Punjab governor Banwarilal Purohit wrote to chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday, stating that in accordance with authorized recommendation obtained by him the two-day meeting session held final month was in “breach of law and procedure”, thereby casting doubt on the legality of 4 payments handed there.

The governor’s letter was in response to the chief minister’s written request to him on Saturday to offer his assent to the Sikh Gurdwaras (Amendment) Bill, 2023, handed in the course of the particular meeting session to make sure free-to-air telecast of Gurbani from the Golden Temple. Temple in Amritsar.

Three different payments, the Punjab Police (Amendment) Bill, 2023, the Punjab Affiliated Colleges (Security of Service Amendment) Bill, 2023, and the Punjab Universities Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2023 – had been additionally handed. All 4 payments had been later despatched to the governor for assent.

“In order to discharge my duties conscientiously, I have proceeded to receive legal advice which gives me to believe that your calling of Vidhan Sabha session on June 19 and 20 when these four bills were passed was in breach of law and procedure, thereby casting doubt on the legitimacy and legality of those bills,” Purohit wrote.

The governor mentioned that within the background of the authorized recommendation obtained, he was actively contemplating whether or not to acquire the authorized opinion from the Attorney General of India, or as per the Constitution, to order these payments for the consideration and consent of the President. “I shall take action according to law after the legality of the Vidhan Sabha session is first examined,” he added.

The letter bomb could escalate rigidity between Mann and Purohit who’ve had a number of run-ins over the previous a number of months. The row between the 2 high functionaries began in October final 12 months after the governor raised questions over the appointment of V-Cs of the Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS) and Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) after which noticed them shoot off letters and take potshots at one another over the governor’s journeys to frame districts, meeting periods, and many others.

Reacting sharply to Purohit’s missive to the chief minister, AAP’s Punjab chief spokesperson Malvinder Singh Kang alleged that the governor had revealed his true colours as an agent of the Centre. “His actions not only undermine the authority of the state assembly but also expose a sinister agenda to suppress the voices of the people,” he claimed in a tweet. Kang mentioned that Purohit’s “blatant disregard for due process and his attempt to subvert the will of the elected representatives, was a slap in the face of democracy.”

In the most recent letter, Purohit, whereas referring to Mann’s July 15 communication, mentioned it appeared from the CM’s assertion that he was involved with sure actions of “a particular political family” that had prompted the passing of the Sikh Gurdwaras (Amendment) Bill. “You have additionally identified what you understand because the potential fallout of any delay on my half in signing the invoice instantly. You have additionally thought it match to explain the time taken by me as one thing that “amounts to stifling the democratic will of the people of Punjab,” the governor wrote.

Purohit additionally refused to be drawn into an argument over a matter of the CM’s “private perception”, and identified that as governor he was enjoined by the Constitution of India to make sure payments had been handed in accordance with the legislation.

After the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee introduced to launch its personal YouTube channel and later a satellite tv for pc channel for the telecast of Gurbani, Mann had on Saturday urged the governor to signal the Sikh Gurdwaras (Amendment) Bill, 2023, earlier than the settlement between the SGPC and The personal channel expires on July 23.

He mentioned the telecast of Gurbani is not going to be allowed to enter the fingers of “special people” of the Badal household’s firm once more. “It is regretted that the invoice despatched to you on June 26 has not been signed until date. This quantities to stifling the democratic will of the folks of Punjab,” he wrote to the governor.

After the special session, Purohit had, at a press conference, made known his intention of ascertaining the constitutional validity of the special session and the four bills.