TN Tells SC: Governor Becomes “Super Chief Minister” If Allowed To Withhold Assent To Money Bills

The Tamil Nadu government argued before the Supreme Court that permitting Governors to withhold assent even to money bills would effectively make them “super Chief Ministers.”

Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi submitted that Governors are bound by the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers and cannot permanently withhold assent under Article 200. 

The Constitution Bench, led by CJI BR Gavai, is hearing a Presidential reference questioning the court’s April ruling that prescribed timelines for Governors and the President to decide on bills.

Singhvi stressed that illegality of bills must be settled in courts, not by Governors.