Supreme Court to examine whether time limit for bills applies to Kerala as well
The Supreme Court has said that it would examine whether the recent judgement on a plea of Tamil Nadu, fixing timelines for the grant of assent to bills, covered the issues raised by the Kerala government in its pleas.
A bench comprising Justices P S Narasimha and Joymalya Bagchi agreed to hear on May 6 the pleas of the Kerala government against Governor over the delay in approving bills passed by the state assembly.
“We will look into that judgement and see whether issues raised here are covered,” the bench said when Attorney General R Venkataramani and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre and the Governor’s office, said the recent judgement delivered by a bench headed by Justice J B Pardiwala did not cover the issues raised by the Kerala government.
A bench comprising Justices Pardiwala and R Mahadevan on April 8 delivered a significant verdict on the plea of Tamil Nadu and set aside the reservation of the 10 bills for President’s consideration in the second round holding it as illegal, erroneous in law.
On Tuesday, senior advocate K K Venugopal, appearing for Kerala, said the pleas of the state were covered by the recent judgement.
“What is the timeline for making a reference to the President by the Governor and this issue is dealt with by that judgement and there are no other questions,” he said.
He urged the bench to allow the pleas of the Kerala government in terms of the Tamil Nadu judgement.
Mehta, however, insisted on making submissions saying the case of Kerala was not covered by the Tamil Nadu judgement.
“The judgment does not cover certain issues in this case on facts which are essentially different,” the bench said and fixed the pleas for hearing on May 6.