Governor bound by Constitution to read speech drafted by govt: Basavaraj Horatti

Bengaluru: Weighing in on the debate around the Kerala Governor’s decision to amend the speech drafted by the government for his address to the state legislature, Chairman of the Karnataka Legislative Council Basavaraj Horatti on Wednesday said that the Governor was bound by the rules of the Constitution to read the speech as written by the state government.

“I don’t think such a situation will arise in Karnataka. It is the Governor’s Constitutionally mandated duty to read the speech drafted by the state government. Whoever the Governor may be, he or she cannot ignore the Constitution,” said Horatti.

Citing the provisions of Article 176 of the Constitution, Horatti added, “Leave alone dropping a few lines, the Governor cannot add or delete a single word from the speech drafted by the state government.”

Although Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot has thus far steered clear of confrontations with the state government, he may find it discomfiting if asked to criticise the Centre in his address to the state legislature, opined Horatti.

Pending items to be tabled

Horatti said that he would endeavour to table items pending from the Winter Session in the upcoming special session of the state legislature.

“In addition to discussions on MGNREGA, there will be question hour,” said the Council Chairman.