After Punjab government moves Supreme Court, Governor gives assent to two Money bills
Punjab E News: Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit has given his assent to two money bills sent by the state government ahead of the hearing of a petition filed in the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the matter of blocking money bills on November 3. The Governor wrote to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann two days ago, stating that he was considering the money bills in the larger interest of the state.
According to sources, the Governor gave his assent to the Punjab Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2023, and the Indian Stamp (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2023, after some disruptions.
The first bill paves the way for the imposition of GST on online gaming and the establishment of a GST Appellate Tribunal, while the second bill seeks to impose stamp duty on the mortgage of property. The Governor is yet to give assent to the Punjab Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (Amendment) Bill, 2023.
It may be recalled that the Punjab government had sent three money bills for the prior approval of the Governor, which was objected to by the Governor on October 18. He termed the October 20 assembly session as illegal. Then Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced in the House that he would move the Supreme Court against the Governor’s decision.
The Punjab government filed a petition in the Supreme Court on October 28 in this regard, which is scheduled to be heard on November 3. Even before this hearing, the Governor has changed his stance and has approved two money bills today.
Experts say that with the Governor’s approval, the legality of the Punjab Assembly’s session has been confirmed.
Sources indicate that the Punjab government can now take up the matter of clearing the pending bills in the Supreme Court during the current hearing.
In a letter to the chief minister, the Governor stated that he has so far approved 22 of the 27 bills.
The ruling party sees the Governor’s latest approval as a political victory, as the Governor had to backtrack even earlier when the government moved the Supreme Court over the budget session.
Official sources indicate that now the way has been paved for the introduction of money bills in the assembly. The amended GST Act, scheduled to come into effect on October 1, 2023, empowers the government to levy a 28 percent GST on online gaming.