VP Jagdeep Dhankhar expresses concern over SC Ruling on Bill Assent Timeline for President

New Delhi: Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar has voiced serious concerns over a recent Supreme Court ruling that sets a timeline for the President and Governors to assent to state legislation. Addressing Rajya Sabha interns at the Vice-President’s Enclave, Mr. Dhankhar cautioned against what he termed “judicial overreach” and stressed the need to preserve the constitutional separation of powers among the legislature, executive, and judiciary.

Referring to the Supreme Court’s decision in a case involving the Tamil Nadu government’s complaint against delays by the Governor, the Vice President criticized the directive that constitutional heads must act on bills within a specified timeframe. He emphasized that the judiciary’s role is to interpret the Constitution—not to direct the President of India or interfere in legislative and executive functions. “We did not sign up for a democracy where judges perform legislative duties, assume executive roles, or act as a Super Parliament,” he stated.

Dhankhar underscored that elected governments are accountable to the people through Parliament, where questions can be raised and answers demanded. In contrast, he questioned how such accountability could be ensured if governance shifts toward the judiciary, which is not answerable to the electorate.

The Supreme Court’s ruling, delivered by a bench comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan, held that while statutes may not always prescribe a time limit, constitutional authorities must act within a “reasonable timeframe.” The court further clarified that undue delay in the President or Governor’s assent is subject to judicial review. If no action is taken within three months, reasons must be provided and communicated to the concerned state government. It also reaffirmed that issues regarding a bill’s constitutional validity fall under the exclusive domain of constitutional courts.

In a separate remark, the Vice President brought attention to the alleged recovery of unaccounted cash from the residence of a Delhi High Court judge. He expressed concern over the continued silence surrounding the matter and called for full disclosure. “It has been over a month. Let the facts come out—let the worms and skeletons be exposed so that cleansing can happen,” he said.

Dhankhar concluded by reiterating that constitutional immunity from prosecution is limited only to the President and Governors, and stressed the importance of transparency and accountability across all pillars of democracy.