Presidential reference over timelines for assent to bills: SC fixes schedule, hearing to start from Aug 19
The five-judge Constitution bench on July 22 had agreed to deliberate upon the 14 crucial questions raised by President Droupadi Murmu on apex court's April 8 verdict fixing timelines for governors and President to act on bills passed by state assemblies, saying the issues raised in Presidential Reference will affect the entire country.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday (July 29) said that it would start hearing from August 19 the Presidential Reference posing questions to the April 8 apex court verdict fixing timelines for governors and President to act on bills passed by state assemblies.
A five-judge Constitution bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai and Justices Surya Kant, Vikram Nath, PS Narasimha and AS Chandurkar, while fixing the time schedule for hearing the Presidential Reference, asked the Centre and states to file their written submissions by August 12.
The bench, while asking the parties to strictly adhere to the timeline, said that it would first hear the preliminary objections of the States questioning the maintainability of the Presidential Reference on August 19 for one hour.
The bench further said that it would hear the Centre and States supporting the Presidential Reference on August 19, 20, 21 and 26 and would hear those opposing it on August 28 and September 2, 3 and 9. It further added that it would hear the rejoinder submissions, if any, on September 10.
The five-judge Constitution bench on July 22 had agreed to deliberate upon the 14 crucial questions raised by President Droupadi Murmu on apex court’s April 8 verdict fixing timelines for governors and President to act on bills passed by state assemblies, saying the issues raised in Presidential Reference will affect the entire country.
The President exercising her powers under Article 143(1) of the Constitution of India has posed 14 questions to the top court to obtain its opinion. The President has sought to know apex court’s opinion on the powers of governors and the President under Articles 200 and 201 in dealing with bills passed by the state legislature.
An apex court bench comprising Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice R Mahadevan set a timeline for governors and President to act on bills passed by state assemblies in its April 8 verdict.