Current Affairs - Bills and Acts - Discussion

The Supreme Court criticized Governor R.N. Ravi’s inaction on 10 re-passed Bills as unconstitutional, specifically citing a violation of Article 200 of the Indian Constitution. Article 200 lays down the procedures a Governor must follow when presented with a Bill passed by the State Legislature: giving assent, withholding assent, returning it (except money Bills), or reserving it for the President’s consideration. The Court emphasized that the phrase “as soon as possible” implies timely action, not indefinite delays. By prescribing specific time frames and stating that re-passed Bills must be assented to, the SC reinforced constitutional accountability and legislative supremacy, grounding its reasoning in Article 200.