NE NEWS SERVICE
PUDUCHERRY, FEB 10
Barely two days ahead of the special session of the Legislative Assembly convened by the government to adopt a resolution seeking a repeal of Citizenship (Amendment) Act, had Puducherry Lt. Governor Kiran Bedi written a letter to the Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy advising him to refrain from legislative procedure against CAA, as the act enacted by the union government is applicable to Puducherry union territory.
She wrote the letter to the Chief Minister hours after the three nominated BJP MLAs submitted a memorandum to Bedi seeking her intervention on the issue. In her letter, Bedi said that legislative power of the Assembly does not extend to the subject matter of Citizenship as it falls squarely within the domain of Parliament and Central government.
“Further the matter of CAA is already under adjudication before the Supreme Court. As per the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business of Puducherry legislative Assembly, 1966, resolution of any matter which is under jurisdiction by a court of law having jurisdiction in any part of India is not admissible under rule 105 of the Rules of ibid,” Bedi said, in her letter.
Opposing the move to adopt a resolution, the BJP members, in their memorandum to the Lt Governor, said any discussion on CAA would be an infringement on the rights of the Parliament. The resolution will be a clear violation of the constitution, the memorandum said.
Talking to reporters, Mr Saminathan said the government was deliberately violating Constitutional provisions despite knowing the consequences. “The Chief Minister is a lawyer and he knows about the implications,” he charged.
Notwithstanding the advisory from the Lt Governor, the government appeared to have made up its mind to adopt the resolution. “Immediately after Parliament passed the law, the Chief Minister has categorically stated that it will not be implemented in the Union Territory whatever maybe the consequences. We are sticking to our stand,” a ruling Congress leader said.
