SC Rules Governors Cannot Block Bills Indefinitely
- By Thetripurapost Desk, New Delhi
- Nov 20, 2025
- 606
The Supreme Court on Thursday delivered a landmark verdict clarifying that governors do not have the absolute authority to indefinitely block bills passed by state legislatures. The court said governors must act within constitutional limits and follow due procedure while dealing with bills submitted for assent.
The bench stated that a governor has only three options once a bill is presented:
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Approve the bill,
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Return it to the legislature for reconsideration, or
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Refer it to the President for a decision.
However, the court clarified that no fixed timeline can be imposed for granting assent. “If there is unreasonable delay, the Supreme Court can intervene,” the bench noted.
Background of the Case
The verdict came in response to petitions triggered by a constitutional standoff between the Tamil Nadu government and Governor R. N. Ravi, who had withheld assent to several state bills. The Tamil Nadu government argued that the governor was stalling legislation without justification, prompting the matter to reach the top court.
Earlier, on April 8, the Supreme Court ruled that a governor does not enjoy veto power over bills. It also stated that the President must take a decision on any bill forwarded by a governor within three months, a direction formally issued on April 11. Following this ruling, the President sought the Supreme Court’s opinion on 14 constitutional questions related to the matter.
The issue has been under continuous judicial scrutiny for the past eight months, culminating in Thursday’s significant judgment aimed at ensuring balance and accountability in the democratic process.