Guv Sending Reiterated Bills to Prez Illegal: SC

IN a landmark verdict, the Supreme Court on Tuesday held the action of Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi to reserve 10 bills for the President's consideration despite their reiteration by the state assembly "illegal and arbitrary".

- SUCHITRA KALYAN MOHANTY @ New Delhi

The governor has no option but to give assent to the bill that is presented to him after re-passage in the state assembly if it is unchanged, a two-judge bench comprising Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan said.

The court said the governor must act on the aid and advice of the state legislature.

Under Article 200 of the Constitution, the governor does not possess any discretion and has to mandatorily act on the aid and advice of the council of ministers. Article 200 of the Constitution deals with assent to bills.

The bench said once the governor withholds assent, he is obligated to follow the procedure prescribed in the first proviso of Article 200, which is on returning the bill to the House as soon as possible. It exercised its special power under Article 142 to make the bills re-presented to the governor, as deemed to have been passed.