Four days after the Supreme Court delivered its verdict in the case involving Tamil Nadu Governor Dr. RN Ravi, the detailed judgment has now been officially released. The judgment, which spans 415 pages, was uploaded on the Supreme Court's official website at 10:54 PM.
This much-awaited decision came after the Court's oral pronouncement on the morning of April 8. The case has drawn significant public attention due to the constitutional questions it raised around the powers and conduct of Governors in India.
A bench comprising Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice R. Mahadevan ruled that the Tamil Nadu Governor’s decision to withhold assent from 10 bills and later reserve them for the President’s consideration — even after the State Legislature re-enacted and passed them again — was both “illegal and erroneous” under the law.
"The action of the Governor is not bona fide. It goes against constitutional principles," the Court held.
The judgment clarified that any steps taken by the President based on these 10 bills are "non-est in law," meaning they have no legal validity.
"These 10 Bills will be deemed to have received the Governor’s assent from the date they were reintroduced and passed again by the Tamil Nadu State Assembly," the Supreme Court declared.
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This ruling carries significant weight as it reinforces the limited role of Governors in the legislative process of state assemblies, especially after a Bill has been re-passed.
In an important directive, the Court has asked the Supreme Court Registry to send copies of this judgment to:
- All High Courts across the country
- Principal Secretaries to the Governors of all Indian States
"This is to ensure awareness of the constitutional boundaries and responsibilities of Governors under the Indian framework," the judgment emphasized.
The verdict is expected to guide future conduct by constitutional authorities and provide clarity on the limits of gubernatorial discretion, especially in matters involving elected legislative bodies.
