Telangana govt vs Governor: SC to hear govt’s plea over delay in assent to bills

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to examine a plea filed by the Telangana government seeking directions to Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan to clear ten bills passed by the legislative Assembly, which are awaiting her assent.

Senior advocate Dushyant Dave mentioned the matter before a bench headed by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud for urgent listing, saying that “several bills are stuck”. After hearing brief submissions, the bench agreed to list the matter on March 20.

Earlier this month, the Telangana government had approached the Supreme Court seeking direction to the Governor to give her approval to the bills passed by the state legislature. In a writ petition, the state government has brought to the notice of the Supreme Court that 10 bills are pending with Raj Bhavan. While seven bills are pending since September 2022, three bills were sent to the Governor last month for her approval. The Secretary to the Governor and the Union Law Ministry has been made respondents in the case.

The plea contended that Article 200 of the Constitution empowers the Governor to either assent to a Bill passed by the state legislature or to withhold assent therefrom or to reserve the Bill for consideration of the President and this power is however to be exercised “as soon as possible”.

This is the second time that the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government has knocked the court’s door against the Governor.

Last month, the government moved the Telangana High Court seeking direction to the Governor to give her approval to the state Budget for 2023-24. The court, however, had suggested both sides sort out the issue amicably.