Tags: New Delhi

New Delhi, Sep 16 A constitution Bench of the Supreme Court today commenced hearing on the controversial issue whether Governors could be removed by cutting short their five-year tenure with the change of governmment at the Centre.

"The question is simple but it has far reaching effects. It affects so many constitutional authorities," a five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan said as it started the hearing.

Former Attorney General and senior advocate Soli J Sorabjee opened the arguments by saying the union government cannot claim to have unfettered power on removal of Governors.

"It is not so. Today, you cannot say that unfettered and absolute power is vested with the Centre on removal of Governors," he told the Bench also comprising Justices S H Kapadia, R V Raveendran, B Sudershan Reddy and P Sathasivam.

Sorabjee said there should be security of the tenure for Governors. "It is the most important aspect I am emphasising that there should be a security of tenure for Governors," he said.

The Governor is asked to resign when a new government comes to power, the senior advocate replied when the Bench said Governors themselves prefer to give up their office when there is a change of government at the Centre. .

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