SC to hear Telangana’s plea seeking direction to Governor on April 10

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday deferred to April 10 the hearing on the Telangana government’s plea seeking directions to the state governor to clear 10 bills that have been passed by the assembly but are awaiting gubernatorial assent.

A bench of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices P S Narasimha and J B Pardiwala was told by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta that he had some discussion with the governor and would make a statement on the next date of hearing. “Mr. Solicitor General, you can have a word with the governor and make a statement on the next date of hearing. List the matter on April 10,” the bench said.

Senior advocate Dushyant Dave, appearing for the government, said that in Madhya

Pradesh, the governor grants assent to bills within seven days while in Gujarat, bills are cleared within a month.

“Why is it being delayed in Telangana. I seek the intervention of the Solicitor General and he can advise the governor. What is the point in doing all this? Why can’t the court insist that the governor cannot sit like this on the bills? There is no communication at all. Two constitution bench judgements are there which say that the governor has to abide by the aid and advice of the council of ministers. It sends the wrong message,” he said.

Mehta said that there are certain communications but he would not like to elaborate further. “I will take further instructions and make a statement on the next date of hearing,” he said.

Dave said that it should be recorded in the order as people are waiting for these bills to be cleared. However, the bench did not record anything and adjourned the matter for hearing on April 10.