SC Agrees to Examine Prez Murmu's 14 Questions on Timelines for Guv, Prez

A five-judge Supreme Court bench on Tuesday agreed to deliberate upon the 14 crucial questions raised by President Droupadi Murmu on its April 8 verdict that fixed timelines for governors and President to act on bills passed by state assemblies.

- MPOST BUREAU

The Constitution bench comprising Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justices Surya Kant, Vikram Nath, P S Narasimha and A S Chandurkar, would fix the timelines on July 29 and commence hearing on the presidential reference in mid-August.

Exercising her power under the rarely used Article 143 (1), President Murmu said in the present circumstances, it appears the following questions of law have arisen and they are of such nature and public importance that it is expedient to obtain the opinion of the Supreme Court.

Constitution Article 143 (1) of the deals with the power of President to consult the Supreme Court.

"If at any time it appears to the President that a question of law or fact has arisen, or is likely to arise, which is of such a nature and of such public importance that it is expedient to obtain the opinion of the Supreme Court upon it, he may refer the question to that Court for consideration and the Court may, after such hearing as it thinks fit, report to the President its opinion thereon," it says.