“Failure of constitutional machinery in state”, Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit warns CM Bhagwant Mann of consequences if he doesn’t respond to his letter

In a fresh show down, Punjab Governor has shot off a letter to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday but with a strong warning. Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit had warned that if the CM doesn’t respond to him then he would be compelled to write to the President of India “under article 356”. The Governor has asked for an action taken report from the Mann government over the drug menace in the state”

In his strongly worded letter, the Governor stated he would write to the President for intervention with regards to initiation of criminal proceedings against the State Government of Mann. “Before I am going to take final decision regarding sending a report to the President of India under Article 356 about the failure of the constitutional mechanism and take a decision about initiating criminal proceedings under Section 124 of the IPC, I ask you to send me the requisite information sought for under my letters, as also in the matter of the steps taken by you concerning the problem of drugs in the state, failing which I would have no choice but to take action according to law and the Constitution”, excerpt of the Governor Purohit’s letter read.

The Governor reminded that it is his duty to ensure that the state government is “regarded as good, efficient, impartial and honest, and that the proposals enunciated by the government are not contrary to the Law of the Land”. But the warning came in the following line where he wrote “I have therefore to advise you, warn you and ask you to respond to my letters referred to above and give me the information sought by me.” The Governor had previously sough a report from the state government in his letter dated August 1. The Aam Aadmi Government didn’t respond to that letter prompting the governor to fire another letter with the warning on Friday, 24 days later.

“It appears that you are deliberately refusing to give the information asked for by me. I regret to note here that in spite of the clear provisions of Article 167 of the Constitution of India which makes it mandatory for the chief minister to furnish all such information relating to the administration of affairs of the state as the Governor may call for, you have failed to supply the information sought by me.”, Governor Purohit wrote.

Quoting a Supreme Court order, the Governor reminded that “both the chief minister and the governor are constitutional functionaries who have specified roles and obligations earmarked by the Constitution, and that the governor has a right to seek information from the chief minister in terms of Article 167(b) on matters relating to the administration of the affairs of the state and proposals for legislation”.

In his fresh letter he has once again reiterated his apprehensions over drug menace in the state, highlighting suffering of common people because of that. “ I am pained to point out that there is reason to believe that there is failure of the constitutional machinery in the state,” Purohit added. He also pointed out that a recent report of the Parliamentary Standing Committee had suggested that one in five people in Punjab is exposed or addicted to drugs.