Guvs should act in time-bound manner on bills, says top court

In a landmark ruling delivered on Wednesday, the Supreme Court clarified the powers and responsibilities of Governors in India regarding the bills presented to them by State legislatures under Article 200 of the Constitution.

- Suchitra Kalyan Mohanty @ New Delhi

The Bench, comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan, highlighted the importance of Governors not undermining the democratic will of the people and introduced measures to prevent undue delays in the decision-making process. The judgment set out specific timelines for Governors to act on bills sent to them.

No Veto Power for Governors

The Supreme Court stressed that the Governor has no veto power, meaning they cannot simply refuse to act on a bill indefinitely. The Governor is not permitted to exercise a "pocket veto", where they delay or withhold assent without valid constitutional reasons.