Punjab Governor has summoned Assembly session on March 3, SG Tushar Mehta tells Supreme Court

Supreme Court also called for a “mature statesmanship” from the Governor and the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, on February 28, 203, informed the Supreme Court that the Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit has summoned the Legislative Assembly for Budget Session on March 3.

The apex court said that there should be a certain level of discourse between constitutional authorities, Governor and Chief Minister, or dialogue in a democracy would be a race to the bottom

The Supreme Court also called for a “mature statesmanship” from the Governor and the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.

The apex court said that it is inconceivable on the part of the Governor to stall Budget Session on the ground that a letter and tweet from the Chief Minister to his query about the government’s decision to send Principals for training abroad was “extremely derogatory and unconstitutional”

Equally, the Supreme Court told Mr. Mann that though free speech is a right protected by the Constitution, he should maintain a certain degree of discourse while addressing the Governor.

Mr. Mann had questioned the authority of the Governor to ask questions, saying the Punjab government was only answerable to the three crore Punjabis and not the Governor, whose qualifications to be appointed as one is not known.

The court said the Governor is bound by the aid and advice of the Punjab Council of Ministers. He has no discretion to stall the summoning of the 16th Vidhan Sabha for the Budget session on March 3.