New Delhi: In a landmark verdict that addresses a persistent source of friction between state governments and the Centre, the Supreme Court has ruled that Governors cannot “sit on state bills indefinitely.” However, the court stopped short of prescribing a specific timeline for Governors and the President to grant assent to bills, stating that doing so would violate the principle of separation of powers.

The core verdict: A balance between accountability and constitutional propriety

The Supreme Court’s ruling came as it pronounced its opinion on a presidential reference seeking its view on fixing timelines for constitutional authorities to act on bills passed by the legislature. The court firmly held that the phrase “as soon as possible” in the Constitution has significant constitution

See Full Page