Amid violent protests in parts of West Bengal over the Waqf (Amendment) Act, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday declared that her government will not implement the law in the state. She appealed to people across communities to maintain peace and avoid falling into political traps aimed at inciting communal unrest.

 “The law was made by the central government, not by us,” Banerjee said in a statement posted on social media platform X. “We have made it clear—we do not support this law, and it will not be enforced in West Bengal.”

She added that those seeking answers about the Waqf Act should direct their questions to the Centre.

Violence erupts across multiple districts

On Friday, protests against the Waqf Act turned violent in Malda, Murshidabad, South 24 Parganas, and Hooghly. Police vans and several vehicles were set on fire, stones were pelted at security personnel, and roads were blocked in multiple locations.

The Chief Minister warned that strict legal action would be taken against anyone involved in inciting violence. “We do not condone any violent activity,” she said.

Banerjee issued a firm appeal to all religions to uphold peace and restraint. “Do not engage in irreligious behaviour in the name of religion. Every human life is precious,” she said, condemning attempts to misuse religion for political gain.

She also emphasized her view that religion should stand for “humanity, goodwill, civilisation, and harmony.”

In a landmark development, the Tamil Nadu government on Friday notified ten laws previously stalled by Governor RN Ravi, leveraging a Supreme Court ruling on April 8 that declared the Governor’s decision to reserve re-adopted bills for the President’s assent unconstitutional. This move marks a historic first in India, as these laws take effect without the Governor’s or President’s signature, solely based on judicial authority.

Supreme Court’s verdict

The gazette notifications reference the Supreme Court’s verdict, which ruled that any actions taken by the President after the bills were reserved are legally void (“non est in law”). Consequently, the bills are deemed to have received the Governor’s assent on the day they were presented to him. The court also established clear timelines for Governors to act on bills—ranging from one to three months depending on circumstances—and imposed a three-month deadline for the President to decide on reserved bills. The judgment has been circulated to all High Courts and Principal Secretaries to Governors nationwide, reinforcing its nationwide significance.

The notified laws:

The ten laws, primarily amendments to university-related legislation, are:

1. The Tamil Nadu Fisheries University (Amendment) Act, 2020
2. The Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (Amendment) Act, 2020
3. The Tamil Nadu Universities Laws (Amendment) Act, 2022
4. The Tamil Nadu Dr. Ambedkar Law University (Amendment) Act, 2022
5. The Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University, Chennai (Amendment) Act, 2022
6. The Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (Amendment) Act, 2022
7. The Tamil University (Second Amendment) Act, 2022
8. The Tamil Nadu Fisheries University (Amendment) Act, 2023
9. The Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (Amendment) Act, 2023
10. The Tamil Nadu Universities Laws (Second Amendment) Act, 2022

These laws grant the Tamil Nadu government the authority to appoint Vice-Chancellors for 18 state universities, a power previously held by the Governor as Chancellor. In some cases, the Governor retains influence by nominating a member to the Vice-Chancellor search committee.

Background of the Legal Battle

The issue arose when 12 bills passed by the Tamil Nadu Assembly, including two from 2020, remained pending with Governor Ravi. Following a state government petition, the Supreme Court advised dialogue to resolve the deadlock. The Governor returned 10 bills to the Assembly, withholding assent, and reserved two for the President’s consideration. The Assembly re-enacted all ten on November 18, 2023, and sent them back to the Governor, who again reserved them for the President. The President withheld assent to seven, approved one, and left two undecided, prompting the state to challenge the Governor’s actions in court.

The state argued that the Governor lacked constitutional authority to reserve re-passed bills. The Supreme Court agreed, affirming that such actions violated parliamentary democracy and established conventions.

Political and Legal Significance

DMK Rajya Sabha MP P Wilson, part of the legal team representing Tamil Nadu, celebrated the outcome on social media, stating, “History is made as these are the first Acts in India to take effect without the Governor’s or President’s signature, purely on the strength of the Supreme Court’s judgment.” The ruling not only resolves a prolonged standoff but also sets a precedent for gubernatorial accountability nationwide.

Two bills—one amending the Chennai University Act and another establishing a university for Siddha, Ayurveda, Unani, Yoga, Naturopathy, and Homeopathy—remain pending with the President, leaving their fate uncertain.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has appealed to residents to avoid feeding cows or throwing food such as roti on public roads, citing safety concerns for both animals and commuters. The statement came after she personally intervened in an incident where a man was seen feeding a cow from his car on a busy Delhi street.

In a video posted on social media platform X, Rekha Gupta is seen speaking to the man, politely requesting him not to feed stray cattle on roads. “Throwing roti on the road forces cows and other animals to come there to eat, which not only endangers their lives but also endangers the safety of people and vehicles walking on the road,” she said.

Calling roti a symbol of culture, faith and respect,” the Chief Minister said food should not be disrespected. “If you want to feed animals, please do so at a gaushala or a designated place,” she added, encouraging residents to show sensitivity, responsibility and values.

Stray cattle previously halted CM’s convoy

The appeal comes weeks after stray cattle halted Rekha Gupta’s convoy for about 15 minutes on the Haiderpur flyover. The Chief Minister was seen stepping out of her vehicle to check on the situation, following which her security personnel moved the animals safely aside.

In response to growing concerns about stray cattle in the capital, Delhi’s annual budget has earmarked Rs 40 crore to establish a Model Gaushala, aimed at providing proper shelter for stray cows in the city.