The Supreme Court has, for the first time, prescribed clear timelines for state governors to act on bills passed by state legislatures. The judgment comes in response to repeated concerns by Opposition-ruled states over governors allegedly blocking legislation by delaying assent.

The court came down on the Tamil Nadu governor, RN Ravi, for withholding assent to 10 bills passed by the state assembly, declaring the governor’s inaction “illegal”.

The apex court held that all 10 bills will be deemed to have received the governor’s approval.

Setting strict guidelines, the Supreme Court ruled:

– If a governor agrees to approve a bill, they must do so within one month.

– If the governor intends to withhold assent or refer the bill to the President, against the advice of the council of ministers, they must act within three months.

– If a bill is re-passed by the state assembly and sent back, the governor must act within one month, with no provision to refer it to the President a second time.

The court emphasised that governors cannot sit indefinitely on bills or act as a roadblock for the lawmaking machinery. It said governors must uphold constitutional values and respect the will of the people, acting with due deference to the democratic process and not political considerations.

RN Ravi, a former IPS officer and CBI official, assumed office as the Tamil Nadu governor in 2021. Since then, his relationship with the MK Stalin-led government has been marked by tension.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK chief MK Stalin called the verdict “historic”, declaring it a “major victory” for Tamil Nadu and all Indian states. “DMK will continue to struggle for and win state autonomy and federal polity,” he said.

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