Governor Gehlot reserves 2 bills for President's assent, approves two others

Time of India

15-05-2025

Bengaluru: In a move that could spark more acrimony between the govt and Raj Bhavan, governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot has decided to send two bills — The Karnataka Co-operative Societies (Amendment) Bill 2024 and The Karnataka Souharda Sahakari (Amendment) Bill 2024 — passed by the state legislature in July last year, to
President Murmu
for assent.
The govt has sent the bills to Gehlot for his assent on Aug 1 last year, but Raj Bhavan returned both bills in Feb this year, asking the govt to "reconsider" and "modify" them.
A provision of the cooperative societies bill increases govt nominations to boards of higher cooperative bodies, such as the state's apex bank, from the current number to three. These nominations would be reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, women, and individuals from the general category, expanding the bank's board of directors from 22 to 25 members.
The Souharda Sahakari bill, proposes granting voting rights to all members, including defaulters, and mandates reservation in boards of secondary cooperatives, federal cooperatives, and apex cooperatives.
While returning it in Feb, Gehlot had objected to the provision in the cooperative societies bill which grants voting rights to all nominated members. "It will allow them [nominated members] to take control of the society," he wrote.
"This is not a democratically sound move as the rights of elected members will be taken away through the backdoor. Re-think this matter."
Similarly, he expressed dissatisfaction with the Souharda Sahakari (Amendment) Bill. "Instead of giving voting rights to all defaulters, a proper method should be put in place to prevent them from voting," Gehlot advised.
The govt argued that the aim of these bills was to provide social justice by providing opportunities to people from communities that had no representation in cooperative societies.
But the governor observed that the "independence" of co-operative societies will be compromised and "will be influenced by political setups irrespective of parties, which in turn will affect the autonomy of the societies". He said he deems it "fit to reserve them for the kind consideration of the President of India to avoid more complications".
It may be recalled that Raj Bhavan reserved a bill proposing 4% reservation for Muslims in govt civic contracts valued up to Rs 1 crore for the President's assent, citing potential constitutional hurdles.
It also sent back The Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement (Amendment) Bill, 2025, on April 15 seeking clarifications.
In Jan, law and parliamentary affairs minister HK Patil suggested the govt would mull legal action if the governor continued to sit on bills. "The authority of the legislature is paramount as it represents the voice of people. Returning bills passed by the legislature, despite providing clarifications, amounts to a violation of constitutional principles. We would be forced to explore legal action by moving court," he said.
However, Gehlot gave his assent to the Mysore Development Authority Bill 2024 and Gadag-Betageri Business, Culture and Exhibition Authority Act 2024. Soon after receiving his assent, the govt notified the bills.