Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, Kolkata, September 6, 2024: In a significant political development, West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose has hinted that the Raj Bhavan will likely withhold clearance for the ‘Aparajita’ Bill, recently passed by the state assembly. Governor Bose cited the absence of a required technical report from the state government as the primary reason for not granting assent to the bill.
“No technical report has been sent by the state with this bill, which is necessary for giving clearance,” stated the Governor, expressing concerns over the procedural lapses by the state government. “Despite knowing that, the state has not sent any technical report,” he added, indicating a clear stance against the bill without the necessary documentation.
The ‘Aparajita’ Bill, formally named the “Unprivileged Women and Children Bill,” aims to address the protection and rights of underprivileged women and children in the state. It was passed unanimously by the West Bengal Legislative Assembly last Tuesday. The bill received support even from the opposition, with Leader of the Opposition, Subhendu Adhikari, stating that they would assist in the bill’s passage as “a responsible opposition.”
However, Governor Bose criticized the bill as an “imitation” of similar legislation from other states like Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, and Maharashtra. “The Aparajita Bill of Bengal is nothing new. It is just an imitation of Andhra, Arunachal, and Maharashtra Women’s Protection Bills. These bills are now lying with the President,” he remarked, suggesting that the Chief Minister deliberately pushed such a bill despite knowing its possible fate.
The Governor’s Office issued a statement emphasizing the procedural protocol that the state government must follow. “It is the duty of the state government to send its technical report along with the bill. The state government has not sent it. This is not the first time that the state government has blamed the Raj Bhavan for withholding the bill despite not sending the technical report several times,” read the statement. The Governor has also communicated with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, advising that “the State should do more homework before introducing the Bill.”
As per established legislative procedures, once a bill is passed by the state assembly, it is forwarded to the Governor for assent. If the Governor approves it, the bill becomes law. If the Governor is unable to decide, the bill is escalated to the President of India, who makes the final decision.
The Chief Minister has responded to the Governor’s comments, urging the opposition to put pressure on the Governor to approve the bill. “Opposition leaders should ask the governor to approve the bill soon,” she stated, emphasizing the need for swift action on this issue.
Meanwhile, the Trinamool Mahila Morcha, the women’s wing of the ruling Trinamool Congress, has warned of protests if the Governor refuses to clear the bill. “If the governor does not give clearance to the bill, they will sit on dharna in front of the Raj Bhavan,” a spokesperson for the organization declared.
The situation is poised to escalate into a broader political confrontation, with the state’s ruling party and opposition aligning on the bill, while the Governor stands firm on procedural grounds. The unfolding scenario is likely to test the dynamics between the state government and Raj Bhavan, potentially impacting future legislative processes in West Bengal.