The Supreme Court on Monday took note of the Tamil Nadu government’s argument that the Constitution does not provide Governor R.N. Ravi “discretion” to withhold the 10 Bills “re-passed” by the State Legislative Assembly.
Once they have been re-passed, these Bills are put in the same footing as Money Bills.
But, at one point, the Chief Justice asked whether the Governor had to mandatorily send the Bills back to the House for re-consideration after withholding assent.The court also acknowledged the State’s submission that the Governor, having withheld assent and sent back the Bills once, cannot refer the reiterated Bills to the President.
The State had complained to the court that the Governor was holding the Bills back indefinitely.
Defeating the rights of the people of Tamil Nadu to the benefits of crucial laws passed by the House.
The Governor had withheld assent and “returned” the Bills to the House on November 13,.
The Tamil Nadu Assembly had convened a Special Session on November 18 to re-pass the Bills and send them back to the Governor for approval.
Mr. Venkataramani submitted that 182 Bills were given to the Governor by the House for approval, Of this, 152 have been approved.
5 bills were withdrawn by the government, and 9 bills were reserved by the Governor for referral to the President.
The Governor had withheld consent on 10 proposed laws and five, which were received in October 2023, were under process.
He sought a deferment of the hearing in order to give the Governor time to consider the re-passed Bills. The court scheduled the next hearing on December 1.
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