Amid the ongoing tiff between Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan and the LDF government over various issues, a proposal to buy a new Benz SUV for Governor Arif Mohammad Khan is under the consideration of the state government. The proposal from the Rajbhavan is to buy a brand new Benz car costing Rs 85 lakh as the current one has exceeded its limit.
According to the VVIP protocol, the official vehicle has to be replaced after one lakh kilometers. The governor had written to the state government two months ago saying that his car has already run 1.5 lakh km. The governor has been using a black Benz E-Class diesel car being for more than 11 years.
The disagreement between the Kerala governor and the state government over the signing of the Lokayukta Amendment Ordinance was highly controversial. The government finally placated the governor by removing KR Jyotilal, the secretary of the public administration, who had written a letter against the appointment of a personal staff at the Rajbhavan. After this incident, the government approved two moreappointments in the governor's office.
Meanwhile, 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.
Kerala 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 and the appointment shall be effected from a panel furnished by state government. Similarly, in Article 156 an amendment be proposed to give state government concerned a say in the matter of recall of Governor, the state has said.