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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Telangana BJP MLA seeks abolition of family planning for Hindus
Hyderabad, May 5 (PTI): Telangana BJP legislator Paidi Rakesh Reddy on Monday called for the abolition of family planning for Hindus, so they can have more children.
Addressing a party meeting in Nizamabad, the Armoor MLA, indirectly referring to last month’s terror attack in Kashmir's Pahalgam, said that the terrorists had asked if the victims were Hindus before killing them.
He asserted that only unity among Hindus could protect future generations and safeguard the country.
He also remarked that the "opposite person" was "playing the game" with 11 to 12 children and roaming around with bombs, while "our" children were scared even of firecrackers.
"I am telling all of you, brothers and women, since you are all here, I am requesting that family planning for Hindus be abolished. Give birth to a sufficient number of children. The unity of Hindus is the only way to stop these guns. We are one. If there is no Dharma, there is no country. And if there is no country or Dharma, there are no future generations. Kashmir is an example of that," he claimed.
Reddy further stated that the terrorists in the Pahalgam attack did not ask the victims about their caste—whether they were blacksmiths or barbers, Tamilians, Maharashtrians, or Telugus. "Did they ask? They asked if you were Hindu," he said.
The BJP leader could not be immediately reached for clarification on his statement.
Reacting to Reddy’s comments, Congress Lok Sabha member Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy said that in a secular country like India, religion should not be used to criticise or compare issues.
"This does not address the real problem and instead creates unrest in the country. Rakesh Reddy’s comments, provoking Hindus to have more children, reflect personal views. If the government wants to promote such activity in the national interest, that's a different matter," the Congress MP said.
He added that as a responsible elected representative, Reddy should not provoke people in the name of caste.
