Pending Bills Row: SC Directs Resolution Talks Between TN Guv and CM Stalin

The Supreme Court on Friday directed Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi to hold a meeting with Chief Minister M K Stalin in order to address the deadlock arising from the governor’s withholding of assent to bills passed by the state legislative Assembly.

A bench of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, acknowledged the representation made by senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, representing the state government. Singhvi informed the court that the governor has now remanded the readopted bills for consideration by the President.

Expressing a desire for resolution, the bench stated, “We would like the governor to resolve the impasse…We will appreciate it if the governor resolves the impasse with the chief minister. I think the governor invites the chief minister and let them sit down and discuss it.”

The court scheduled December 11 as the date to hear the plea, while also recognizing the significance of dealing with high constitutional functionaries.

Referring to Article 200 of the Constitution, the bench emphasized that the governor cannot refer the bills to the President after they have been readopted by the legislative assembly, following their return from the governor’s office.

In an earlier hearing, the top court had questioned the delay by Governor Ravi in granting assent to various bills passed by the state Assembly, raising concerns about why governors should wait for parties to bring their grievances to the highest court.

Posing stringent queries, the court inquired about the governor’s actions over the past three years, noting that the bills have been pending since January 2020. The top court was addressing the Tamil Nadu government’s plea, which alleged a delay by Governor Ravi in providing assent to the bills.