Supreme Court criticizes Tamil Nadu governor for delaying assent to state bills

The Supreme Court criticized Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi for delaying assent to state bills, creating an "impasse." The court questioned whether the governor could indefinitely withhold assent or bypass constitutional procedures by referring bills to the President. The court examined the governor's authority under Article 200 of the Constitution, emphasizing that withholding assent could undermine the state legislature's power. The Tamil Nadu government argued that the governor's inaction on important legislation was unconstitutional. The hearing will continue, focusing on the governor's discretionary powers and the constitutional framework for state legislation. The court's scrutiny comes amid concerns about governors in non-BJP states taking adversarial stances against elected governments.