In a stinging rebuke to Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi, the Supreme Court on Tuesday tore into his decision to reserve 10 state bills for the President’s consideration, branding it “illegal and arbitrary.” The landmark ruling not only sets aside the Governor’s actions but also sends a loud message: don’t choke the will of the people.
A bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan didn’t hold back, declaring that Ravi’s move violated constitutional norms. “The action is set aside,” the court ruled, adding that the 10 bills—stuck in limbo after being re-presented to the Governor—must now be deemed cleared from that date. “The Governor must not create roadblocks or a chokehold on the state legislature to thwart the democratic expression of the people,” the bench warned.
The court’s ire stemmed from Ravi’s handling of bills passed by Tamil Nadu’s elected Assembly. Under Article 200 of the Constitution, which governs assent to bills, the Governor has no discretion to freestyle—he must act on the council of ministers’ advice, the bench stressed. “He cannot sit on bills indefinitely, adopting an absolute or pocket veto,” they said, slamming Ravi for reserving the bills for President Droupadi Murmu after they were sent back to him a second time.
“The only exception is if the bill changes between rounds,” the court clarified. “Otherwise, assent is mandatory.” Ravi’s actions, it ruled, defied this framework, effectively stalling Tamil Nadu’s law-making machinery. The bench underscored that elected legislators, not the Governor, are the true pulse of the state’s needs—a pointed reminder of democratic primacy.
While Article 200 sets no explicit deadline for gubernatorial action, the court warned that this isn’t a free pass to dawdle. “Delaying assent roadblocks the state’s legislative process,” it said, rejecting any notion that Ravi could play gatekeeper to laws greenlit by the people’s representatives.
The showdown traces back to 2023, when the Tamil Nadu government dragged Ravi to the Supreme Court over his refusal to clear 12 bills—some languishing since 2020. The court had reserved its verdict on February 10 after probing Ravi’s “silence” and his curious referral of re-passed bills to the President.
Tuesday’s ruling answers the 12 questions it framed, cementing the Governor’s role as a constitutional cog, not a wrench.
For Tamil Nadu, it’s a victory against gubernatorial overreach. For Ravi, it’s a sharp lesson: the Constitution doesn’t bend for personal whims. As the dust settles, the 10 bills are free to take effect—proof that the people’s voice, channeled through their Assembly, can’t be muffled for long.