SC's timeframe on Bills: Centre likely to file review petition

After the Supreme Court judgment set a timeframe for the President and the Governors to decide on giving assent to Bills passed by state Assemblies, the Union government is likely to challenge the landmark judgment.

Also read: In a first, SC sets three-month deadline for President to decide on Bills

In its April 8 order on the State of Tamil Nadu vs the Governor, the Supreme Court prescribed that the President should decide on the Bills reserved for her consideration by the Governor within three months from the date on which such reference is received. This, in a way curtailed the powers of the President.

TN notifies 10 Bills

The top court set timelines and said failure to comply with them would make the inaction of the Governors subject to judicial review by the courts.

Also read: ‘Overreach’: Kerala Governor slams SC ruling that sets timeline for Bills

After the judgment, the Tamil Nadu government notified 10 pending Bills as Acts in the government gazette, citing the Supreme Court's ruling that they were "deemed" to have received assent.

Sources aware of the development said that besides seeking a review of the timeline, the Centre may seek a review of the apex court’s order that the state governments can directly approach it if the President withholds assent to a Bill sent by a governor for consideration, a PTI report said.

Review petition before same Bench

There are active considerations at the highest echelon of the government on the issue and, in all probability, a review petition will be filed in the Supreme Court, the sources said, the report added.

The grounds on which the review petition will be filed are being considered and will be known once the government approaches the apex court.

If the government approaches the Supreme Court, the review petition will have to be filed before the same Bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan that pronounced the verdict, the sources said.

(With agency inputs)