Sat Apr 12 15:29:26 UTC 2025: ## Kerala Governor’s Criticism of Supreme Court Ruling on Governor’s Power Could Delay State’s Case

**Thiruvananthapuram, April 12, 2025** – Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar’s public criticism of a Supreme Court ruling on the time frame for governors to act on state legislature bills has raised concerns about potential delays for the Kerala government’s own case before the apex court.

The Supreme Court’s ruling, delivered in a Tamil Nadu case, set a timeline for governors to assent to bills. Governor Arlekar, in a recent media interview, called this an “overreach,” suggesting the matter should have been referred to a larger Constitution Bench. He argued the court’s decision was akin to a constitutional amendment, a power reserved for Parliament.

This statement has significant implications for Kerala. The state government is petitioning the Supreme Court to establish guidelines for gubernatorial action on bills and is also challenging President Droupadi Murmu’s withholding of assent for several state bills. State law officers now believe the Governor’s comments could lead to a demand for their case to be heard by a larger bench. The Attorney General of India, who represents both the Union and the Governor, will be pivotal in determining whether this demand is made when the court hears Kerala’s petition on May 13.

The Kerala government, initially hoping for a swift resolution based on the Tamil Nadu ruling, now faces uncertainty. State Law Minister P. Rajeeve acknowledged the Governor’s right to criticize the judgment but stressed that the Supreme Court’s decision remains binding. He also noted the court’s power to review even parliamentary constitutional amendments. The Supreme Court’s final decision on both the procedural aspect and the merits of the Kerala government’s petition remains pending.

Read More