President’s Rule can be imposed in Punjab, Governor warns Mann

 

 

IN A major escalation of the tussle between the Punjab Governor and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Banwarilal Purohit on Friday warned that he could recommend President’s Rule in the State and also initiate criminal proceedings if his letters are not answered. In his latest communication to Mann, the Governor indicated he was upset over not getting any reply from him on his previous letters and warned him that he could send a report to the President on “failure of constitutional mechanism.” Purohit advised Mann to act before he takes this “final decision” under Article 356 of the Constitution and section 124 of the Indian Penal Code. A State is brought under direct rule of the Centre with the invocation of Article 356, usually after a report is sent by the Governor.

 

The IPC section relates to assaulting or wrongfully restraining the President or a Governor from exercising their lawful powers. “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 referred to above, 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,” the Governor wrote in his letter released to the media on Friday. In his letter to the Chief Minister, Purohit mentioned his August 1 communication and said Mann had still not given the information sought by him.

 

“It appears that you are deliberately refusing to give the information asked by me,” he said. The Governor in his latest letter claimed he had received reports from various agencies regarding rampant availability and abuse of drugs in Punjab, and also sought a report in this regard. “It is common knowledge that they are available in chemist shops, a new trend is observed that they are being sold in the Government controlled liquor vends,” wrote Purohit.