i.e. a day after Bhagwant Mann took Oath of Office and Secrecy as Chief Minister of Punjab.
After a few days, the House was reconvened by the Speaker on April 1, 2022 and on that day the Punjab Assembly passed a resolution reaffirming claim and right over Chandigarh as Punjab’s Capital seeking its immediate transfer to the State. Interestingly, after the House was adjourned sine die by the Speaker that day, it was still not prorogued by the Governor.
Hemant says he constantly kept an eye over the issuance of requisite Notification by Punjab Governor regarding prorogation ever since the House was adjourned sine die second time by the Speaker on April 1, 2022. However, such Notification came to be published in Punjab Government Gazette Extraordinary on 18th April, 2022. However, the Order by Punjab Governor BL Purohit in this regard is dated 16 April 2022. The Advocate wonders why there has been a delay of two days in this regard i.e. signature of prorogation Notification by the Governor and its Gazette Publication by Punjab Vidhan Sabha Secretariat. Amidst all this, the question arises if the House got prorogued with effect from April 16 or April 18 ?
Hemant says that nevertheless it is duty of senior officers of State Government especially the Chief Secretary, who is also ex-officio Secretary to the State Cabinet, to ensure that the House is prorogued by the Governor under Article 174 (2) (a) of Constitution of India before an agenda of approving any Ordinance is brought before in Cabinet meeting.