Tamil Nadu Govt Moves Supreme Court Seeking Directions To Governor To Give Assent To Bills And Orders In Specified Time Frame

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government in Tamil Nadu has moved the Supreme Court seeking it to direct Governor RN Ravi to grant his assent to Bills, files and government orders within a specified time frame.

The petition also sought that the inaction of the Governor be declared as unconstitutional and a malafide exercise of power, reported LiveLaw.

According to the report, the petition stated that inaction of the Governor had caused a "constitutional deadlock between the Constitutional Head of the State and the Elected Government of the State" and among the issues mentioned were pending Bills, appointment of Chairman and members of the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC), approval to prosecute ministers and release of prisoners.

Governor Ravi had recently returned the file regarding the appointment of former DGP C Sylendra Babu as chairman of the TNPSC and other members of the Commission stating that there was a lack of transparency in the selection process.

Prior to this, the Telangana government had approached the Supreme Court, asking for similar directions to the Governor. The Court had then stated that Governors should return Bills as soon as possible if they do not wish to give assent.