Chhattisgarh governor expresses displeasure over writ petition on reservation bills

The letter further sought answers from the government in five days asking under what circumstances the advocate general had filed a writ petition against the governor

Chhattisgarh Governor’s office wrote a letter stating governor Anusuiya Uikey has expressed ‘grave displeasure’ against the state government and advocate general over the writ petition filed against the governor’s secretariat on pending reservation bills.

A petition in high court alleged no action was taken by the governor on two reservation bills. (Twitter | Governor Chhattisgarh)

The letter, dated February 9 and addressed to the chief secretary of the state, further sought answers from the government in five days asking under what circumstances, the advocate general had filed a writ petition against the governor.

The advocate general of Chhattisgarh, Satish Chandra Verma responding to the letter said he has not yet received the letter officially.

“Once I get the letter, I will be able to reply,” Verma said.

On February 6, Chhattisgarh high court sought a reply from the secretariat of the governor during the hearing of a writ petition that challenged the alleged delay in assent to two bills related to reservation that were sent by the state government to Uike’s office on December 3.

The high court ordered the governor’s secretariat to submit a reply by February 24.

On January 18, a petition filed by Himank Saluja in the Chhattisgarh high court that alleged no action was taken by the governor on two reservation bills sent by the state government for her assent, in the absence of which students were suffering, and the reservation policy in the state was not clear.

“…. Advocate general of Chhattisgarh pleading against the governor in the said matter, is a complete violation of the paragraph 173 of the judgment dated 24 January, 2006, passed by the constitutional bench of the Supreme Court, which says that the governor has to be represented by the state government itself. In pursuance to the same, the Article 361 of the Constitution of India is also observable, wherein it has been provided that the Governor not is answerable to any court,” the letter stated.

Meanwhile, the governor’s office on Thursday moved an application in the high court demanding to recall the notice served to the governor’s secretariat on February 6.

“The application has been filed in court seeking stay over the order in which a notice was served to the governor office,” said S Gopa Kumar, assistant solicitor general of India for the high court of Chhattisgarh.

On December 3, 2022, Chhattisgarh assembly passed two bills which increased reservation for OBCs to 27% from the existing 14%, while for the SC community to 13% from 12% in the public employment and admissions.

The 32% reservation for the ST category was kept unchanged.

Besides, a provision of 4% reservation was also provided to the economically weaker section (EWS), taking the total quota of reservation to 76%.