New Delhi: The Supreme Court will on Tuesday take up a significant constitutional reference filed by President Droupadi Murmu, challenging the court’s earlier ruling that imposed a time limit on the President and Governors to act on bills passed by state legislatures.
The President has raised 14 key questions under Article 143(1) of the Constitution, seeking the court’s opinion on whether the ruling aligns with constitutional provisions. The case will be heard by a five-judge Constitution Bench led by Justice B.R. Gavai, with Justices Suryakant, Vikram Nath, P.S. Narasimha, and A.S. Chandurkar also on the bench.
At the heart of the reference is the contention that Articles 200 and 201 of the Constitution do not prescribe any specific timeframe within which the President or Governors must decide on a bill. The reference highlights that the President and Governors have discretion in these matters, considering broader concerns such as national integrity, security, federalism, and consistency in the legal system.
President Murmu has also drawn attention to the fact that earlier judgments by the apex court have offered varied interpretations on the matter of bill assent, further necessitating a definitive constitutional interpretation.