: Its unfortunate that Gehlot govt is working from hotels: Raj Guv (IANS Exclusive) #IndiaNEWS #National By Archana SharmaJaipur, Aug 1 | As the MLAs of the Ashok Gehlot-led Rajasthan government camp

Its unfortunate that Gehlot govt is working from hotels: Raj Guv (IANS Exclusive) #IndiaNEWS #National
By Archana SharmaJaipur, Aug 1 | As the MLAs of the Ashok Gehlot-led Rajasthan government camp in a palatial hotel in Jaisalmer fearing poaching threats from Sachin Pilot-led rebel camp and the opposition BJP, Governor Kalraj Mishra, in an exclusive interview with IANS, says Its unfortunate that the state govt is working from hotels.
He rues the fact that seasoned politicians did not guide the younger lot and that is exactly why this situation arose in the first place.
Terming the situation strange, the Governor revealed that no one, right from the state government to the opposition have approached for a floor test on paper. However, everyone is discussing it here and there in the public and the media and there are apprehensions that the Congress government is losing the majority in the Assembly.
Speaking at length on reasons why he recently cleared the notification to convene the Assembly session on August 14, only after receiving four representations by the Ashok Gehlot government, Governor Mishra explained how he has followed all constitutional norms in the process without being biased.
Here are the excerpts…
Q: Has the state government answered all your queries now when you have approved their proposal of calling the session on August 14?
A: Yes, the final proposal sent by the state government addresses all issues which were raised by the Raj Bhavan.
The basic query on our part was what is the urgency of calling a session at a time when COVID numbers are crossing the 1,000-mark each day in the state and the seating capacity of the Assembly is also limited (in terms of social distancing).
However, the final proposal sent to us quoted the proposed date of convening the session (August 14) with elaborate reasons for calling it unlike the other three previous proposals.
This proposal included reasons such as discussing corona and a few bills for calling the session. It also says that the government has decided on new arrangements in terms of COVID norms during the session which was our primary concern.
Q: What was stopping you from giving your consent earlier?
A: Article 174 of the Constitution gives the Governor the power to summon from time to time the House or each House of the Legislature of the State to meet at such time and place as he thinks fit… However, the phrase as he thinks fit is read as per Article 163 of the Constitution which says that the Governor acts on the aid and advice of the cabinet and the state government was sending the proposal under the same article.
Meanwhile, the same article empowers the Governor to exercise certain limited discretionary powers.
However, rule number 3 of Legislative Business Rules made under Article 208 of Indian Constitution says that the Governor can convene sessions on the notice of 21 days if there isnt anything urgent.