Assent to bills: SC reserves verdict on Prez Murmu's 14 questions on timelines for guv, prez

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday reserved its verdict on the presidential reference over 14 questions including whether courts can fix timelines for governors and President to act on bills passed by state assemblies.

A five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice B R Gavai reserved its verdict after conducting marathon hearings for 10 days in which it heard the Centre and the different states largely on powers, duties and discretion of governors.

The bench also comprising Justices Surya Kant, Vikram Nath, P S Narasimha and A S Chandurkar heard Attorney General R Venkataramani in his individual capacity on the reference and made it clear that it was not inclined to examine individual cases but interpret the constitution.

The advisory opinion of the Supreme Court is not binding on President and in its discretion, the top court may or may not render any opinion on these queries.

Exercising her power under the rarely used Article 143 (1), President Droupadi Murmu said in the present circumstances, it appears the following questions of law have arisen and they are of such nature and public importance that it is expedient to obtain the opinion of the Supreme Court.

Article 143 (1) of the Constitution deals with the power of President to consult the Supreme Court and reads, "If at any time it appears to the President that a question of law or fact has arisen, or is likely to arise, which is of such a nature and of such public importance that it is expedient to obtain the opinion of the Supreme Court upon it, he may refer the question to that Court for consideration and the Court may, after such hearing as it thinks fit, report to the President its opinion thereon".

The following comprise the presidential reference:

1. What are the constitutional options before Governor when a bill is presented to Governor under Article 200 of the Constitution of India?
2. Is Governor bound by the aid and advice of the council of ministers while exercising all the options available with Governor when a bill is presented before Governor under Article 200 of the Constitution of India?
3. Is the exercise of constitutional discretion by the Governor under Article 200 of the Constitution of India justiciable?
4. Is Article 361 of the Constitution of India an absolute bar to judicially review in relation to the actions of the Governor under Article 200 of the Constitution of India?
5. In the absence of a constitutionally prescribed time limit and the manner of exercise of powers by Governor, can timelines be imposed and the manner of exercise be prescribed through judicial orders for the exercise of all powers under Article 200 of the Constitution of India by Governor?
6. Is the exercise of constitutional discretion by President under Article 201 of the Constitution of India justiciable?
7. In the absence of a constitutionally prescribed timeline and the manner of exercise of powers by President, can timelines be imposed and the manner of exercise be prescribed through judicial orders for the exercise of discretion by President under Article 201 of the Constitution of India?
8. In light of the constitutional scheme governing the powers of President, is President required to seek advice of the Supreme Court by way of a reference under Article 143 of the Constitution of India and take the opinion of the Supreme Court when Governor reserves a bill for President's assent or otherwise?
9. Are decisions of Governor and President under Article 200 and Article 201 of the Constitution of India, respectively, justiciable at a stage anterior into the law coming into force? Is it permissible for the courts to undertake judicial adjudication over the contents of a bill, in any manner, before it becomes law?
10. Can the exercise of constitutional powers and the orders of/by President/Governor be substituted in any manner under Article 142 of the Constitution of India?
11. Is a law made by the state legislature a law in force without the assent of Governor granted under Article 200 of the Constitution of India?
12. In view of the proviso to Article 145(3) of the Constitution of India, is it not mandatory for any bench of this court to first decide as to whether the question involved in the proceedings before it is of such a nature which involves substantial questions of law as to the interpretation of Constitution and to refer it to a bench of minimum five judges?
13. ... (Are) the powers of the Supreme Court under Article 142 of the Constitution of India limited to matters of procedural law or Article 142 of the Constitution of India extends to issuing directions/passing orders which are contrary to or inconsistent with existing substantive or procedural provisions of the Constitution or law in force?
14. Does the Constitution bar any other jurisdiction of the Supreme Court to resolve disputes between the Union government and the state governments except by way of a suit under Article 131 of the Constitution of India?

The Supreme Court's April 8 verdict set a timeline for governors to act on the bills passed by the state assemblies and ruled Governor does not possess any discretion in exercise of functions under Article 200 of the Constitution in respect to any bill presented to them and must mandatorily abide by the advice tendered by the council of ministers.