PRESIDENTIAL ASSENT

PRESIDENTIAL ASSENT

Subject : Polity

Context :President Ram NathKovind gave his assent to the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Act, 2021.

Concept :

• Indian President has three approaches to the bill forwarded to him by the central or state legislature:

He can either give assent,

He can withhold his assent or

He can return the bill for reconsideration generally (depends on the type of bill).

Assent to Ordinary Bill

• In case of an ordinary bill, there are three courses of action the President can do:
• Give his assent: the bill then becomes an act.
• Withhold his assent: the bill ends there and does not become as act.
• Return the bill for reconsideration: the Houses may make changes or not to the bill and return it to the President after which he is obliged to give his assent.

Assent to Money Bill

• The President may either give or withhold assent to a Money Bill. Under the Constitution, a Money Bill cannot be returned to the House by the President for reconsideration.

Assent to Constitutional Amendment Bill

• In the case of such bills, the President must give assent. He cannot return the bill or withhold it (unlike ordinary bills). After this, the bill becomes a Constitutional Amendment Act and the Constitution stands amended in accordance with the terms of the Act.