Presidential Reference on Governor's Assent
Why focus: Directly tests NCERT Class 11 Ch 5. High-yield GS2 Polity on Governor’s assent powers under Articles 200/201 via Assertion-Reason.
In News
What Happened
Why It Matters
Background
History & Context
What Changed
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BEFORE: Governors could use the lack of a prescribed time limit in Article 200 to delay assent to state bills indefinitely without legal consequence. NOW: The reference seeks supreme judicial clarity to establish whether 'as soon as possible' implies a mandatory, enforceable time frame for Governors.
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BEFORE: Governors often reserved bills for the President under Article 201 purely at their own discretion, causing friction with elected state governments. NOW: The Supreme Court is tasked with defining the exact constitutional boundaries and specific circumstances justifying such reservation.
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BEFORE: Presidential References (Article 143) were rarely used to resolve state-Governor legislative deadlocks, leaving states to file individual writs in court. NOW: The Union government has proactively sought a comprehensive constitutional interpretation to standardize the assent process across all states.
Prelims Angle
NCERT Connection
Practice Questions
Q1
With Reference ToWith reference to the Governor's power regarding state bills, consider the following statements: 1. Under Article 200, the Constitution provides a strict six-month time limit for the Governor to grant or withhold assent to a bill. 2. If a Governor reserves a bill for the President under Article 201, the Governor has no further role in the enactment of that bill. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?