THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, JAN 16
Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan on Thursday took on the Pinarayi Vijayan-led Government for challenging the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) before the Supreme Court.
He said that “common courtesy demanded that prior permission” should have been taken from him by the government.
Kerala government had moved the Supreme Court against the citizenship law on Tuesday, becoming the first state to do so, amid continued nationwide protests against the legislation.
The state government’s move was a breach of protocol. “I’m not saying that what they did is wrong. They may have every right to approach the Supreme Court,” the governor told reporters on his way to New Delhi at Thiruvananthapuram airport.
“But the common courtesy demanded that prior permission (should have been) taken from me… at least I should have been kept in the loop,” he said.
“There is a legal maxim, neither I nor anyone is above the law. I am not against anyone approaching the judiciary. But, with me being the Constitutional head of the state, they (the state government) should have informed me about it, but I came to know through the newspapers. Some people here, think they are above law,” said Khan.
Demanding the repeal of CAA, the Kerala Government led by Vijayan moved the Supreme Court on Tuesday, saying the amended law violated Articles 14, 21 and 25 of the Constitution and the basic structure of secularism in India. With this, Kerala becomes the first state to approach the apex court against the CAA, which has seen unprecedented protests all over the country.
While presenting the resolution, Vijayan had said the CAA was against the “secular” outlook and fabric of the country thereby spearheading religion-based discrimination.
