Arunachal Pradesh case: Governor can't take away Speaker's powers, says SC

New Delhi: Hearing the Arunachal Pradesh case, the Supreme Court on Thursday said a Governor had "no role to play" in issues concerning the anti-defection law which is the Speaker's domain.

Critically examining a direction of Governor JP Rajkhowa the party-wise position in the assembly should not be disturbed, a five-judge Constitution Bench headed by Justice J S Khehar asked "How can the Governor take away the constitutional powers of the Speaker to disqualify lawmakers on the grounds of defection?"

"The Governor may have some role in the functioning of the assembly, but he has no role to play in issues prescribed in the Tenth Schedule (anti-defection provision) of the Constitution."

The Governor's direction had come in the wake of Speaker Nabam Rebia disqualifying 16 of the 21 rebel Congress MLAs, which the Opposition alleged was done to help the "minority" Congress government.

Observing that democracy was part of the basic structure of the Constitution, the bench said, hence, any "undemocratic" decision would be open to judicial review.

"Democracy is a basic structure of the Constitution and if some decisions are anti-democratic, it is the subject matter of judicial review," the bench, also comprising Justices Dipak Misra, Madan B Lokur, P C Ghose and N V Ramana, said.

Senior advocate T R Andhyarijuna, appearing for Rajkhowa, defended the Governor's decisions saying when the Speaker was under clout and part of a conspiracy with the state government, the Governor exercised his discretionary power which is "undefined" in the Constitution.

He also said such an exercise of discretionary powers leaves hardly any scope for judicial scrutiny.

Andhyarujina also said the Governor's act may be "questionable", but he is not "answerable".

"The Governor has three kinds of powers under the Constitution. He has to act on aid and advice of the Chief Minister and his Council of Ministers. Second, he has discretion... Third, (his) power is undefined," he said.

During the hearing, the bench said the Governor may have the power to summon and advance the sitting of the House, but he cannot ask that a particular party-wise composition be maintained, as it would amount to interference in the working sphere of the Speaker.

"Is the Speaker prohibited under the law not to accept the resignation of legislators," the bench asked when one of the lawyers raised the manner in which the resignations of rebel Congress MLAs were accepted.

The court also said its observations are "tentative" in nature.