SC sets 3-month limit for president to decide on bills referred by governors

The Supreme Court on Tuesday imposed a three-month deadline on the president to approve or reject bills referred by state governors.

“In case of any delay beyond this period, appropriate reasons would have to be recorded and conveyed to the State concerned,” the court said in its 414-page judgment, which was made public on Friday.

States, meanwhile, are expected to answer questions and consider recommendations from the Centre regarding the bills, the Supreme Court ordered.

The bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan added that the president should seek the Supreme Court’s advice on bills that are reserved by governors because of alleged unconstitutionality.

“This is all the more necessary as there is no mechanism at the State level for the Governor to refer Bills to the constitutional courts for their advice or opinion thereupon,” the bench remarked.

The Supreme Court also clarified that the president does not have “unbridled powers” to exercise “absolute veto” on any bill.

“The Governor does not hold the power to exercise absolute veto on any bill, we see no reason why the same standard would also not apply to the President under Article 201 as well,” the judgment said. “The President is not an exception to this default rule which permeates throughout our Constitution. Such unbridled powers...

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