Supreme Court Rebukes Tamil Nadu Governor for Unconstitutional Delay on Bills

Context:

In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court of India strongly criticised Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi for his prolonged and unjustified inaction on ten legislative Bills. The Court declared his conduct not just inappropriate but “unconstitutional”, underlining the need for timely gubernatorial decisions under Article 200 of the Indian Constitution.

Key Takeaways

Sharp Rebuke from the Supreme Court

• The Court slammed the Governor for acting as a “roadblock” to democratic governance.
• His delay in processing Bills — and eventual referral to the President of India only after they were re-passed — was labelled constitutionally impermissible.

Final Verdict on the 10 Bills

• All 10 re-passed Bills are now considered to have received valid assent.
• The President’s subsequent actions — approval of 1, rejection of 7, and inaction on 2 — were declared null and void.

Mandated Timelines for Governors

• To curb future misuse, the Court has now set strict timelines:
  • 1 to 3 months to act on any Bill presented for assent.

Redefining the Governor’s Role

• The Governor’s role must align with that of a “friend, guide, and philosopher”, not an obstructionist.
• Justice Pardiwala noted the current conduct stood in “stark contrast to constitutional expectations.”

Clarification of Article 200

• Under Article 200, a Governor has three clear options:
  • Give assent
  • Withhold assent
  • Refer the Bill to the President
• Importantly, the phrase “as soon as possible” was interpreted to mean “without undue delay”, barring indefinite inaction or a “pocket veto”.

Notable Points

• Assent Must Follow Second Passage:
  • If a Bill is reconsidered and passed again by the State Legislature, the Governor must grant assent.
  • A maximum time limit of one month applies to the Governor for action after the Bill is reintroduced.
• No Presidential Referral in Second Round:
  • The court ruled that referring the Bill to the President in the second instance is not permitted.
  • The Governor must either grant assent or act as specified in the first proviso of Article 200.
• Governor’s Discretion Limited by Constitution:
  • The phrase “shall not withhold assent” in Article 200 binds the Governor to accept the re-passed Bill.
  • The removal of “in his discretion” from the Government of India Act, 1935 in Article 200 implies restricted gubernatorial discretion under the Constitution.
• Governor’s Action Not Bona Fide:
  • The Court observed that the Tamil Nadu Governor’s action to reserve the Bill after withholding assent previously was not done in good faith.

Constitutional Interpretation:

• The first proviso to Article 200 explicitly restricts the Governor from acting independently once a Bill is re-passed.
• The ruling reasserts legislative authority in a federal structure, limiting the scope of executive interference.

Implications:

• Sets a precedent for Governor-State legislative relations, especially in politically tense situations.
• Reinforces that Governors are bound by constitutional obligations, not personal or political preferences.
• Prevents executive overreach that may hinder legislative processes in State Assemblies.

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