The Supreme Court declared the June session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha as valid and instructed the Governor to process pending bills according to the law. The bench, led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, upheld the constitutional validity of the Punjab Assembly session held on June 19–20, 2023. While emphasizing that it has not expressed an opinion on the constitutional exercise of the governor, the court directed the governor to make decisions on bills submitted for assent during the mentioned session.
The court criticized the Punjab Governor for casting doubt on the session’s validity, asserting that any attempt to question the legislature’s session poses risks to democracy. It highlighted that the Speaker, recognized as the guardian of the House’s privileges, acted within his jurisdiction by adjourning the House sine die.
During the hearing, the court expressed concern over the situation in Punjab, stating that not passing bills and claiming the session is invalid is akin to playing with fire. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta urged the court to allow a week to find a constitutional solution. The case involves the delay in the Governor’s clearance of bills passed by the Punjab government, with the state government highlighting the non-compliance with Article 200 of the constitution regarding the bills’ processing.
