Governor’s assent to bill

  • May 4, 2022
  • Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
  • Category: DPN Topics
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Governor’s assent to bill

Subject: Polity

Section: Federalism

Context: The State of Tamil Nadu has been witnessing a confrontation between the elected government and the State Governor on the question of giving assent to the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) Bill passed by the State Assembly.

Assent to bills under article 200 (i.e. assent of the Governor to the bills passed by the state legislature):

  • Giving assent to a Bill passed by the legislature is a normal constitutional act performed by the Governor.
  • The Governor is an appointee of the President, which means the Union government.
  • Article 154(1) of the Constitution vests in the Governor the executive power of the State, he is required to exercise that power in accordance with the Constitution. In other words, the Governor can act only on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers.
  • While there is not much deviation from the language used in the Government of India Act of 1935 in the context of the powers of the British era Governors, It is a settled constitutional position that the Governor is only a constitutional head and the executive power of the State is exercised by the Council of Ministers.
  • When a  bill  is  sent  to  the  governor  after  it  is  passed  by  state legislature, he can:
    • (a) Give his assent to the bill, or
    • (b) Withhold his assent to the bill, or
    • (c) Return the  bill  (if  it  is  not  a  money  bill)  for  reconsideration  of  the state
  • However, if  the  bill  is  passed  again  by  the  state legislature  with  or  without  amendments,  the  governor  has  to  give his assent to the bill, or
    • Reserve the  bill  for  the  consideration  of  the  president( article 201).  In  one case  such  reservation  is  obligatory,  that  is,  where  the  bill  passed by  the  state  legislature  endangers  the  position  of  the  state  high court.
    • In addition,  the  governor  can  also  reserve  the  bill  if  it  is  of the following nature:
      • (i) Ultra-vires, that is, against the provisions of the Constitution.
      • (ii) Opposed to the Directive Principles of State Policy.
      • (iii) Against the larger interest of the country.
      • (iv) Of grave national importance.
      • (v) Dealing with  compulsory  acquisition  of  property  under  Article the Constitution.
Governor’s assent to bill Polity