TN Govt Files Application To Amend Petition Against Governor; Wants SC To Declare Referral Of Re-Passed Bills To President As Unconstitutional

The Tamil Nadu government on Tuesday (12 December) filed an application before the Supreme Court requesting it to allow it to add a plea to declare Governor RN Ravi's decision to refer 10 Bills re-enacted by the Assembly to the President as "unconstitutional", "arbitrary" and "illegal", reported The Hindu.

During the previous hearing, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud had stated that Governors could not refer Bills to the President if they were passed by the Assembly once again.

Attorney General R Venkataramani had then said that the Governor had only stated that he had withheld assent and not sent the Bills back to the Assembly.

CJI Chandrachud then suggested that the Governor and the Chief Minister meet each other to sort the matter.

The Supreme Court issued notice to the Governor on 10 November, asking him to respond to a plea by the state government regarding delay in assent to Bills. The state government also urged the Court to order a specific time frame for Governors to grant assent to Bills.

On 13 November, Governor Ravi informed the Assembly that he had withheld assent. The Bills were then passed again in a special session on 18 November and sent to him for his assent.

On 28 November, Governor Ravi referred the Bills to the President and informed the Assembly on 30 November, stated the report.