Kerala seeks empowerment to control governors

Thiruvananthapuram: Amid widening differences between Raj Bhavan and the ruling LDF in Kerala over various issues, the state government has made its submission before the central government-appointed Punhi Commission that the state legislatures shall be empowered to control the Governors who violate the Constitutional values and principles while exercising their power.

According to sources, the recommendations of Kerala to the Justice Madan Mohan Punchhi Commission which is looking into measures to improve the Centre-state relations was approved by the recently met state Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

The state has proposed to bring an amendment to the Constitution to make it mandatory for the Centre to hold consultation with the states concerned before appointing the Governors, they said.

The southern state has also submitted that the state legislatures shall be empowered to remove the Governor from office if he is found violating the principles of the Constitution while discharging his Constitutional as well as statutory functions such as the Chancellor of the Universities and prosecution sanction authority of Council of Ministers under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Kerala also submitted that the Governor of a state shall be appointed by President in consultation with the states concerned.