Tamil Nadu's 12 bills waited for Governor Ravi; the Supreme Court ruled for the state on 8 Apr 2025, then a Constitution Bench said no court-fixed deadlines on…
An amendment to the Fisheries University Act is the earliest of the 12 bills that would wait.
Differences over bills, universities and the Governor's role followed.
Twelve bills, 2020 to 2023.
The state challenged the Governor's long inaction on the bills.
Days after the Court questioned the delay, the Governor withheld assent to 10 bills.
All 10 bills were passed again and sent back the same day.
The Governor sent the re-passed bills to the President instead of assenting.
The reservation was illegal; the 10 bills were declared assented to under Article 142.
Tamil Nadu published the laws without any Governor or President signature.
The reference asked whether courts can set deadlines or deem assent.
The Union defended Governors' discretion; states warned of indefinite delay.
Courts cannot fix timelines or deem assent, but may scrutinise prolonged, unexplained inaction.
One decided the case, one set the rules.
One to three months, until November.
Direct a decision, but never dictate it.
Arlekar of Kerala took additional charge of Tamil Nadu.
Joseph Vijay became Chief Minister with allies' support.
Most of the new government's first bills got assent within days.
The additional-charge arrangement ended after seven months.
March to October 2026.
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