PREZ INVOKES RARE POWER

Murmu asks SC if it can fix timeline on assent to bills

- PTI

President Droupadi Murmu has posed 14 crucial questions to the Supreme Court over its April 8 verdict that fixed time-lines for governors and the President to act on bills passed by state assemblies.

Exercising her power under the rarely used Article 143 (1), President Murmu said in the present circumstances, it appears that 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 of India thereon.

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

The provision says, "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".

1 What are the constitutional options before a governor when a bill is presented to him under Article 200 of the Constitution of India?