It has been learnt that laws to fight corruption in public examinations and fraudulent property registrations are among 11 bills that Raj Bhavan has returned since January this year.
This shows a sign of trust eroded between Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot and the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government. The latter is already tizzy on the former for sanctioning Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's investigation and prosecution in a site allotment scam.
The governor’s refusal to assent to the bills has prompted angry reactions from the ruling Congress.
Nine of the 11 bills, reportedly, have been sent back to the government in the last one month.
Also, some bills have been returned by Raj Bhavan twice, say sources, as the governor sought clarifications on the bills.
The Karnataka Public Examination (Measures for Prevention of Corruption and Unfair Means in Recruitment) Bill, which proposes punishment up to 10 years imprisonment and ₹10 crore apart from confiscation of property for corruption during recruitment exams was sent back in January this year. The bill was passed in the Belagavi session of the legislature in December last.
The controversial Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments (Amendment) Bill, which seeks to use a higher portion of revenue from rich Hindu temples for a common pool of funds, was sent back citing a pending Supreme Court case.
Among the bills returned is the Registration (Karnataka Amendment) Bill. This bill promises reforms such as allowing registration of documents without physical presence at sub-registrar offices on a pilot basis and doing away with handwritten khatas.
The Congress government’s plan to mop up revenues by allowing developers to pay a ‘premium’ to construct additional floors in buildings over and above what is permissible — the Karnataka Town and Country Planning (Amendment) Bill — is stuck with Raj Bhavan not giving its assent.
“This shows that the governor doesn’t have much faith in our government,” Home Minister G Parameshwara said.
Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar is of the view that the governor is sending back bills at the behest of Bharatiya Janata Party leaders. “The governor can seek clarification. There is nothing wrong with it. But then having state governments will not make sense if bills aren’t cleared?” he said.
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