Article 201: Bills reserved for consideration

Leading cases

• State of Tamil Nadu v. Governor of Tamil Nadu (2025)The Governor's reservation for the President of ten Bills re-passed by the Tamil Nadu legislature was illegal; the Court held that Article 200 allows no pocket or absolute veto, prescribed time-limits, and declared the Bills deemed assented under Article 142.

Questions on this article

4 questions in 10 of our papers cite Article 201. Try these from the free papers:

1. 1. The Legislative Assembly of a State having no Legislative Council passes a Money Bill and presents it to the Governor for assent. The Governor wishes to send it back to the Assembly with a message suggesting certain amendments. Which of the following is correct under Article 200?

   A.He may do so, because the first proviso to Article 200 applies to every Bill presented for assentB.He cannot do so, because the first proviso to Article 200 excludes a Money Bill from such returnC.He may do so, and the Assembly must then reconsider the Bill within six months of the messageD.He may do so, but only after he has obtained instructions from the President for that purpose
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2. 2. With reference to the opinion of the five-Judge Bench in Special Reference No. 1 of 2025 (In re: Assent, Withholding or Reservation of Bills by the Governor and the President, 20 November 2025), consider the following statements: 1. Courts cannot judicially prescribe timelines for the Governor under Article 200 or for the President under Article 201. 2. Where a Governor keeps a Bill pending beyond a reasonable time, the Bill is deemed to have received assent. 3. In choosing among the options available under Article 200, the Governor is not bound by the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

   A.1 and 2 onlyB.1 and 3 onlyC.1, 2 and 3D.2 and 3 only
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3. 3. Which of the following is in line with the opinion in Special Reference No. 1 of 2025 on judicial scrutiny of Bills and references under Article 143?

   A.The President's decision under Article 201 is justiciable on its merits, though a reference under Article 143 remains optional in every caseB.Courts cannot adjudicate on a Bill's contents before it becomes law, and the President need not seek the Court's advice whenever a Bill is reservedC.A State law may come into force without the Governor's assent if the Supreme Court so directs under Article 142 to do complete justiceD.Courts may examine the validity of a reserved Bill before assent, and the President must refer every reserved Bill to the Court under Article 143
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