Traditional rivals in Kerala welcome SC verdict on Governor's role in Bills

IANS April 8, 2025 210 views

The Supreme Court's landmark verdict on Governor's Bill assent has created a rare moment of political unity in Kerala. Politicians from different parties, including the LDF, UDF, and even BJP, have welcomed the ruling that restricts Governors from indefinitely delaying legislative bills. The judgment specifically addresses the practice of holding Bills for extended periods, which was a contentious issue in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. This decision is seen as a significant affirmation of democratic principles and state legislative rights.

"Governors can no longer be used as tools by the Centre to obstruct state governments" - K. Rajan, Kerala Revenue Minister
Thiruvananthapuram, April 8: The Supreme Court's ruling on Tuesday, holding Tamil Nadu Governor Dr R.N. Ravi's withholding of assent to 10 Bills as "illegal", drew rare consensus from traditional political rivals in Kerala.

Key Points

1

Supreme Court declares Governor's Bill withholding as illegal

2

Kerala politicians unite across political divides

3

Landmark judgment reinforces democratic constitutional principles

4

Governors restricted from indefinitely delaying legislative bills

The apex court declared that the 10 Bills, re-passed by the Tamil Nadu Assembly and sent again to the Governor, would be deemed to have received his assent -- a move that has resonated strongly in Kerala, where similar issues have been simmering.

In Kerala, the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) is in power, while the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) sits in opposition. The BJP, though a marginal player in the 140-member state Assembly, has a presence in the Lok Sabha from the Thrissur constituency, represented by Minister of State for Tourism Suresh Gopi.

Welcoming the Supreme Court's verdict, Kerala Law Minister P. Rajeeve recalled how former Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan had delayed action on several Bills -- some pending for as long as 23 months.

"There were Bills that remained with the Governor for 13, 16, even 18 months. We had said publicly that such delays were undemocratic. The Governor is expected to function in accordance with the advice of the elected government," Rajeeve said.

He added, "The Supreme Court has made it clear that no Governor can hold on to Bills for more than three months. Moreover, not all Bills can be referred to the President. This verdict is a clear affirmation of democratic principles."

State Revenue Minister K. Rajan said the Supreme Court verdict should be welcomed "with great pleasure." "Governors can no longer be used as tools by the Centre to obstruct state governments. This ruling sends a strong message in response to the conduct of the Tamil Nadu Governor," Rajan said.

Senior UDF leader and Lok Sabha MP N.K. Premachandran described the ruling as "historic" and one that reinforces constitutional values. "This will be remembered as a landmark judgment that upholds the democratic rights of state legislatures," he said.

Significantly, the ruling comes even as the Kerala government has moved the Supreme Court over two Bills that are still awaiting gubernatorial assent -- a legacy of Governor Khan's tenure, during which his frequent run-ins with the Pinarayi Vijayan government over pending legislation often made headlines.

Reader Comments

P
Priya K.
Finally some clarity on Governor's role! This was long overdue. Our democracy needs these checks and balances. 👏
R
Rahul M.
Interesting to see political rivals agreeing on something for once! Maybe there's hope for cooperative federalism after all.
S
Sunita P.
While I welcome the verdict, I wonder if the 3-month timeline is too long? Bills affecting people's lives shouldn't be delayed even that much.
V
Vijay T.
Great judgment! Governors shouldn't act like political tools. 23 months is ridiculous - that's practically sabotaging governance.
A
Anjali R.
Respectful criticism: The article could have explained more about the specific Bills stuck in Kerala. Would help readers understand the local impact better.
M
Manoj S.
This is why we need strong institutions! SC stepping in to protect democracy from unnecessary delays. Hope Kerala's pending bills get cleared soon 🤞

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Tags:
Supreme Court Kerala Politics Governor's Powers Constitutional Law Arif Mohammed Khan Pinarayi Vijayan
You May Like!