Guv can't sit on bills on withholding assent, must return them, rules SC

ASSERTING that the constitutional powers of the Governor cannot be used to thwart the normal course of lawmaking by the state legislatures, the Supreme Court said if the unelected head of the state decides to withhold assent to a Bill, it must be returned to the legislature for reconsideration.

- SAISON WIESON

"If the Governor decides to withhold assent under the substantive part of Article 200, the logical course of action is to pursue the course indicated in the first proviso of remitting the Bill to the state legislature for reconsideration," a three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud said.

Part of the 27-page judgment authored by CJI Chandrachud on the Punjab government's plea against.