Sovandeb Chattopadhyay Asserts Governor Lacks Power to Summon Officials Over Pending Legislation
Kolkata, April 11 — West Bengal Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sovandeb Chattopadhyay has strongly criticised Governor C V Ananda Bose, asserting that the Constitution does not permit the governor to summon officials for discussions on pending Bills.
The minister’s statement, made on Thursday, comes in response to Governor Bose’s recent announcement that he had requested meetings with departmental officers before granting assent to several Bills that remain pending with him.
“The Constitution clearly states that the governor does not have the power to indefinitely hold back Bills. If there are legal concerns, he can write to the government—but there is no provision allowing him to summon officials,” Chattopadhyay said, adding, “I have read the Constitution many times.”
Speaker Highlights 23 Pending Bills Since 2016
Speaker Biman Banerjee also weighed in, citing a recent Supreme Court verdict and revealing that 23 Bills passed by the West Bengal Assembly since 2016 are still awaiting gubernatorial assent.
The development comes close on the heels of a landmark Supreme Court ruling on Tuesday that cleared 10 Bills stalled by Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi, while also setting a clear timeline for all governors to act on legislation passed by state assemblies.
DMK's Victory in Supreme Court Sparks State-Level Reactions
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin hailed the apex court's decision as a “victory for all Indian states,” a sentiment echoed by Speaker Banerjee, who expressed hope that West Bengal Governor Bose would now act on the pending legislation accordingly.
Raj Bhavan Responds, Cites Presidential Referral of Bills
In a statement released Wednesday, the Raj Bhavan clarified that 11 Bills—including 10 related to state universities and the Aparajita Bill—have already been forwarded for Presidential consideration between 2024 and 2025.
The governor’s office further noted that it has requested additional details from the state government regarding other Bills, claiming that “appropriate responses have not been received.”
The constitutional tug-of-war highlights ongoing tensions between elected state governments and appointed governors, particularly over the timely processing and assent of legislation.
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