In a significant development, the Supreme Court of India has agreed to hear the Kerala government’s pleas against the governor regarding delays in approving bills passed by the state legislature. Scheduled for May 6, the hearing follows concerns that these delays hinder legislative processes.
The bench, comprising Justices P.S. Narasimha and Joymalya Bagchi, responded to senior advocate K.K. Venugopal’s submission that a similar case involving Tamil Nadu might cover the issues at hand. Venugopal, representing Kerala, highlighted a prior judgment by Justice J.B. Pardiwala, which established guidelines and timelines for governors and the President concerning the assent to bills.
“This issue of timelines for the governor to refer matters to the President was addressed in that judgment,” Venugopal noted. The bench expressed their intention to review the judgment to determine if it resolves the issues raised by Kerala.
The bench of Justices Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan had earlier ruled on the Tamil Nadu case on April 8, striking down the reservation of 10 bills for presidential consideration and declaring such actions illegal and erroneous in law. This landmark decision also stipulated that the President should decide on bills referred by governors within three months of receipt.
In contrast, Attorney General R. Venkataramani and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre and the Kerala governor’s office, argued that the issues in Kerala’s case were distinct from those previously adjudicated.
The ongoing legal battle began when the Supreme Court decided on July 26 last year to review Kerala’s allegations of the governor’s failure to grant assent to several bills. According to the state government, then-Governor Arif Mohammed Khan had referred some of these bills to President Droupadi Murmu, where they remained pending.
