Former AG KK Venugopal appears for Kerala government in plea before Supreme Court against Governor

Former Attorney General for India KK Venugopal appeared before the Supreme Court on Monday to voice concerns by the Kerala government that its Governor, Arif Mohammed Khan, has been delaying the grant of assent to bills passed by the State's Legislative Assembly. .The veteran lawyer made a mention of the petition filed by the ruling left government in the State against the Governor raising grievance against the Governor's inaction. The mentioning was made while the Supreme Court was hearing a similar plea moved by the Punjab government, whic raised similar concerns with respect to the Punjab governor, Banwarilal Purohit. .Representing the Kerala government, Venugopal submitted that Governor Arif Mohammed Khan has held up State bills for as long as two years. "After this plea was filed, media reported that Governor says 'we will fight it in Supreme Court,'" Venugopal added. A bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud replied that the Court would hear the matter on Friday once the plea is filed. "Okay then if this is filed, then it will come up on Friday," CJI Chandrachud said. .Meanwhile, a similar plea has also been recently filed by the Tamil Nadu government against Tamil Nadu's Governor, RN Ravi..Punjab, Tamil Nadu move Supreme Court against respective Governors over delays in giving assent to Bills.While the Punjab government has complained that Governor Purohit has been sitting on 5 bills, the Tamil Nadu government has claimed that Governor Ravi has withheld his assent on 12 bills. During today's hearing in Punjab's case, the CJI had also lamented that Chief Ministers of States and Governors should ideally be working with each other to resolve such issues. "Little bit of soul searching needed from Chief Minister and Governor. Governor must know that he is not an elected representative... He can withhold assent and send it back once.. This is particularly on money bills ... Why should parties be required to move the Supreme Court for convening the House? ... We are the oldest democracy and these issues must be sorted between the Chief Minister and the Governor," the CJI said.