Chhattisgarh Political Crisis – Burning Issues – Free PDF Download

The News

• Chhattisgarh Governor Anusuiya Uikey has recently returned a file from the government seeking permission to convene a special session of the Assembly.
• This provoked a sharp reaction from Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel.
• The latest incident comes after several earlier confrontations between the government and the Governor on political and administrative issues over the last seven months.

About Uikey

• Anusuiya Uikey was the BJP Rajya Sabha member from Madhya Pradesh until 2012.
• Her association with BJP goes a long way as the party fielded her as a candidate from Damua and Lakhnadaun legislative assembly constituencies in the 1993 and 1998 elections.
• In BJP, she has held important positions like State Secretary of BJP,  National Vice-President of BJP Yuva Morcha and Executive Member of BJP Adivasi Morcha.
• She was appointed Governor in July 2019.

Uikey v Baghel

• Appointment of VCs
  • The disagreement between the government and the Governor started in March 2020 over the appointment of Baldev Sharma, a staunch RSS man, an editor of RSS mouthpiece Panchjanya as Vice Chancellor of Kushabhau Thakre University of Journalism and Mass Communication (KTUJM), Raipur.
  • The Governor also appointed Vans Gopal Singh, a pro-BJP Vice Chancellor of the Bilaspur based Pandit Sundarlal Sharma Open University.
  • Baghel government tried to change the bylaws of appointment to reduce the role of the Governor; however, the Bill is pending with the Governor herself.
• Fifth Schedule area
  • The Governor in September 2020 expressed her displeasure over the government’s decision to redesignate Marwahi in the new district of Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi from a gram panchayat to a nagar panchayat.
  • Uikey said that, the area was part of the areas notified under the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution.
  • She called a meeting with senior officials of the government and asked if they had made the government aware of the “proper procedure”, which was to go through Raj Bhavan.
• Critical of crime in state
  • The Governor Uikey, has been vocal against the government on several occasions, and has heard petitions from opposition parties like the BJP and the Janta Congress Chhattisgarh, against decisions taken by the government.
  • She called for a meeting with the state machinery over the increase in crime rate which was not attended by many.
• Officials in Raj Bhavan
  • Governor Uikey had written a letter to CM Baghel over the changing and transfer of IAS officers attached to the Raj Bhavan.
  • The letter sought a full-time panel of IAS officials for the Raj Bhavan.
  • It also highlighted the government that her position is to be respected in the state, and that changes should not be made by the government without informing her or taking her feedback.

What is the Role of Governor?

The Governor

• 1979: Hargovind Pant vs Dr Raghukul Tilak case, SC observed that it is clear that the governor is not an employee or a servant of the Centre in any sense of the term. She is a constitutional functionary.
• Article 163 (2): If any question arises whether any matter is or is not a matter as respects which the Governor is required to act in his discretion, the decision of the Governor in his discretion shall be final.
• 2016: Nabam Rebia and Bamang Felix vs Deputy Speaker case, SC said that the powers vested in the Governor should be exercised with aid and advice of Council of Ministers and not at his own. SC highlighted the facts that the Governor is not an elected authority and is a mere nominee of the President, such a nominee cannot have an overriding authority over the representatives of the people. Power under article 163 have to be used in a limited manner and not at the whims of Governor.

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