The Supreme Court will hear Punjab’s plea against the Governor referring two bills to the President. SG Tushar Mehta said, “Since this involves the same constitutional questions, let all such matters be heard together before the Constitution Bench,” but Singhvi objected.
New Delhi: On August 18, the Supreme Court of India on Monday took up the petition filed by the Punjab Government in the case, where the State has challenged the decision of the Punjab Governor to send two state bills to the President instead of giving his assent.
During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Union Government, requested the Court to transfer this matter to a larger constitutional bench.
He told the Court,
“Since this involves the same constitutional questions, let all such matters be heard together before the Constitution Bench.”
However, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing the Punjab Government, opposed this request. Singhvi strongly objected to the suggestion, noting that this case raised immediate concerns specific to Punjab which could not be delayed further.
After hearing both sides, the Bench observed that the issue will be listed only after the Supreme Court delivers its opinion in the pending Presidential Reference on similar constitutional questions.
The Court noted that the issues raised in this Punjab matter are connected to the broader constitutional questions under consideration in the Presidential Reference.
In effect, the matter has now been kept pending until clarity comes from the Presidential Reference decision.
The case has major constitutional significance as it deals with the powers of a Governor, the scope of his discretion, and the role of the President in the legislative process of states.
Many state governments have been raising concerns about Governors sitting on bills or reserving them for the President instead of giving their approval.
The Punjab Government has argued that this practice hampers the functioning of an elected legislature and strikes at the roots of federalism.
The Union, on the other hand, maintains that the Governor is within his powers to reserve bills for Presidential consideration, especially when they raise constitutional questions.
Case Title:
STATE OF PUNJAB V UNION OF INDIA AND ORS W.P.(C) No. 685/2025
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