Tamil Nadu governor R.N. Ravi sends back 10 pending bills to state government for reconsideration

Four days before the Supreme Court's next hearing on the DMK government's appeal against the governor sitting on laws approved by the state legislature, Tamil Nadu governor R.N. Ravi returned ten outstanding measures to the state government for reconsideration on Thursday.

Because he is required by the Constitution to grant his consent if the state legislature adopts these 10 legislation again, Ravi's action seems to provide a way out of the impasse.

Speaker M. Appavau said shortly after the governor returned the measures that the Assembly will convene in extraordinary session on Saturday to reexamine, readopt, and return the laws to the governor for assent.

The Supreme Court voiced worry last week over the governors of Punjab and Tamil Nadu delaying their assent to state legislature-passed measures, citing Article 200 of the Constitution as requiring the governor to act on the council of ministers' advice and assistance.

The bench of Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Misra had said, "The issues raise a matter of serious concern" to the operation of democracy while sending notices to the Center on petitions filed by the governments of Tamil Nadu and Punjab.

In its suit, Tamil Nadu accused Ravi of failing to clear state government files for the last two years in addition to just stalling laws that need his signature to become law.

The state informed the bench that in addition to four files requesting approval for the prosecution of public servants under the Prevention of Corruption Act, a number of files concerning the premature release of inmates, including some Muslim inmates, and "proposals" to appoint members to the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission, the governor is still considering 12 bills that the Assembly passed.

The state has maintained that the Constitution states that the governor may, "as soon as possible" return a measure, provided it is not a money bill, and ask the House to reconsider the bill or any particular section.

The governor "shall not withhold it," according to the Constitution, if the House adopts the law once again.

However, Tamil Nadu's appeal claims that Ravi's inaction—including his refusal to sign daily files—is "bringing the entire administration to a grinding halt."

In recent weeks, Telangana, Kerala, and Punjab have all filed similar Supreme Court cases against their respective governors.

According to official sources, Ravi returned legislation on Thursday that were mostly connected to changes to regulations pertaining to public universities. The purpose of these modifications is to provide the state government the authority to name vice-chancellors, a position that the governor now holds.

One of the proposals aims to change the Chennai University Act, 2023 so that the finance secretary may join the university's syndicate and the government can choose the vice chancellor of the University of Madras.

State colleges are also involved in the two measures that are now before the governor.