Supreme Court Ruling May Fuel Governors' Power Play in Opposition-Ruled States, CPI Warns

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The Communist Party of India (CPI) has expressed concern that the Supreme Court's recent verdict on the Presidential Reference may embolden governors to delay or block legislative decisions in opposition-ruled states without accountability. The apex court ruled that it cannot impose timelines on governors or the President to grant assent to bills passed by state assemblies. This decision has left the CPI disappointed, as it may undermine the court's previous ruling that criticized the Tamil Nadu governor's prolonged withholding of assent. The CPI believes that the Supreme Court's opinion may weaken the checks and balances in place to ensure that the will of the people, expressed through their elected representatives, is not thwarted by procedural delays or discretionary inaction. The party is urging the Supreme Court to reconsider its opinion and for Parliament to take action to prevent gubernatorial interference in state governments. The CPI emphasizes the importance of democratic, cooperative federalism and the need to safeguard the autonomy of state governments and the primacy of the people's mandate. In its verdict, the Supreme Court also clarified that governors do not have unlimited powers to delay bills and have only three options: to grant assent, refer the bills to the President, or withhold assent and send them back to the assemblies for reconsideration. The CPI hopes that this ruling will not be used to justify further delays or blockages of legislative decisions in opposition-ruled states.