New Delhi: The Supreme Court has clarified that courts cannot prescribe a specific timeline for Presidents or Governors to approve bills. However, it stated that if there is undue delay in granting approval, judicial review may be sought.
In its opinion delivered today in a Presidential reference case, the bench noted that under Article 200 of the Constitution, the judiciary cannot directly set a deadline for a Governor to act on bills passed by a state legislature. The Court emphasized that it would be unconstitutional to treat a bill as automatically approved if the Governor fails to act within a particular period.
The bench further underscored that Governors are not “rubber stamps” and cannot indefinitely withhold action on legislative decisions, as doing so would obstruct democratic aspirations. Governors are expected to act within a reasonable timeframe.