'No veto power'; SC slams Tamil Nadu governor RN Ravi's decision to reserve 10 bills to President

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court, in a rare judgment, strongly reprimanded Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi for indefinitely holding up bills passed by the assembly. Pointing out that the Governor does not have veto power over bills passed by the Assembly, the court also directed Governor Ravi to decide on the bills within three months.

The Supreme Court observed the Tamil Nadu Governor’s action as illegal.

“The Governor must act according to the advice of the government. The Governor has no discretionary power,” said the court.

'Bills should not be indefinitely delayed. Laws are brought for the people. A decision should be taken within a month on bills passed by the House for the second time." The court also pointed out that bills that go against the Constitution should not be passed.

The dispute between the Tamil Nadu Governor and the state government over the passage of bills reached the Supreme Court in 2023. The state government had earlier informed the Supreme Court that the Governor had sent 10 bills passed by the Assembly to the President.

The Supreme Court had earlier questioned RN Ravi's decision to withhold the bills passed by the Tamil Nadu Assembly. The court expressed concern last February that bills could not be denied approval due to the governor's displeasure and questioned the Governor’s action of delaying decision on the bill for three years.