New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India is set to examine whether its landmark ruling in the Tamil Nadu Governor’s case can be applied to a similar constitutional standoff in Kerala. The move comes after the Kerala government filed a petition challenging Governor Arif Mohammed Khan’s delay in giving assent to eight bills passed by the state legislature — some of which have been pending for over two years.
In its ruling on the Tamil Nadu case, the apex court had declared the Governor’s decision to reserve ten bills for the President — after they had already been reconsidered by the Assembly — as “illegal” and “erroneous.” The court also imposed a three-month deadline for the President to act on such bills, setting a strong precedent.
Senior Advocate K.K. Venugopal, appearing for Kerala, argued that the same principles should apply to the state’s current impasse, emphasizing the constitutional importance of timely gubernatorial assent.
However, the Centre pushed back. Attorney General R. Venkataramani and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta contended that Kerala’s case differs significantly and cannot be treated under the same legal framework as Tamil Nadu’s.
A two-judge bench comprising Justices P.S. Narasimha and Joymalya Bagchi will take up the matter again on May 6, 2025, in what could be a pivotal hearing on the limits of gubernatorial power in Indian federalism.
