The Supreme Court of India has set a three-month deadline for the President to decide on Bills reserved for consideration by the Governor. The unprecedented judgement came days after the apex court court cleared 10 bills that had been stalled and reserved by Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi for the consideration of President Droupadi Murmu. The State government has subsequently notified the Bills as Acts without the assent of the Governor or the President.
“We deem it appropriate to adopt the timeline prescribed by the Ministry of Home Affairs… and prescribe that the President is required to take a decision on the bills reserved for his consideration by the Governor within a period of three months from the date on which such reference is received. In case of any delay beyond this period, appropriate reasons would have to be recorded and conveyed to the concerned State,” the top court said.
The 415 page judgement uploaded onto the SC website also called on States to be ‘collaborative and extend co-operation’ by responding to queries and considering suggestions made by the Central government. A bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan had set aside the reservation of 10 bills for the president’s consideration in the second round on April 8 — deeming it illegal and erroneous in law.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin had welcomed the ‘historic’ verdict earlier this week — calling it a ‘crucial step in restoring balance in Union-State relations’ and a ‘landmark’ win.
The State government notified the contentious Bills as Acts without assent from the Governor or the President on Saturday following the Supreme Court judgement.
“History is made as these are the first Acts of any legislature in India to have taken effect without the signature of the Governor / President but on the strength of the judgement of the Supreme Court!” DMK MP P Wilson (who also appeared on behalf of the State in the case) wrote on X.