New Delhi: In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court of India has set a three-month deadline for the President to take action on bills passed by state legislatures and forwarded by state governors. If the decision is delayed, the President’s office must provide a written explanation to the concerned state government, the court directed.
The verdict, delivered by a bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan, marks the first time a constitutional time limit has been imposed on presidential decision-making in such matters.
While Article 201 of the Constitution outlines the referral process of state bills to the President, it previously lacked any time-bound framework. The court’s intervention now fills that critical gap, aiming to prevent indefinite delays.
The ruling stems from a case involving Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi, who withheld several state bills and later referred them to the President—actions the court labeled as unconstitutional.
Emphasizing transparency and accountability, the bench affirmed that states have the right to challenge delays in court. The Supreme Court also directed that copies of the judgment be sent to all Governors’ Principal Secretaries and High Courts across the nation to ensure uniform compliance.
This decision is expected to have a far-reaching impact on centre-state legislative relations and reinforce the federal structure envisioned in the Indian Constitution.
