The lok Sabha on Saturday passed a bill seeking to provide secretarial assistance to ex-Governors, but not before the gubernatorial post itself came under serious attack from regional political parties, which, in fact, wanted its abolition at the very outset. Regional parties, in power in many States, are often at loggerheads with the laat Saheb.
The idea to abolish the post was supported by the Trinamool Congress and the Biju Janata Dal. The CPM and the RJD also sang a similar tune. The Janata Dal (United) was also critical of the role of Governors and asked for a total review of the system. The AIADMK wanted consultation with Chief Ministers before appointment of Governors.
Sharad Yadav (JD-U) said he is not in favour of having the post of Governor and asked the Government to come out with details of expenditure incurred by various Raj Bhavans. He alleged that some Governors have taken money to appoint vice-chancellors and questioned the powers given to them in the field of education.
Earlier, initiating the debate on the Bill, Kirti Azad (BJP) pointed out that the post of Governor has been misused often with the Centre using them to target State Governments. He said recommendations of the Sarkaria Commission, Punchhi Commission and Venkatachalliah Committee should be implemented to prevent this.
Saugata Roy, Trinamool MP from Dum Dum, suggested that Office of the Governor was “an anachronism” in a modern day democracy. “It is time to take a fresh look into the Office of the Governor as to whether it is in consonance with the spirit of modern democracy,” he said.
Participating in the debate on The Governors (Emoluments, Allowances and Privileges) Amendment Bill, 2012, Roy said his party would like the Governor to be appointed compulsorily in consultation with the State Government.
The Bill proposed to provide the secretarial assistance to ex-governors in the form of one Personal Assistant, which the ex-governor concerned may appoint on reimbursement basis, during his life time. The personal assistant will be paid a salary of Rs 28,000.
“It is high time to consider whether the Governor should occupy such huge areas which can put to use for children and for common people. In Kolkata, right in the heart of the City, we have a 200-year old Raj Bhawan. Now, can that Raj Bhawan not be put to better useIJ Can the Governor not be given a more functional houseIJ It is even difficult to keep that Raj Bhawan neatly,” he argued.
CPM MP from Bardhman-Durgapur, SK Saidul Haque, also requested the government to rethink whether there is any necessity for the post of Governor. “The time has come to discuss and think about it whether the post of Governor should exist or not particularly in consideration with the Centre-State Relations”.
Tathagata Satpathy, the BJD MP from Dhenkanal, said it unfortunate that country was still stuck with the colonial legacy such as the Governors. He suggested that name should come from the Chief Ministers of the States.
AIADMK MP from Salem S Semmalai strongly felt that while appointing Governors to various States, the CMs of the respective States should also be consulted. “It should be made mandatory,” he argued. RD MP from Vaishali Raghuvansh Prasad Singh also batted for the abolition of the post of governor. “This post reminds us of the British and sultanate regime. This set up must be abolished,” he said.
CPI MP from Medinipur, Prabodh Panda, said the post of the governor was the only post for which election is never held and there is no scope for election in future also. “We are just carrying the legacy of the colonial rule, the British rule which should be done away with. There is no necessity of this,” he said.
Winding up the discussion, minister of state for Home, RPN Singh, said it was “extremely unfortunate” that some members want the post of Governor to be abolished. He also said it was not in good taste to ask how many governors were there above the age of 80.
In a lighter vein, Singh said the opposition should not have any objection as husband of leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj, as well as leader of the House Sushilkumar Shinde, are beneficiaries. Swaraj’s husband Swaraj Kaushal and Shinde are ex-governors.
Other bills also cleared during the day were related to amending states’ list of scheduled castes for inclusion and exclusion of certain castes in five states and modifying the list of scheduled tribes in the states of Kerala and Chhattisgarh.