Question 1

State Governors have a pocket veto just like the President of India.

Accepted Answer

While the President can use a pocket veto under Article 111, the Supreme Court has clarified that Article 200 does not grant Governors a pocket veto; they must act 'as soon as possible'.

Question 2

A Governor can permanently reject a state bill by simply withholding assent.

Accepted Answer

Withholding assent is not an absolute veto; it mandates returning the bill, and if repassed, the Governor must assent.

Question 3

Consider the following statements regarding the legislative powers of the Governor under Article 200 of the Indian Constitution: 1. The Governor has the constitutional power to exercise a pocket veto over state legislation by indefinitely delaying assent. 2. If the Governor withholds assent to a bill, it is mandatory to return the bill to the State Legislature for reconsideration. 3. If a returned bill is repassed by the State Legislature, the Governor can reserve it for the President's consideration instead of granting assent. How many of the above statements are correct?

Accepted Answer

(a) Only one — Statement 1 is incorrect: The Supreme Court has ruled that Governors cannot exercise a pocket veto and must act 'as soon as possible'. Statement 2 is correct: Withholding assent triggers the mandatory return of the bill for reconsideration. Statement 3 is incorrect: Once a bill is repassed by the legislature after being returned, the Governor is constitutionally bound to grant assent and cannot reserve it for the President at that stage. Thus, only one statement is correct.

Question 4

Match List I (Constitutional Provision/Commission) with List II (Relevance to Governor's Powers): 
List I 
A. Article 200 
B. Article 201 
C. Sarkaria Commission 
D. Punchhi Commission

List II 
1. Recommended a six-month time limit for the Governor to act on bills 
2. Deals with Bills reserved for the consideration of the President 
3. Recommended that Governors should rarely withhold assent to bills 
4. Outlines the Governor's options when a bill is presented for assent

Accepted Answer

(a) A-4, B-2, C-3, D-1 — A-4: Article 200 deals with the Governor's options (assent, withhold, return, reserve) upon receiving a state bill. B-2: Article 201 deals with the procedure for bills reserved for the President. C-3: The Sarkaria Commission (1988) recommended that the Governor's power to withhold assent should be used extremely rarely. D-1: The Punchhi Commission (2010) explicitly recommended a six-month time limit for Governors to decide on bills.

Question 5

Assertion (A): A State Governor cannot permanently reject a bill passed by the State Legislature by merely declaring that they withhold assent. 
Reason (R): Under the proviso to Article 200, withholding assent must be accompanied by returning the bill to the legislature, and the Governor is bound to give assent if the bill is repassed. 
Select the correct answer:

Accepted Answer

(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A — Both statements are true. The Supreme Court harmonized the main text of Article 200 with its proviso, ruling that 'withholding assent' is not an absolute veto but a suspensive one. The Governor must return the bill with a message, and if the legislature repasses it, assent becomes obligatory. Reason (R) directly explains why Assertion (A) is true.

Supreme Court Limits Governor's Veto Power over State Bills

Launch of First Regional GI Facilitation Centre