The Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that the Tamil Nadu Governor's decision to withhold 10 state bills, awaiting presidential approval during MK Stalin's administration, was "illegal, incorrect in law, and ought to be reversed.""
The court stressed that the Governor is required to accept the advice of the State Legislature under the Constitution.
Judges J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan clarified that under Article 200 of the Constitution, the Governor is not given a choice but has to act according to the advice of the council of ministers.
Article 200 discusses granting approval to bills.
The judges said that the Governor cannot withhold giving approval or exercise a total veto or pocket veto.
They made it clear that the Governor is required to take one of two options: approve the bills or refuse to give approval and transmit them to the President for consideration.
The court observed that the Governor cannot refer a bill to the President after it has been laid before him for the second time.
They informed that the bills have to be approved by the Governor once again, unless the second bill differs from the first one.
This was the verdict in response to a petition by the Tamil Nadu government against Governor RN Ravi's delay in approving bills that had already been passed by the State Assembly.
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