9 bills passed By Chhattisgarh Assembly await governor's nod since 2020

Nine legislations passed by the Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly, have been awaiting assent from the state governor for over 12 months. 

According to official data, eight bills were cleared by the assembly in 2020, while one bill to raise reservations in government jobs and education was passed in 2022.

Appointment of VC

Five of the nine long-pending bills relate to transferring the power to appoint vice-chancellors of state universities from the governor to the state government. One of these also seeks to rename a university.

Chhattisgarh passes bill to expand reservations

Moreover, two key bills were passed aiming to expand reservations for marginalized communities. The Chhattisgarh Public Service (Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes Reservation) (Amendment) Bill 2022 was held back despite pressure after former Governor Anusuiya Uike sought clarifications from the state government regarding its legality, which she later found unsatisfactory.

Recently, this issue came under fresh spotlight when the Supreme Court (SC) questioned similar delays by the Tamil Nadu Governor in clearing bills passed unanimously by the state assembly.

Unnecessary delays by governors

According to experts,  governors should not sit on bills indefinitely without valid grounds once they have been duly approved by elected state legislatures. Protracted delays in giving assent could be seen as impinging on the functional autonomy of states.

The Chhattisgarh government has taken the matter to court as nearly a year lapses since the reservation bills and other legislation were passed.