Kerala Governor not discharging constitutional duties regarding bills, hence moved SC: LDF govt
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): The Kerala government on Thursday said it moved the Supreme Court against the action of Governor Arif Mohammed Khan for not signing certain bills passed by the state legislature as he was not discharging his constitutional duties.
State Law Minister P Rajeev said that the state legislature passed bills after considerable deliberations and in accordance with the rules and therefore, to withhold them indefinitely was "unconstitutional and anti-democratic".
"As soon as a bill is passed, the Governor has to act in accordance with the provisions of Article 200 of the Constitution," he said, adding that the provision has not been followed by Khan in respect of some bills.
The bills to which Khan has withheld assent include the Lok Ayukta Amendment Bill and two different University Laws Amendment Bills.
Speaking to reporters here, Rajeev said that even the Supreme Court has observed that bills passed by the legislature should not be withheld indefinitely and a decision should be taken on them "as soon as maybe".
The Governor, however, has withheld assent to some bills for nearly two years now, he said.
The minister said that the Governor could have sent the bills back to the assembly pointing out his concerns and the assembly would have decided whether to make amendments to them or pass them again without any modifications.
"Since the Governor is not discharging his constitutional duties with regard to the bills passed by the legislature, the government decided to move the Supreme Court against it," the minister said.
At the same time, the minister also said that it was not government-Governor row.
He said that the plea in the Supreme Court concerns the constitutional relationship between the state legislature and the Governor.
Khan, on several occasions in the past, has contended that he has withheld assent to some bills as his queries regarding those pieces of legislation were yet to be addressed by the ruling Left government.
He had claimed that as the respective ministers who proposed the bills were unable to address his queries, he had asked Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan to clarify the doubts.
As no clarification came from the CM, the bills remained unsigned, Khan had said.
He had claimed that it was the Constitutional duty of the chief minister to brief him on a regular basis.
On this aspect, Rajeev said that the CM was only required to inform the Governor about the state cabinet's proposals for legislation and not the laws.
If the Governor wanted to send it to the President, it could have been done by now as some bills are awaiting assent for nearly two years, the minister said.
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Minister Patil chairs industry meetings to chart growth for key sectors in Karnataka
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Minister M B Patil on Tuesday chaired meetings with industry representatives from the aerospace and defence, machine tools, auto/EV, and green energy sectors to discuss sector growth and government support measures.
The meetings were attended by leading industrialists and their representatives, with some participating virtually.
Speaking on the occasion, the minister for Large and Medium Industries said Karnataka is at the forefront of the country’s aerospace and defence sectors.
He noted that Suzuki and Toyota plan to launch aerial taxi services in Japan by 2028, with Bengaluru-based Sasmos supplying electrical equipment for the project.
Industrialists suggested introducing similar “fly-taxi” services in Karnataka through an appropriate policy, which Patil said would be examined seriously.
The minister highlighted the need to establish testing centres and Common Facility Centres for the aerospace and defence industries and assured that these facilities would be provided.
Suggestions were also made to prepare a comprehensive roadmap for sector growth.
Karnataka has urged the Central Government to approve Defence Corridor projects in the Bengaluru North–Kolar–Chikkaballapur and Dharawada–Vijayapura–Belagavi regions.
Industrialists also suggested a corridor between Bengaluru and Mysuru, Patil said.
He said Karnataka aims to become a hub for defence electronics manufacturing, with plans to establish a 200-acre Defence Electronics Park and a 100-acre Avionics and Sensor Park.
These projects will be implemented once the Special Investment Region is operational, and land availability will not be an issue.
On the machine tools sector, Patil said the industry has recorded an annual turnover of Rs 36,500 crore and is witnessing steady growth.
Large-scale exhibitions have increased demand, and the state must strengthen its capabilities to develop control systems for heavy machinery. One testing unit is already operational in Bengaluru, with another planned for Tumakuru. Expansion of vocational training institutes in industrial areas is also underway.
In the Auto and EV sector, Vision Group members highlighted the need for a network of dry ports and more EV charging stations across the state.
Patil noted that the Tata Group is manufacturing EV buses in Dharawada for nationwide supply. Plans for mini excavator production and export facilitation were also discussed, along with the establishment of a testing facility for two-wheeler EVs.
For the Green Energy sector, the group emphasised the need for a suitable policy on battery-based energy storage and the establishment of data centres.
Patil assured that the government will seriously consider all suggestions and respond positively.
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