New Delhi, Nov. 20 -- In a significant constitutional pronouncement, the Supreme Court on Thursday held that State Governors cannot indefinitely sit on Bills passed by State Legislatures. However, the Court also made it clear that it cannot prescribe mandatory timelines for the President or Governors to grant or deny assent under Articles 200 and 201 of the Constitution.
However, it clarified that Governors cannot indefinitely sit on Bills. In cases of prolonged, unexplained inaction, courts may issue a limited mandamus directing them to decide within a reasonable time without examining the merits of the Bill.
The Court categorically ruled that the concept of courts declaring "deemed assent" in cases of delay is unconstitutional and viola...