Mumbai

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday clarified that any action against officials must be based on verified facts, asserting that the legislature cannot assume the role of the executive.

His remarks came a day after Deputy Chairperson Neelam Gorhe directed the government to suspend Satara Superintendent of Police Tushar Doshi following unrest during the Zilla Parishad president election, sparking a debate over the powers of the legislative chair.

Addressing the Legislative Council, Fadnavis emphasised that while the executive is accountable to the legislature, the latter does not have the authority to perform executive functions. He said directions issued by the chair are contextual and can only be acted upon after verifying the facts on the ground.

“The legislature cannot step into the shoes of the executive,” he said, adding that the government has the right to assess whether a directive reflects the actual situation before implementing it.

The controversy stems from allegations by ministers Shambhuraj Desai and Makarand Patil, who claimed they were manhandled by police during the election process. The poll saw BJP candidate Priya Shinde defeat the Shiv Sena-NCP alliance nominee, despite the latter having a numerical advantage.

Parties across the political spectrum, including the ruling Shiv Sena and NCP faction led by Sunetra Pawar, as well as the opposition NCP (SP), demanded the suspension of the Satara SP.

Fadnavis also explained the constitutional separation of powers, stating that executive, legislative, and judicial roles are clearly defined. He noted that while the government generally respects the chair’s directions, these cannot be treated as final without factual verification.

Drawing a distinction with a recent case in the Assembly, he referred to the suspension of IAS officer M. Devender Singh and official Satish Padval, which was later revoked by Speaker Rahul Narwekar. He said that matter fell within the legislature’s domain as it occurred inside the House.

In contrast, incidents taking place outside the legislature fall under the executive’s jurisdiction, he said, reiterating that the executive remains answerable to the legislature.

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NCP (SP) member Shashikant Shinde observed that while the chair can issue directions, their implementation depends on verification of facts. Council Chairman Ram Shinde said a formal ruling on the matter would be delivered soon.