What happened?
For the first time in India, 10 laws in Tamil Nadu came into force without the Governor’s or President’s signature, based on a landmark Supreme Court verdict.
Background:
These were Bills passed by the Tamil Nadu Assembly, mostly dealing with State-run universities, especially transferring the power to appoint Vice-Chancellors from the Governor to the State Government.
The Governor had delayed assent. So the Assembly re-adopted the Bills and sent them to the President.
The Supreme Court ruled that such re-adopted Bills are “deemed to have received assent” if the Governor or President delays the process.
Why is it historic?
It is the first instance in India where laws became effective without formal assent from the Governor or President.
DMK MP P. Wilson called it a "historic cleansing of universities", now under full State control.
CM M.K. Stalin reacted saying, “DMK means creating history.”
Acts notified include:
Amendments to laws governing universities like Tamil Nadu Fisheries University, Ambedkar Law University, M.G.R. Medical University, and others.
National Impact:
According to senior advocate N.L. Rajah:
The SC verdict now brings Governor's delay under judicial review.
It sets a nationwide precedent: if the Governor delays assent unnecessarily, the Bill can be considered automatically approved.
However, further legal debate is possible, especially about whether a two-judge Bench can decide such a constitutional matter.
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