Last Updated on November 21, 2025 4:52 pm by INDIAN AWAAZ
Staff Reporter New Delhi
The Communist Party of India (CPI) has expressed strong disappointment over the Supreme Court’s recent opinion on the Presidential Reference concerning the powers of Governors in granting assent to Bills passed by State Legislatures.
The party said the Court’s refusal to mandate any time-bound framework for action by Governors or by the President could dilute its own April judgment, which had raised serious concerns over the Tamil Nadu Governor’s prolonged delay in granting assent and his decision to refer several Bills to the President.
According to the CPI, this shift in the Court’s stance weakens an important judicial safeguard that was meant to protect the democratic will of the people. The party said that without clear timelines, the possibility of procedural delays or discretionary inaction by Governors increases significantly, potentially obstructing the functioning of democratically elected governments.
The CPI cautioned that the country’s federal structure is already under pressure due to growing centralisation, and the Court’s opinion may unintentionally encourage Governors—particularly in Opposition-ruled states—to stall key legislative and policy decisions without facing any accountability. Such prolonged inaction, the party said, effectively curtails the mandate of State governments and undermines the sovereignty of the people expressed through their elected representatives.
The party urged the Supreme Court to reconsider its opinion in the interest of protecting democratic and cooperative federalism. It also called upon Parliament to take note of what it described as an increasing pattern of gubernatorial interference or inaction. The CPI demanded a detailed discussion on introducing effective checks on the Governor’s office, which it termed a “colonial-era vestige” that should not be allowed to override the authority of elected governments.
Reiterating that the autonomy of states and the primacy of the people’s mandate must remain central to India’s constitutional order, the CPI said urgent institutional reforms are needed to safeguard the balance of power in the federal system.