Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 26 (PTI) Keralam Assembly Speaker Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan on Monday denied Leader of Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan permission to raise a submission concerning the Governor’s role in matters related to the state government and the state PSC, citing Assembly rules, but said the issue could be discussed later in another format.
The development comes after former Keralam Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar reportedly wrote to the President of India recommending the removal of the state Public Service Commission (PSC)) Chairman, M R Baiju, over alleged irregularities in the recruitment body, shortly before demitting office.
The Speaker said the rules did not permit discussions involving the President or Governors in certain circumstances, particularly when a submission did not constitute a substantive motion and involved criticism of persons holding high constitutional offices.
Vijayan said a similar notice had been submitted in 2020, seeking a resolution urging the President to recall then Governor Arif Mohammed Khan.
The then Speaker, P Sreeramakrishnan, had held that the notice was legally admissible under Rule 130, leaving it to the government to decide whether a discussion should be held, he said.
Vijayan argued that the issue involved serious constitutional questions affecting the state and should be discussed in the Assembly.
He said the Governor was required to act in accordance with the Council of Ministers’ decisions and cited court rulings.
He also pointed to issues concerning the PSC, a constitutional body, and said the matter had implications for the state’s governance and democratic system.
The Speaker said he understood the LoP’s concerns but maintained that the submission could not be admitted under the relevant rules.
He urged Vijayan to accept the ruling and said he would discuss the matter with him separately, possibly taking it up in another form on a subsequent day.
Chief Minister VD Satheesan said the government had a considered position on the issue and was prepared to respond if the Speaker permitted it to be raised.
He said the Speaker’s ruling bound the government and that it would not be appropriate for the LoP to proceed with the submission after permission had been denied.
The Speaker reiterated that the issue could be discussed later and asked Vijayan to accept the ruling, expressing hope that the matter could be taken up on another day. PTI TBA TBA ROH
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