DELHI: Amid allegations of prolonged delays by Governors in forwarding state bills to the President for assent, the Supreme Court has delivered a significant ruling mandating a clear timeline for action.
The apex court has directed that Governors must take a decision on bills sent to the President within a maximum period of three months. The ruling comes in the context of ongoing disputes, particularly in Tamil Nadu, where tensions between the state government and the Governor had led the state to approach the Supreme Court.
In its judgment, the court stated that if the three-month window is exceeded, the Governor’s office must provide valid reasons for the delay to the respective state government. The court clarified that if the President either withholds assent or delays the process without justification, the concerned state government has the right to challenge such actions legally.
Furthermore, the court observed that when a Governor refers a bill to the President on grounds of potential unconstitutionality, the President may consider seeking the Supreme Court’s opinion under Article 143 of the Constitution.
According to Article 201, once a Governor forwards a bill for the President’s consideration, the President can either grant assent or withhold it. However, the Constitution does not specify any time limit for this process. By introducing a three-month deadline, the Supreme Court’s order is being hailed as a landmark decision aimed at closing this constitutional gap and ensuring timely legislative processes.
