Bengal Guv summons assembly at 2 AM, acting on a typo in state's recommendation

West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Thursday summoned West Bengal's Assembly session past midnight at 2 AM on March 7, pointing out that the meeting time was "unusual and history of sorts (was) in the making".

In a tweet in social media, Dhankar said that as he found the timing of the session "after midnight somewhat odd,", following which the state Chief Secretary was called for urgent consultation before noon Thursday.

Then, West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar called upon Chief Secretary H K Dwivedi on Thursday noon for "urgent consultations in connection with summoning West Bengal Assembly” seeking to invoke authority of Guv under article 174 of Constitution in pursuance to Feb 21 Cabinet Decision as remitted to this office on Feb 23." However, "there was usual compliance failure," he complained.


The governor, however, pointed out that the decision was taken according to a recommendation of the state Cabinet.

West Bengal Speaker Biman Banerjee, while commenting on the timing said the letter sent to the Governor may have had a "typographical error".

The Governor earlier in the day observed in a tweet, that "invoking article 174 (1) of Constitution, accepting Cabinet Decision, Assembly has been summoned to meet on March 07, 2022 at 2.00 A.M. An Assembly meeting after midnight at 2.00 A.M. is unusual and a history of sorts in making, but that is Cabinet Decision."

The decision to call the house at the odd hour was taken "accepting the cabinet decision," the Governor said.

"Assembly meeting after midnight at 2.00 A.M. is unusual and history of sorts in making, but that is Cabinet Decision," he added.

The governor had earlier sent back a recommendation by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for summoning the Assembly for the Budget Session, saying it must come from the state Cabinet, as per constitutional provision.