Kerala, Centre at odds in SC over withdrawal of pleas against Governor after T.N. verdict

Kerala seeks to withdraw case against Governor for delaying Bills, but Centre insists on further hearing in Supreme Court.

The State of Kerala in the Supreme Court on Tuesday (May 6, 2025) insisted on withdrawing its case against its Governor for delaying crucial Bills, saying an April 8 judgment of the court requiring Governors and President to decide on pending State Bills within a maximum of three months, has settled the law.

Also read: TN verdict not applicable to Kerala, Centre tells SC

However, the Centre remained adamant, refusing to let go of Kerala’s case, and saying it should indeed be heard by the court. The Union government maintained the case of Kerala was different from that of Tamil Nadu.

Appearing before a Bench of Justices PS Narasimha and Joymalya Bagchi, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, for the Centre, sought more time for an in-depth study of the pivotal Constitutional issues raised by Kerala. Mr. Mehta urged the case to be adjourned till Tuesday next week.

Senior advocate KK Venugopal, for Kerala, questioned whether the Centre had a say at all in the State’s choice to withdraw its case. He said the petitions have become infructuous as the Tamil Nadu judgment would apply to Kerala. The court has already decided the issue on the President and Governors, Mr. Venugopal submitted.

“We will be withdrawing the petitions,” Mr. Venugopal said emphatically. He said it was “”quite strange” that the Centre was opposing the State’s exclusive prerogative to withdraw its case.

Mr. Mehta persisted that a State cannot file petitions of this nature against a Governor “lightly”, and equally, withdraw them lightly. “We are working on the issues involved,” he submitted.