Thursday, February 23 2006 16:03 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bangalore: Karnataka Governor T N Chaturvedi today(Feb 23,2006) decided to address to the joint sitting of the state legislature tomorrow, rejecting objections raised by the opposition Congress and declaring "There is no constitutional violation as far as the Governor is concerned".

"My address will be in accordance with the provisions of Article 175 (1) of the Constitution and is no substitute for my earlier address delivered on Janaury 19," Chaturvedi told reporters, defending his decision to go ahead with the address.

Admitting that he was also in a dilemma in the wake of the political development throwing up a situation that was one of its kind in the country since its independence, Chaturvedi said he arrived at a decision to address the joint session, the second one since last month, after consulting the Advocate General and constitutional experts.

"Article 175(1) of the Constitution empowers a Governor to address a house or houses in case there is a bicameral legislature separately or jointly. Under Article 176, it is a constitutional obligation for the Governor to address after a general election or the first session of every year", he pointed out.

"I have no powers to postpone the legislature session",he said while turning down the Congress demand to this effect. "Once the process is initiated for convening the session, it cannot be postponed by the governor," he remarked.

The Congress, led by Opposition leader Dharam Singh, yesterday petitioned Chaturvedi to postpone the session and not address the joint sitting as he would be committing an 'unconstitutional act'.