The Supreme Court has delivered a significant judgment, siding with the MK Stalin-led Tamil Nadu government in its dispute with Governor RN Ravi. The court ruled that the Governor’s decision to withhold assent to 10 state Bills was “illegal” and “arbitrary.” It further stated that the Governor cannot reserve Bills for presidential consideration after withholding assent.
A bench comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan declared that the Governor’s actions lacked “good faith” and violated constitutional provisions. The court clarified that once a Bill is re-presented to the Governor after being passed again by the Assembly, he is constitutionally obligated to grant assent. All actions taken by the Governor regarding these Bills were nullified, and they are now deemed approved from the date they were re-submitted.
The judgment focused on Article 200 of the Constitution, which outlines the Governor’s options when presented with a Bill passed by the state legislature. The Governor may give assent, withhold it, or reserve the Bill for presidential review if it conflicts with constitutional principles or matters of national importance. However, if the Assembly passes the Bill again after reconsideration, the Governor must grant assent.
To ensure accountability, the court prescribed deadlines for these processes. Governors must decide within one month whether to withhold assent or reserve a Bill with advice from the Council of Ministers. If reserved without such advice, a three-month timeline applies. For Bills reconsidered and re-submitted by the Assembly, a one-month deadline for approval was set. The court emphasized that any misuse of Article 200 is subject to judicial review.
While reaffirming its respect for gubernatorial powers, the court stressed that these powers must align with parliamentary democracy principles. The ruling also addressed concerns about delays in decision-making, noting that prolonged inaction undermines constitutional governance.
Governor RN Ravi, who assumed office in 2021, has had strained relations with Tamil Nadu’s DMK government. The state administration has accused him of acting as a partisan figure obstructing legislative processes. Ravi has defended his actions by citing constitutional authority to withhold assent.