New Delhi: A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was today (Jul 5, 2004) filed in the Supreme Court challenging the removal of four Governors by the President and terming the decision of the Congress-led coalition Government in this regard as "unconstitutional".

The petition filed by B P Singhal, BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) MP and brother of VHP (Vishwa Hindu Parishad) working president Ashok Singhal, stated that the decision of the Government to remove the Governors of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Goa and Gujarat was unconstitutional as the Constitution categorically provides for a fixed tenure of five years for them.

The petition is likely to be mentioned tomorrow before the Court for fixing a date for hearing of the same.

However, the BJP stated that it was a private litigation and the party has nothing to do with the PIL.

Party sources said consultations were on to determine the advisability of some of the dismissed Governors approaching the Supreme Court to challenge their dismissal.