New Delhi, Feb. 8 -- The Supreme Court on Friday questioned Tamil Nadu governor RN Ravi's handling of state bills, criticising him for creating an "impasse" by withholding assent and subsequently referring them to the President - an approach that the bench suggested could render pertinent constitutional provisions "otiose".
Examining the constitutional contours of a governor's authority in light of the Tamil Nadu government's challenge, a bench, comprising justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan, grilled the attorney general (AG) on whether a governor, after withholding assent, could later choose to reserve the bill for the President's consideration.
The bench pointedly questioned AG R Venkataramani, who appeared for Ravi's office, whether ...