The Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that no timelines can be fixed for grant of assent to Bills by the Governor and the President under Article 200 and Article 201, respectively, but at the same time said the Governor does not have “unfettered” powers to sit on the Bills for “perpetuity”.

In a unanimous verdict, a five-judge Constitution Bench led by Chief Justice of India BR Gavai said that in such cases, the Governor was not bound by the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers. It also said the Governor’s actions in granting, withholding or reserving assent to Bills were beyond judicial review.

The Bench, which also included Justice Surya Kant, Justice Vikram Nath, Justice PS Narasimha and Justice AS Chandurkar, said the concept of “deemed assent” (introduced by a two-judge Bench of

See Full Page