SC to announce verdict on timelines for President, Governors to approve bills tomorrow

The Supreme Court will on Thursday deliver its verdict on the Presidential Reference concerning whether specific timelines can be prescribed for Governors and the President to grant assent to Bills.

A five-judge Constitution Bench, headed by Chief Justice BR Gavai, will pronounce the verdict on the matter.

The matter arose from a plea filed by the Tamil Nadu government, challenging Governor RN Ravi’s decision to refer the Tamil Nadu Physical Education and Sports University (Amendment) Bill, 2025, to the President instead of granting assent himself.

Earlier in October, the apex court had asked the Tamil Nadu government to await its order, assuring that the matter would be decided before November



21.

During the hearing, senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi argued that the Governor cannot refer a Bill to the President after receiving the “aid and advice” of the Council of Ministers.

In May, President Droupadi Murmu used her authority under Article 143(1) to ask the Supreme Court whether judges can set time limits for the president when she is required to act on bills passed by state assemblies.

The central government, in its written response, argued that forcing the president or governors to follow fixed deadlines for approving or returning state bills would allow one branch of government to take on powers not given to it by the Constitution. This, it said, could create “constitutional disorder.”