Hyderabad:

Supreme Court Justice BV Nagarathna on Saturday warned against indefinite consideration of bills passed by the elected legislature in a case involving the Punjab governor.

Justice Nagaratna, who was delivering the keynote address at the opening ceremony of the 5th Courts and Constitution Conference at Narsall College of Law, said the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly case was another example of the governor overstepping his powers, The governor lacked sufficient materials to declare floor testing.

“Constitutionally, it is not a healthy trend to refer the actions or inactions of state governors to the Constitutional Court for consideration,” she said.

“I think I must appeal that the post of governor, though it is called the post of governor, the post of governor is a serious constitutional post and the governor has to perform the duties prescribed by the constitution as per the constitution and in this way, court litigation is reduced,” Justice Nagarathna added.

She said it was quite embarrassing for governors to be told what to do or what not to do.

As a result, she said, they are now being told to carry out their duties under the constitution.

A few days ago, a three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud expressed “serious concern” over Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi’s refusal to reappoint DMK leader K Ponmudi as a minister in the state cabinet.

Justice Nagarathna also spoke about her dissent in the demonetisation case.

She said she had to oppose the central government’s move because when the decision was announced in 2016, Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes accounted for 86% of the total banknotes in circulation, of which 98% were returned after they were banned.

In October 2016, the Indian government demonetized Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, purportedly to combat black money.

“I think this is a way of converting money into white money through demonetization because first, 86% of the currency was demonetized and 98% of the currency came back as white money. All the countless amounts of money were returned Arrived at the bank.

“So I thought it was a good way to keep cash unaccounted for. So the plight of this ordinary person really moved me. So I had to dissent,” the judge said.

The meeting heard speeches from Justices Sapana Pradhan Malla and Syed Mansoor Ali Shah of the Supreme Court of Nepal.

Telangana High Court Chief Justice Alok Aradh and NALSAR President Justice S Ravindra Bhat also addressed the meeting, a NALSAR press release said.

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