SC reserves verdict on presidential reference over timelines for assent to bills

A five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court heard today the Presidential Reference by President Droupadi Murmu on 14 questions on the power to assent to Bills, including whether the Court can decide timelines for the President/Governor to decide on Bills.

The Presidential Reference, made under Article 143, was exercised by President Murmu, following the Supreme Court’s judgment in the Tamil Nadu Governor’s matter, wherein the Court adjudicated that the Governor did not act bona fide in reserving Bills to the President.

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The apex court decided those bills as deemed assented. In the judgment passed by Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan, the Court decided that the President must act on the Bills reserved for her under Article 201 within 3 months:

The reference was heard by a bench comprising Chief Justice of India BR Gavai, Justice Surya Kant, Justice Vikram Nath, Justice PS Narasimha and Justice AS Chandurkar.

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