Overview

• A five-judge Constitution Bench is continuing hearings on the President’s Article 143 reference and is expected to wrap up arguments on September 10.
• The Court observed that governors are expected to act on Bills within a reasonable time even if Article 200 did not say “as soon as possible,” and stressed it will interpret the Constitution rather than decide specific disputes.
• Justices cautioned that fixing universal deadlines could force courts into supervising legislative processes and generate fresh litigation, with emergencies underscoring why rigid schedules may be unworkable.
• Karnataka, Kerala, Punjab and Telangana argued governors and the President are titular heads bound by ministerial advice, that Article 200 offers only three options (assent, return, or reserve), and that there is no scope to park Bills indefinitely, especially money Bills.
• Kerala cited Bills pending seven to 23 months and the CJI said governors should act as guides to states, as the Bench examines an April ruling that set fixed timelines and deemed certain Tamil Nadu Bills assented.