SC Timeline For Guvs Over Bills Overreach

The Supreme Court's recent ruling on the Tamil Nadu governor, setting a timeline for governors to deal with bills cleared by the legislature is "overreach" Kerala governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar said, adding that it is up to Parliament to decide such things.

- Vishnu Varma

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a rare interview, Arlekar also spoke about his own relationship with the Kerala government. Edited excerpts:

How do you view the recent Supreme Court verdict terming Tamil Nadu governor RN Ravi's conduct in dealing with bills, 'illegal' and 'arbitrary'? The top court has set a timeline for governors to take action on bills.

The matter before the Supreme Court in the case of Kerala is not of that sort (as Tamil Nadu). It is a different matter. The court has said the governor cannot keep bills pending. That observation is understandable. But the court saying, or for that matter any other person saying that the governor should do it within a certain time-period is not something implied in the Constitution.