No fixed timelines for Governor/President to decide on Bills; no concept of ‘deemed assent’: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court, while dealing with the President's reference case, prescribed that courts cannot fix timelines for Governors or the President to act on Bills under Articles 200 and 201 of the Constitution. 

The reference arose after delays in decision-making, including the Tamil Nadu Governor’s withholding of assent to ten Bills.

The Court held that judicially imposed deadlines or “deemed assent” are not permissible, observing that such directions would “virtually amount to a takeover and substitution of executive functions.” 

It added that courts may issue limited directions where delay is unexplained but cannot dictate the manner of decision-making.

[In Re: Assent, Withholding or Reservation of Bills by the Governor and the President of India]