States welcome SC Prez assent reading

SC'S VERDICT NULLIFIES APRIL 8 DECISION OF A 2-JUDGE BENCH WHERE STRICT TIMELINES FOR GUBERNATORIAL ASSENT WERE LAID DOWN

- HT Correspondents [e-mail]

The Supreme Court's ruling that governors and the President cannot be bound by judicially imposed timelines in granting assent to state legislation was welcomed by leaders cutting across political parties and states on Thursday.

In Kerala and Tamil Nadu - two states that had approached the apex court against the actions of their respective governors who withheld assent on bills passed by the legislative assemblies-both the ruling and the opposition parties hailed the decision.

Thursday's verdict nullifies the April 8 decision by a two-judge bench in the Tamil Nadu case where strict timelines for gubernatorial assent were laid down, besides introducing the concept of "deemed assent" in cases of inordinate delays. The five-judge Constitution bench said that the previous decision created a "state of confusion and doubt", which requires an "authoritative opinion" of the larger bench.

In Kerala, law and justice minister P Rajeev said that at first glance, the top court had responded positively to issues raised by the state.