New Delhi, Aug. 28 -- The Centre on Thursday told the Supreme Court that state governments cannot invoke writ jurisdiction to challenge actions of the President or Governors in dealing with assembly bills, as states do not possess fundamental rights under the Constitution.

Appearing before a five-judge Constitution Bench headed by Chief Justice BR Gavai, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said the President has sought the court's opinion on whether states can file writ petitions under Article 32 for violation of fundamental rights, and on the scope of Article 361 which grants immunity to the President and Governors.

Mehta argued that such petitions are not maintainable, as directions cannot be issued against constitutional authorities and t...