Article 143
Supreme Court Clarifies: President and Governors Cannot Be Bound by Timelines for Bill Approval
Nov 20, 2025 05:01 pm CST
The Supreme Court of India has ruled that the President and state Governors cannot be constrained by timelines when approving Bills. In response to President Droupadi Murmu's constitutional queries, a five-judge Constitution bench led by Chief Justice BR Gavai unanimously determined that imposing judicial deadlines would contradict constitutional provisions. The court clarified that presidential and gubernatorial actions remain outside judicial review until a Bill becomes law, overruling previous judgments on 'deemed assent.'
Supreme Court Clarifies: No Timelines Can Bind President and Governors on Bill Approvals
Nov 20, 2025 03:37 pm CST
The Supreme Court has ruled that the President and state Governors cannot be bound by timelines for approving Bills, clarifying that their actions are not subject to judicial review until a Bill becomes law. This decisive judgment responds to President Droupadi Murmu's constitutional queries following a controversial verdict in the Tamil Nadu Governor case, reinforcing the separation of powers doctrine while acknowledging that prolonged, unexplained inaction may invite limited judicial scrutiny.