Mumbai: The Supreme Court on Tuesday heard two writ petitions filed by the Tamil Nadu
government against Governor Dr R N Ravi for withholding assent to multiple bills passed by the Legislative Assembly between 2020 and 2023.
These bills, including provisions to remove the Governor from the post of Vice-Chancellor in state universities, were submitted for approval between January 13, 2020, and April 28, 2023.
Additionally, files related to premature prisoner release, prosecution sanctions, and Tamil Nadu Service Commission appointments remain pending with the Governor since April 2022.
Senior advocates Mukul Rohatgi and Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing the Tamil Nadu government, argued before a bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan.
Rohatgi emphasized that withholding assent and later referring bills to the President is constitutionally
impermissible after re-enactment by the Assembly.
Singhvi asserted that the Governor’s inaction created a constitutional deadlock, amounting to subversion of Article 200.
The controversy intensified after the Governor referred some bills to the President despite a Supreme Court notice criticizing prolonged inaction since 2020.
Justice Pardiwala questioned the legal basis for this unprecedented move, seeking clarity on the Governor’s inability to decide and suggesting that withholding assent without referring the bills back to the Assembly or President raises constitutional concerns.
The Tamil Nadu government contended that the Governor has not adhered to constitutional duties by sitting on bills and files.
The issue is compounded by notifications unilaterally issued by the Governor for forming Vice-Chancellor appointment committees, bypassing the state government.
As the hearing concluded, Justice Pardiwala encouraged Attorney General R Venkataramani to attempt an amicable resolution “over a cup of tea” within 24 hours, failing which the court would decide the matter on its merits.
The next hearing is scheduled for February 6 (Thursday).
UNI
