NEW DELHI: The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is preparing to file a review petition against the Supreme Court’s April 8 order in the case filed by the Tamil Nadu government against Governor RN Ravi, citing certain ‘infirmities’ in points of law, officials said on Sunday.Officials said the ministry is considering the move because the Supreme Court order also sets a three-month deadline for the President of India to decide on bills referred by state Governors. Since the Ministry of Home Affairs serves as the nodal agency for processing such references and communicating the President’s decisions to the states, the matter directly involves its jurisdiction, they added.Officials also pointed out that the Supreme Court’s order also opens the door for ‘lapsed bills’ to be revived. Under constitutional provisions, such bills can only be restored by reintroducing them in the state assemblies—either in their original form or with amendments suggested by the President while returning them, they added.When the President withholds assent to a bill, the same is treated as lapsed, they noted.The judicial intervention in the matter came following a petition filed by the Tamil Nadu government against RN Ravi’s decision to indefinitely withhold assent to ten Bills passed by the State Assembly, some as early as 2020.Officials also argued that the review petition has been necessitated as the Central government’s views could not be adequately presented during the course of the arguments.Notably, the Tamil Nadu government on Saturday notified the 10 said laws in the Government Gazette, following the apex court’s order, which the state noted as “deemed” to have received assent.The officials said, Article 201 of the Constitution mandates the MHA to act as the nodal agency for processing and conveying a final decision of the President of India with respect to State legislations.
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