As govt explores options to get four Bills cleared, Mann feels upbeat over it

Sources in the government said that they did not have many options. The most prominent was that it moved the Supreme Court as it had done in the past when the Governor had not given his approval to call the special session to condemn Operation Lotus of BJP.

Mann, however, was Tuesday confident that the Bills will be passed soon. (File)

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Day after Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit wrote to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann that the two-day special session of Vidhan Sabha was “patently illegal”, the government is exploring options to get his assent for its four Bills, even as Mann said that the Bills will be “passed.”

Sources in the government said that they did not have many options. The most prominent was that it moved the Supreme Court as it had done in the past when the Governor had not given his approval to call the special session to condemn Operation Lotus of BJP. However, they said, that taking the issue to the apex court was also like a double-edged weapon.

“The SC may turn to us and say that we have not responded to Governor’s letters. That is why the Governor is also making it a point to flag it in every letter that his letters remained ‘unresponded’.”

Mann, however, was Tuesday confident that the Bills will be passed soon. While talking to the media at Panjab University in Chandigarh on Tuesday, Mann said, “All bills are pending. He (The Governor) is saying the session is in breach of law. He hadn’t given the permission for the budget session also. How come then the Supreme Court gave the permission? All four bills will be passed. Just wait a little,” he said.

Later, in a statement, he said, “In his view, the Budget session was also illegal. However, the apex court reminded him about the legal provisions then he had given sanction for the session.” The statement quoted him as saying that the session was in consonance with the ethos of the constitution of India and was totally legal.

Sources in the government said that even if the government called a monsoon session and then passed these Bills once again, the rules allowed the Governor to sit on these Bills and not respond. In that case, the government was not in a position to do anything.

If the Governor returned the Bills to the government, then these could be passed again by the Assembly. In this case, the Governor was bound to give his assent to the Bills. For now, the state’s Bills are stuck. The Bills passed by the House during the special session include The Punjab Affiliated Colleges (Security of Service) Amendment Bill 2023; The Punjab Police (Amendment) Bill, 2023; The Sikh Gurdwara (Amendment) Bill, 2023; and The Punjab Universities Laws (Amendment) Bill 2023.

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The Bill pertaining to Punjab Police seeks to circumvent the role of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) in the selection of the state police chief while one on universities seeks to replace the Governor with the Chief Minister as Chancellor of state-run universities. The Bill pertaining to Sikh Gurdwaras is aimed at freeing the telecast of Gurbani from the monopoly of a channel associated with former Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal.

Kanchan Vasdev

Kanchan Vasdev is a Senior Assistant Editor in The Indian Express’ Punjab bureau. She is a highly experienced journalist with 22 years of expertise covering high-stakes politics, governance, and social issues in Northern India. Professional Background Role: Primary reporter covering the Punjab Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), government policies, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leadership in the state. Experience: She previously worked with The Tribune and has played a key role in launching various city editions. Special Projects: Abandoned Brides: Authored a monograph on brides abandoned by NRIs as part of the Prabha Dutt Memorial Fellowship. Environment: Worked as a Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) fellow, focusing on the pollution levels in the Satluj river. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reporting focuses on the legislative strategies and political maneuvers of the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government: 1. Legislative & Governance Standoffs "Punjab govt advances special Assembly session to pass resolution against VB-G RAM G Bill" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the state's move to block the Centre's "Viksit Bharat" mission, which the state claims will undermine MGNREGA. "Punjab govt doubles down on special sessions, sixth in January" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing the AAP government's use of special sessions as a legislative tool amid tensions with the Governor. "Punjab asks 'VIP teachers' working near Chandigarh to go back to border districts" (Dec 16, 2025): Reporting on CM Mann's move to end the practice of influential teachers avoiding postings in remote areas. 2. Political Analysis & Rural Polls "Punjab rural polls: Why Akalis are likened to dinosaurs in Punjab" (Dec 19, 2025): Analyzing CM Bhagwant Mann's rhetoric against the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) following local body elections. "AAP claims win in 78% Punjab zila parishads as counting continues" (Dec 18, 2025): Breaking down the results of the 2025 rural elections. "Rahul Gandhi and Sidhu alike, says Bhagwant Mann" (Dec 13, 2025): Covering the CM's critique of the Congress leadership. 3. Law Enforcement & Bureaucracy "Suspended Punjab IPS officer Ravjot Kaur Grewal awaits reinstatement" (Dec 10, 2025): Investigative reporting on the bureaucratic red tape involving the Election Commission and the state government. "Punjab declines to give parole to Amritpal Singh" (Nov 27, 2025): Detailing the state government's refusal to grant parole to the radical preacher and sitting MP. 4. Welfare & Economy "Punjab government's plan to add more freebies to 'atta-dal' scheme hits funds roadblock" (Dec 4, 2024): An analysis of the fiscal challenges facing the state's flagship food security program. "Mann leads Punjab delegation to Japan and South Korea for investor outreach" (Dec 2, 2025). Signature Beat Kanchan Vasdev is known for her insider access to Punjab's political executive. Her writing provides deep insights into how state policies are formulated and the friction points between the state government and central authorities. Her dual expertise in environment and law allows her to report on complex issues like the "Farmhouse Policy" (Dec 18, 2025) and river pollution with a unique policy-oriented lens. X (Twitter): @kanchan99 ... Read More

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