New Delhi, April 8: The Supreme Court declared Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi’s months-long delay on 10 re-passed Bills as “unconstitutional.” Rather than promptly deciding on the legislation, he forwarded them to the President after an undue delay. Consequently, when President Draupadi Murmu later assented to one Bill, rejected seven, and ignored two, the Court ruled those actions void.
Highlighting the Governor’s constitutional duty to act without unnecessary delay, the Court observed that under Article 200, a Governor must choose promptly among assenting, withholding assent, or referring the Bill to the President. Justice J.B. Pardiwala, authoring the opinion, stressed that Governors are meant to serve as timely advisors and facilitators—not impediments—to the legislative process. The verdict now sets a firm timeline of one to three months for Governors to act on future Bills.
