If Governor withholds nod, it means Bill is dead: Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi

Governor R.N. Ravi says if a Governor withholds assent to a Bill passed by the Assembly, it means the “Bill is dead

Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi said on Thursday that if a Governor withholds assent to a Bill passed by the Assembly, it means the “Bill is dead”. He also stirred a controversy by saying foreign funding was behind the protests against the Sterlite copper and the Koodankulam nuclear power plant in Tamil Nadu.

Mr. Ravi said that withholding assent has been defined by the Supreme Court as “the Bill falling through”, implying that the Bill is dead.

“It is a decent language used instead of the word ‘reject’. When you say ‘withhold’, the Bill is dead,” the Governor told civil services aspirants during an interaction at the Raj Bhavan.

To a question about his role when the opposing parties are ruling at the Centre and in the State, Mr. Ravi said a Governor is a constitutional institution and the first and foremost responsibility of a Governor is to protect the Constitution.

He then elaborated on the role of a Governor as per the Constitution with regard to Bills passed by the Assembly and sent for assent. Stating that the Governor is part of the Legislature that comprises the Assembly and the Legislative Council (where it exists), he said giving assent to a Bill is a constitutional responsibility: the Governor has to see whether the Bill is exceeding the constitutional limit and whether the State is exceeding its competence. If the Bill exceeds the constitutional limit, it is the responsibility of the Governor not to give assent, he added.

“A Governor is part of the Legislature. So if a Bill is passed by the Assembly, it does not mean it is passed by the Legislature. Because the Assembly is part of the Legislature,” he contended.