Landmark Supreme Court Judgment on State Bills

In April, a significant Supreme Court judgment established a timeline for Governors to respond to Bills from state legislatures, emphasizing the need for timely decisions.

President's Query to the Supreme Court

President Droupadi Murmu sought clarification from the court on whether it can prescribe timelines for Governors and the President to approve state Bills under Article 201 of the Constitution.

Concerns over Legislative Delays and Rush

While Governors are criticized for delaying Bills, state legislatures often expedite processes:

• Nearly 75% of state legislatures concluded Budget discussions in just 10 days last year.
• 46.4% wrapped up deliberations in 2-5 days; 35.7% in 6-10 days.
• Only 7.2% extended discussions to 11-15 days; 10.7% went beyond 16 days.
• Kerala and Goa led with 18-day Budget discussions, followed by Odisha (16 days), Gujarat (14 days), and Rajasthan (13 days).
• Six states, including Madhya Pradesh and Punjab, passed Budgets in just 2 days.

Ministry-Wise Expenditure Review

Timeliness in expenditure review varies:

• In 21 states, the interval between general Budget and ministry-specific discussions was only a day.
• Only two states took 2-5 days, and three states took more than 5 days.
• In contrast, Parliament's Budget session spans 3-4 weeks for detailed scrutiny.

Gubernatorial Assent and Delays

Post-legislature, Bills require gubernatorial assent, which often faces delays:

• According to PRS Legislative Research's 2024 review, 60% of Bills received assent within a month.
• 18% of Bills took over three months, with some pending beyond April 2025.
• Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, and Mizoram ensured all Bills were cleared within a month.
• Himachal Pradesh had 72% of its Bills delayed over three months; Sikkim had 56%, and West Bengal 38%.

State Specific Delays

Tamil Nadu experienced significant legislative delays:

• 60% of Bills received assent within a month.
• 18% took 1-3 months, and 22% were delayed beyond three months.