‘I’m Not A Rubber Stamp’: Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan Refuses To Sign Ordinance Without Analysing

Making his stand very clear, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Thursday (16 January) said that he is not a rubber stamp and will apply his own mind.

Khan was reacting to the media after reports surfaced that he refused to sign an ordinance approved by the Kerala cabinet to increase the number of members in local bodies.

"I make it very clear that the Constitution does not expect me to be a rubber stamp. I have to apply my own mind. I will need time to go through what the ordinance is all about. With the assembly session soon to be convened what was the need. I have raised some questions and I need to get the answers and after that I will apply my mind. I never said I will not sign it," said Khan.

In reply to a question that the government will return it to him if he will not sign, Khan shot back, "who said so, there is nothing like that."

Khan of late has been putting his foot down and has taken a tough position in the manner the Pinarayi Vijayan government has been taking positions on the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA).

He also attacked the Vijayan government for challenging the CAA in the Supreme Court.

"There is a legal maxim, neither me nor anyone is above the law. Clearly I am not against anyone approaching the judiciary. But, with me being the Constitutional head of the state, they (the state government) should have informed me about it, but I came to know through the newspapers. Some people here, think they are above law," said Khan.

(This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.)