Supreme Court Gives Article 143 Opinion on Governors' and President's Assent to State Bills

On 20 November 2025, a five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court delivered its advisory opinion in Special Reference No. 1 of 2025 concerning assent, withholding and reservation of state Bills by Governors and the President. The Court held that judges cannot prescribe general timelines for action under Articles 200 and 201 or create a doctrine of "deemed assent." It also said Governors cannot keep Bills pending indefinitely: in cases of prolonged and unexplained inaction, courts may issue a limited direction requiring the Governor to act without dictating the outcome.