Governor returns Nitish's three bills

Patna, Jun 10: Sharpening differences between Rajbhavan and Nitish Kumar government came to the fore with Bihar Governor Devanand Konwar returning three bills pending with him since March.

"The governor has returned Bihar State University Service Commission Bill, Bihar Administrative Tribunal Bill and the Bihar Teachers and Staff Disputes Redressal Authority Bill 2011 recently raising certain objections," Rajbhavan sources said today (June 10).

The bills were pending with the governor since March 28 when both houses of the state legislature passed them.

He has, however, recommended Bihar Criminal Procedures Amendment Bill to the president for approval, official sources said.

Konwar in his capacity of governor is the chancellor of universities in Bihar. Bihar State University Commission Bill 2011 seeks to constitute a commission for ensuring appointment and promotion of employees and teachers, curtailing the powers of vice-chancellors.

According to official sources, the governor is also withholding his assent to two other bills-- Bihar State University (Amendmment) Bill, 2011 and Patna University (Amendment) Bill, 2011 which seek to curtail the powers of the governor in the appointment of vice-chancellors.

The governor had not given his nod to the tabling of the two bills, which were later placed with the assent of the speaker.

PTI