deemed assent
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: Presidents and Governors Face No Timelines for Approving State Legislation
Nov 20, 2025 04:47 pm CST
The Supreme Court has ruled that the President of India and state Governors are not bound by timelines when approving legislation passed by state governments. The clarification came during a hearing addressing a Presidential reference on an earlier verdict regarding Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi's withholding of assent for state bills. The court stated that while these constitutional authorities have discretionary powers, prolonged inaction on bills can still invite limited judicial directives.