The Supreme Court on Thursday framed eight key questions to adjudicate the dispute between the Tamil Nadu government and Governor R.N. Ravi over withholding assent to bills passed by the state legislative assembly. These questions involve issues such as the concept of pocket veto, the governor’s authority, and discretion.The bench, comprising Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan, is hearing the submissions of senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi representing the Tamil Nadu government. The hearing is underway.At the outset of the proceedings, the bench listed the following key questions:1. When a state legislative assembly passes a bill and sends it to the Governor for assent, and the Governor withholds assent, but the bill is passed again and resubmitted – does the Governor have the authority to withhold it once more?”2. Is the discretion of the governor to present a bill to the President limited to specific matters, or does it extend beyond certain prescribed subjects?”The bench will also address the considerations that influenced the governor’s decision to present the bill to the President instead of granting assent.3. What is the concept of a pocket veto, and does it find a place within the constitutional framework of India?”The bench will examine how to interpret Article 200 of the Constitution, which gives the governor the power to approve or withhold approval of bills passed by the state legislature. The governor can also send a bill back to the legislature for reconsideration or suggest changes.4. When a bill is presented to the Governor and returned for reconsideration, does the Governor have an obligation to grant assent once the bill is passed again by the legislature?”The bench will hear Attorney General R Venkataramani later in the day. The court is hearing two petitions filed by the Tamil Nadu government concerning the prolonged confrontation between the state assembly and the governor over his refusal to assent to bills passed by the legislature.
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