The Supreme Court on Tuesday strongly criticised the increasing trend of Governors in various Indian states interfering with the functioning of elected state governments.

The Court said that Governors must not act in ways that obstruct or delay the legislative process for political reasons, as doing so undermines the will of the people.

Governor’s Actions

The ruling came in the context of Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi’s delay in giving assent to bills passed by the state legislature. A bench comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan observed that the Governor’s role is not to challenge the decisions of the elected government but to facilitate smooth governance.

Court ‘s Observation

The Court stressed that in a parliamentary democracy, the Governor must show respect for the will of the people, as expressed through the state legislature and the elected government.

“The Governor should not act as a roadblock or chokehold the legislative process to defeat the will of the people for political reasons,” the bench noted.

It further said that legislators, being chosen by the public, are best placed to make decisions for the welfare of the state and must not be undermined.

What Court States

In its judgment, the Court said that the Governor’s role is that of a “friend, philosopher and guide”—not one driven by political motives.

“He must not be guided by political expediency, but by the Constitutional oath he takes,” the Court stated.

It added that in times of disagreement or conflict, the Governor should work to resolve issues and keep the administration running—not bring it to a standstill.

Upholding The Constitutional Oath

The Court highlighted the importance of the Governor’s oath, warning that acting against the will of the legislature amounts to a betrayal of that oath.

“Any action contrary to the express choice of the people, in other words, the state legislature, would be a renege of his constitutional oath,” the bench said.

It called upon all high constitutional functionaries to stay true to the values of the Constitution and not succumb to political pressures.

Values Rooted In Sacrifice

The judges reminded that the Indian Constitution is rooted in the sacrifices of the country’s freedom fighters and that its values must always guide the actions of those in office.

“They must look within and reflect whether their actions are informed by that constitutional oath, and if the course of action adopted by them furthers the ideas enshrined in the Constitution,” the judgment read.

It warned that any deliberate attempt to sidestep constitutional norms would amount to weakening the very ideals that the country holds sacred.

To conclude the judgment, the Court quoted Dr BR Ambedkar’s powerful words from a 1949 Constituent Assembly speech, noting that they remain deeply relevant even today:

“However good a constitution may be, it is sure to turn out bad because those who are called to work it happen to be a bad lot. However bad a constitution may be, it may turn out to be good if those who are called to work it happen to be a good lot.”

What Ruling Says

This ruling sends a strong and clear message to Governors across the country: act within your constitutional boundaries, support democratic governance, and ensure your actions align with the will of the people and the spirit of the Constitution.