SC frames questions in Tamil Nadu govt-governor row over withholding assent to bills
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court on Thursday framed eight key questions for adjudication of the dispute between the Tamil Nadu government and Governor R N Ravi over withholding assent to bills passed by the legislative assembly. These include questions on the concept of pocket veto, the governor's authority and discretion.
The posers were framed by a bench comprising Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan that is hearing the submissions of senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi representing the Tamil Nadu government.
The hearing is underway.
The bench listed the questions at the outset of the day’s proceedings.
The first one, for instance, reads, “When a state legislative assembly passes a bill and sends it to the Governor for assent, and the Governor withholds assent, but the bill is passed again and resubmitted – does the Governor have the authority to withhold it once more?”
The next question is: “Is the discretion of the governor to present a bill to the President limited to specific matters, or does it extend beyond certain prescribed subjects?”
The bench said it will deal with the issue on what considerations influenced the governor’s decision to present the bill to the president instead of granting assent.
“What is the concept of a pocket veto, and does it find a place within the constitutional framework of India,” reads another question.
The bench said it will deal with the issue of how to interpret Article 200 of the Constitution, which gives the governor the power to approve or withhold approval of bills passed by the state legislature. The governor can also send a bill back to the legislature for reconsideration or suggest changes.
“When a bill is presented to the Governor and returned for reconsideration, does the Governor have an obligation to grant assent once the bill is passed again by the legislature,” the bench asked.
It will hear Attorney General R Venkataramani on the matter later in the day.
The bench is hearing two petitions filed by the Tamil Nadu government concerning the prolonged confrontation between the state assembly and the governor over his refusal to assent to bills passed by the legislature.
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
