Supreme Court to Examine Presidential Reference on Powers of President and Governors

Rapid Summary

• The Supreme CourtS Constitution Bench is scheduled to hear a Presidential reference on the powers of the President and Governors concerning State Bills. This includes whether timelines can be imposed on these authorities when dealing with State legislation.
• The Bench, headed by Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai and including Justices Surya Kant, Vikram Nath, P.S. Narasimha, and A.S. Chandurkar, will deliberate on this matter today (July 22, 2025).
• Separately, the supreme Court delivered a ruling condemning the Tamil Nadu Governor’s conduct for delaying action on 10 re-passed bills as “unconstitutional.” It set time limits for future actions by Governors to ensure they adhere to Constitutional obligations.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The hearings and rulings reflect an ongoing effort to address ambiguities in federal governance under India’s Constitution. Imposing clear timelines on Governors ensures legislative processes are not hindered by needless delays while reinforcing their accountability within the democratic framework. However, prescribing such procedures might invite questions about judicial overreach into executive functions.As states seek procedural clarity in their interactions with constitutional functionaries like Governors or Presidents, these developments could potentially recalibrate federal dynamics in India-ensuring smoother functioning but requiring delicate balance among co-equal branches of government.Click here to read more