A Supreme Court (SC) order on the limits of gubernatorial power passed on April 8 has struck a powerful and much-needed blow in favour of both federal principles and constitutional values. In a case filed by the Tamil Nadu government against the governor, R.N. Ravi, the SC ruled that governors could not withhold assent to legislation passed by the legislatures indefinitely because they should be guided by constitutional values rather than political expediency. It underlined the need for governors to respect the will of the people as expressed by state legislatures. Ravi had delayed the enactment of 10 bills, one of them for over five years. The court set a timeline for giving assent,........

© Free Press Journal