New Delhi: The Tamil Nadu government has moved the Supreme Court against the governor’s decision to reserve the Kalaignar University Bill, 2025 for the consideration of the President instead of granting assent to the proposed law as advised by the state Cabinet.
The state government has sought direction from the top court to declare the governor’s decision and “all consequential acts arising therefrom” as illegal, patently unconstitutional, and void ab initio.
It has also sought the court to direct the governor to act under Article 200 (grant of assent) of the Constitution in accordance with the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers.
The court on September 9 reserved for judgment a Presidential Reference which has brought into sharp focus the schism between Opposition-ruled States and their Governors over the delay in clearing crucial laws.
Questions raised in the reference touched on the question of the Governor’s discretion under Article 200 and whether they could act outside the aid and advice of State Cabinet to either refuse to grant assent or reserve Bills for consideration of the President.
The bone of contention, which had led to the Presidential reference, was an April 8 judgment of the Supreme Court which imposed a three-month deadline on Governors and the President to deal with Bills placed before them for assent or consideration, respectively.
