38.6c New Delhi, India, Thursday, September 04, 2025
Top Stories Supreme Court
Political NEWS Legislative Corner Celebstreet International Videos
Subscribe Contact Us
close
Judiciary

SC Questions If Governors, President Can Be Hauled Up for Contempt Over Bill Assent Delays

By Jhanak Sharma      02 September, 2025 07:29 PM      0 Comments
SC Questions If Governors President Can Be Hauled Up for Contempt Over Bill Assent Delays

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday expressed doubt over the power of the court to fix straitjacket timelines for the Governors and the President to clear the Bills, passed by State legislatures.

A five-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India B R Gavai sought to know as to what would be the consequences if the President or the Governors do not follow the timeline for clearing Bills as fixed by this court in its judgment on April 8, 2025 in case of Tamil Nadu.

Considering the Presidential reference, the bench also made it clear that it is not going to decide the matter on the basis of which political dispensation is in power or was in power. The court said it would only interpret the Constitution and not go into specific instances.

On the sixth day of hearing, the bench asked, "Can the Governor or the President be hauled up for contempt of court, if the Bills are not cleared in terms of timelines?"

Tamil Nadu government led by senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi replied that "deemed assent" to the Bills can be a consequence.

The court also said that certain instances of delay in granting assent to Bills cannot justify the laying down of a blanket timeline for the Governors and President to act as per Articles 200 and 201 of the Constitution respectively.

It asked if the court can lay down a straightjacket formula for exercise of the power by the Governor and the President by exercising power under Article 142 of the Constitution.

"If there are individual cases of delay, the aggrieved parties can approach the court to seek relief, and the court may direct that the decision should be taken within a time limit; however, it cannot mean that the court should lay down a general timeline for the actions of the Governor and the President," the the bench said.

Singhvi contended that the timelines were necessary in view of the repeated instances of Governors withholding Bills indefinitely.

Singhvi said that 'killing' of Bill is available only to the cabinet and nobody else. "It can't be a by Governor. This court will have no scheme of Constitution left (if that is allowed)," he said.

The counsel further contended that a Governor cannot be the final arbiter of a Bill.

"Governor cannot withhold assent, kill a bill or be a judge in this. He is not the final arbiter or the Super Chief Minister. Ultimately, alleged unconstitutional Bills are passed everyday and courts will decide that. Even if majority introduced it, courts will see it.. that is separation of powers," he said.

The bench, also comprising Justices Surya Kant, Vikrant Nath, P S Narasimha and Atul S Chandurkar, also questioned whether court can grant deemed assent for Bills not acted upon by the Governor.

"This court can just get into the shoes of the Governor and consider all three options the Governor has," the bench asked.

Singhvi, however, said if the Governors and the President are exempt from judicial review, then their jurisdiction of power is stretched beyond limits.

He maintained Article 200’s structure is amenable to timelines. "The Governor is to take a decision within a reasonable time period," he said.

On this, the bench said, there could be different factual considerations in different cases and asked how there can be a same timeline for all Bills.

The bench also expressed doubt over the court's power to fix timelines for the Governor.

Singhvi argued that the timelines -- set by the SC -- were necessary in view of the repeated instances of Governors withholding Bills indefinitely.

The bench observed that laying down a general timeline will practically amount to the court amending the Constitution, since Articles 200 and 201 do not specify any timeline. "We will have to amend the Constitution to impose the timelines," the bench said.

Singhvi said that if the State has to approach the court every time the Governor refuses to act on the Bills, it will only add to the delay.

The hearing in the matter would continue on Wednesday.

During the day, the bench also said, “We are not going to decide the matter on the basis of which political dispensation is in power or was in power".

Solicitor general Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, said if Singhvi is going to rely on examples of constitutional provisions which concerned Andhra Pradesh, among others, then he would have to file a reply, as he had not made submissions on those aspects.

"If they (Tamil Nadu and Kerala governments) are going to rely on examples of Andhra Pradesh etc, we would like to file a reply on this. Since, we need to show how the Constitution was taken on a joyride since its inception, let us see if we want to travel down that dirty path," Mehta said.

The bench also clarified that the court would refrain from going into individual instances whether it's Andhra Pradesh or Telangana or Karnataka, and stressed that it will only interpret the provisions of the Constitution.

"You can say endless withholding is not permissible, why should we go into the facts…otherwise we have to listen what happened in 1977, 1975, and all that…we do not want it to be converted into a political (slugfest)," the bench told Singhvi.

“Our decision is not data based. Our decision is on questions of law interpreting the Constitution,” the bench said.

Disclaimer: This content is produced and published by LawStreet Journal Media for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The views expressed are independent of any legal practice of the individuals involved.



Share this article:

About:

Jhanak is a lawyer by profession and legal journalist by passion. She graduated at the top of her cl...Read more

Follow:
FacebookTwitterLinkedinInstagram


Leave a feedback about this
Related Posts
View All

Another CBI Officer Investigating Rakesh Asthana Moves SC Against Transfer, Makes Startling Revelations Another CBI Officer Investigating Rakesh Asthana Moves SC Against Transfer, Makes Startling Revelations

After A.K. Bassi, another CBI officer who was investigating corruption allegations against Special Director Rakesh Asthana moved the Supreme Court.

Ayodhya verdict: SC rules in favour of Ram Lalla, Sunni Waqf Board gets alternate land Ayodhya verdict: SC rules in favour of Ram Lalla, Sunni Waqf Board gets alternate land

SC bench led by CJI Ranjan Gogoi has allotted the dispute site to Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas, while directing the government to allot an alternate 5 acre land within Ayodhya to Sunni Waqf Board to build a mosque.

Supreme Court: Money Spent On Judiciary Less Than 1% In All States Except Delhi Supreme Court: Money Spent On Judiciary Less Than 1% In All States Except Delhi

The court guided all states to document their response to the commission's report within four weeks. If any of the states fail to file a response, it will be presumed that they have no objections to the recommendations made by the commission, the court said.

Supreme Court Top Panel Names Chief Justices for Bombay, Orissa and Meghalaya High Courts Supreme Court Top Panel Names Chief Justices for Bombay, Orissa and Meghalaya High Courts

On April 18, 2020, the Supreme Court Collegium recommended new Chief Justices for three High Courts. Justice Dipankar Datta was proposed as Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court, succeeding Justice B.P. Dharmadhikari. Justice Biswanath Somadder was nominated as Chief Justice of Meghalaya High Court, while Justice Mohammad Rafiq was recommended for transfer as Chief Justice of Orissa High Court.

TRENDING NEWS

sc-rejects-plea-upholds-3500-aibe-exam-fee-by-bci-as-not-unconstitutional
Trending Judiciary
SC Rejects Plea, Upholds ₹3,500 AIBE Exam Fee by BCI as Not Unconstitutional

SC dismisses plea against Rs 3,500 AIBE fee, upholding Bar Council of India’s right to charge for exam expenses, ruling fee not unconstitutional.

03 September, 2025 11:16 AM
hc-dismisses-plea-for-bail-by-umar-khalid-sharjeel-imam-in-case-of-conspiracy-to-delhi-riots
Trending Judiciary
HC dismisses plea for bail by Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam in case of conspiracy to Delhi riots [Read Judgment]

Delhi HC dismisses bail pleas of Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam in 2020 riots conspiracy case, citing strong evidence and grave role in instigating violence.

03 September, 2025 12:20 PM

TOP STORIES

supreme-court-appoints-two-new-judges-justice-alok-aradhe-and-future-cji-vipul-pancholi
Trending Judiciary
Supreme Court Appoints Two New Judges: Justice Alok Aradhe & Future CJI Vipul Pancholi

SC gets two new judges — Justices Alok Aradhe and Vipul Manubhai Pancholi, with Pancholi set to be CJI in 2031. Oath administered by CJI Gavai.

29 August, 2025 02:23 PM
sc-to-hear-on-monday-pleas-to-extend-september-1-deadline-for-claims-objections-in-bihar-sir
Trending Judiciary
SC to hear on Monday pleas to extend September 8 deadline for claims, objections in Bihar SIR [Read Order]

SC to hear on Monday pleas seeking extension of Sept 8 deadline for filing claims, objections in Bihar voter list revision.

29 August, 2025 02:32 PM
sc-grants-bail-to-gangster-arun-gawali-in-murder-case-of-shiv-sena-corporator
Trending Judiciary
SC grants bail to 'gangster' Arun Gawali in murder case of Shiv Sena corporator [Read Order]

SC grants bail to ex-MLA Arun Gawali in 2007 murder case of Shiv Sena corporator after 18 years in jail; appeal hearing set for Feb 2026.

29 August, 2025 02:45 PM
prolonged-cohabitation-results-in-presumption-of-marriage-sc
Trending Judiciary
Prolonged cohabitation results in presumption of marriage: SC [Read Judgment]

Prolonged cohabitation presumes valid marriage unless disproved by strong evidence; woman’s silence seen as deliberate evasion, appeal dismissed: SC

29 August, 2025 02:57 PM

ADVERTISEMENT


Join Group

Signup for Our Newsletter

Get Exclusive access to members only content by email