Overview

• The Supreme Court issued notices on July 22 seeking responses from the Union and all states by July 29.
• A five-judge Constitution bench led by Chief Justice B.R. Gavai will examine President Murmu’s Article 143 reference comprising fourteen constitutional questions.
• Kerala and Tamil Nadu have challenged the maintainability of the reference, contending that the issues were already settled by earlier Supreme Court rulings.
• Attorney General R. Venkataramani has been appointed to assist the Court and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta will represent the Union government in the proceedings.
• The reference asks the Court to clarify whether Articles 200, 201 and 142 empower judges to impose binding timelines, enforce “deemed assent” or subject executive discretion on state legislation to judicial review.