#New Delhi

The Supreme Court on Thursday held that the court cannot impose any timelines on Governors and the President to grant assent to Bills passed by state assemblies but at the same time said Governors do not have “unfettered” powers to sit on the Bills for “perpetuity”.

In its unanimous opinion on the Presidential Reference, a five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice B R Gavai also held that “indefinite delay” by the Governors will be open to “limited judicial scrutiny” and that deemed assent of Bills cannot be granted by the apex court by using its plenary power under Article 142. Deemed assent would amount to virtual takeover of the role of a “separate constitutional authority,” it said.

In its 111-page judgment that could trigger a fresh debate on issues relating

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