President asks SC if timeline can be imposed to decide on bills referred by governor

President Droupadi Murmu has sought the Supreme Court’s opinion about its ruling on April 8 that set timelines for governors and the president to grant assent to bills passed by legislatures, The Indian Express reported on Thursday.

Referencing the 14 questions submitted under Article 143(1) of the Constitution, Murmu asked whether the actions of governors and the president could be tried in court, and whether such timelines could be imposed on them in the absence of any such provision in the law.

Article 143(1) allows the president to ask for the opinion and the advice of the Supreme Court on matters of legal and public importance. In light of the reference, the court will have to set up a constitution bench to provide answers, Bar and Bench reported.