Here are the 10 TN Bills now deemed approved after SC’s rap for Governor Ravi

In a major relief to state governments, the Supreme Court on Tuesday (April 8) ruled that governors of states cannot inordinately delay or withhold assent to Bills passed or re-passed by state assemblies, while calling Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi’s act of reserving 10 Bills for President’s assent as “illegal”.

“The governor shall not withhold assent once a Bill is passed again by the assembly,” ruled the Supreme Court Bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan.

Exercising its inherent powers in the landmark judgment, the top court declared that the 10 Bills withheld by Ravi – some even for five years – will be treated as having received his nod.

The court also declared President Droupadi Murmu’s actions of rejecting seven Bills, not considering two, and assenting to one as void.

Also Read: SC slams TN Governor, says withholding 10 Bills for President’s nod is ‘illegal’

With the top court’s decision effectively deeming the said Bills to have received assent, here are the 10 proposed legislations that are now ready for implementation:

1. Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (Amendment) Bill: Passed in January 2020 during the AIADMK regime, the Bill aimed to confer the state government with powers of inspection and inquiry instead of the chancellor (governor) and included a government nominee in the vice-chancellor selection panel.

2. Tamil Nadu Fisheries University (Amendment) Bill: Also passed in January 2020 under the AIADMK regime, this sought to rename the institution as Tamil Nadu Dr J Jayalalithaa Fisheries University and shift administrative oversight powers to the state government.

Also Read: Kerala Ministers, leaders hail SC verdict against TN Governor

3. Madras University (Amendment) Bill: Passed in April 2022 by the DMK government, this bill aimed to empower the state government to appoint the vice-chancellor, removing the governor from the role of chancellor, aligning with practices in states like Gujarat, Telangana, and Karnataka.

4. Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (Amendment) Bill: Passed in 2022, the Bill sought to amend the university’s statutes to allow the state government to appoint the vice-chancellor, reducing the governor’s authority.

5. Tamil Nadu Dr Ambedkar Law University (Amendment) Bill: - Passed in 2022, the Bill aimed to shift the power of appointing the vice-chancellor from the governor to the state government.

6. Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University (Amendment) Bill: Passed in 2022, the Bill proposed similar changes to enable the state government to appoint the vice-chancellor instead of the governor.

Also Read: TN govt-Governor row over assent to Bills: SC frames 12 questions

7. Tamil University (Amendment) Bill: Passed in 2022, this sought to amend the governance structure to allow the state government to appoint the vice-chancellor.

8. Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (Further Amendment) Bill: Passed in 2023 by the DMK government, this was an additional amendment to further consolidate state control over the university’s administration.

9. Siddha Medical University Bill: Passed in 2023, the Bill aimed to establish a distinct university for Siddha medicine near Chennai, with the state government seeking control over its governance structure.

10. Anna University (Amendment) Bill: The Bill sought to amend the university’s statutes to shift the vice-chancellor appointment authority to the state government.