Govt allows Guv to address Houses
K Venkateshwarlu
Hyderabad
The deadlock over the budget between the Telangana government and the Governor, Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan, is over as the government stepped back. The government withdrew its petition on Monday which was filed in the HC saying that the Governor had not approved the budget. The counsels of the Government and the Raj Bhavan (Governor) arrived at a solution after holding talks on the matter as per HC’s advice.
They informed the HC that they had decided to conduct the Assembly session as per the Constitution mandate. Government Counsel Dushyant Dave informed the HC that the government had decided to allow the Governor to address the joint session of the Assembly and Council.
Dave also informed the High Court that he will bring to the notice of the government that it should not criticise the Governor.
Raj Bhavan Counsel Ashok Anand told the HC that the Governor would approve the budget so that it can be introduced in the Assembly. The High Court then ended the hearing with the consent of both counsels.
Suspense prevailed among BRS circles as Governor Dr Tamilisai Sounderarajan did not approve the budget which the government has been trying to introduce in the Assembly on February 3. The government approached the HC as only four days were left for the commencement of the budget session.
The Cabinet can approve the budget only after the Governor gives her consent. Later, the government will introduce the budget in the Assembly as well as the Council.
In fact, the Finance Department sent a copy of the budget to the Governor’s office a few days ago. However, there was a deadlock as the Governor did not approve the budget. The Governor also wrote a letter to the government asking it to reveal whether the Governor will be allowed to address the Assembly and Council before the introduction of the budget. Instead of responding, the government approached the HC.
