Thiruvananthapuram, Apr 9 (UNI) Responding to the Supreme Court verdict on the issue of the Tamil Nadu Governor indefinitely withholding Bills, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said it is a warning against the "tendency" of Governors to encroach upon the powers of the legislative bodies.
The SC verdict on the issue is a strong affirmation of the federal structure and the democratic rights of the legislature, the CM said.
The Court had previously made it clear on multiple occasions that Governors must act based on the advice of the Council of Ministers, he added.
Going a step further, this verdict also sets a specific time frame within which bills must be acted upon.
"It serves as a warning against the tendency of Governors to encroach upon the powers of the legislative bodies. This is indeed a victory for democracy," he said on Tuesday.
"We have already witnessed a situation where bills passed by the legislature were kept pending for up to 23 months, creating an atmosphere of uncertainty. Kerala is currently pursuing a legal battle against such practices. This verdict underscores the relevance and importance of the issues raised by Kerala."
UNI DS KK