Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi.
| Photo Credit: C. Venkatachalapathy
The Tamil Nadu government moved the Supreme Court on Saturday (October 4, 2025) against a decision of Governor R.N. Ravi to reserve the Kalaignar University Bill 2025 for consideration of President Droupadi Murmu instead of granting assent to proposed law as advised by the State Cabinet.
The State government, represented by senior advocate P. Wilson and advocate Misha Rohatgi Mohta, has sought an order from the top court to declare the Governor’s decision and “all consequential acts arising therefrom” as illegal, patently unconstitutional, and void ab-initio.
The State government has further sought the court to direct the Governor to act under Article 200 (grant of assent) of the Constitution in accordance with the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers.
The court on September 9 reserved for judgment a Presidential Reference which has brought into sharp focus the schism between Opposition-ruled States and their Governors over delay in clearing crucial laws.
Questions raised in the reference touched on the question of the Governor’s discretion under Article 200 and whether they could act outside the aid and advice of State Cabinet to either refuse to grant assent or reserve Bills for consideration of the President.
The bone of contention, which had led to the Presidential reference, was an April 8 judgment of the Supreme Court which imposed a three-month deadline on Governors and the President to deal with Bills placed before them for assent or consideration, respectively.
Published – October 05, 2025 05:45 am IST
