In its unanimous decision in the presidential reference seeking its opinion on the governor’s role under the Constitution, the Supreme Court has displayed immense clarity on the governor’s role in India’s constitutional structure. The central question before the Court was whether the judiciary can prescribe fixed time-lines for governors and the president to act on bills. This query has ramifications that travel to the heart of the Constitution.

The Court’s judgment is resounding and measured. It has held that the judiciary cannot impose time-lines on the governor, stated that “deemed assent” is not permitted under our constitutional scheme and that judicial intervention is limited only to rare cases of prolonged, unexplained gubernatorial inaction. The verdict’s central message is unambi

See Full Page