Question

The Supreme Court recently in a landmark decision has held that governor's delay in granting assent to 10 bills as erroneous and illegal, and granted assent to the Bills. Which provision of the Constitution was interpreted primarily in this case?

• A. Article 200
• B. Article 110
• C. Article 74
• D. Article 84

Hint:

Assent to Bills: - For Parliament Bills (by President) = Article 111 - For State Legislature Bills (by Governor) = Article 200

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understand the issue.
The question refers to a recent conflict between a state government and its Governor over the granting of assent to bills passed by the state legislature.

Step 2: Identify the constitutional provision for a Governor's assent.
The procedure for a Governor to give or withhold assent to a bill passed by the state legislature is laid down in Article 200 of the Constitution.
This article gives the Governor three options: give assent, withhold assent, or reserve the bill for the consideration of the President.

Step 3: Connect to the recent judgment.
In the 2023 case of \textit{State of Punjab v.
Principal Secretary to the Governor}, the Supreme Court interpreted Article 200 and held that a Governor cannot simply sit on bills indefinitely.
The Court emphasized that if a Governor decides to withhold assent, they must return the bill to the legislature for reconsideration "as soon as possible.
" This judgment clarified that Governors do not have a veto power over the state legislature.
The primary article under scrutiny was Article 200.