Presidential Reference hearing LIVE: Bench of five judges to resume hearing

NEW DELHI, 18-08-2025 - A view of the Supreme Court of India on August 18, 2025. Photo: DEEPIKA RAJESH / INTERN / THE HINDU. | Photo Credit: DEEPIKA RAJESH

A five-judge bench of the Supreme Court on Wednesday (September 10, 2025) is set to continue hearing the Presidential Reference concerning whether timelines can be imposed on the President and State Governors for acting on Bills passed by State Legislatures. 

Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai, in the previous hearing on Tuesday (September 9, 2025), observed that Governors must act as “true guides and philosophers” to State governments. He agreed with the Kerala government that the working relationship between the two constitutional authorities must be “collaborative”.

Also read: Governors must act as true guides and philosophers to States, says CJI

Senior advocate K.K. Venugopal, representing Kerala, suggested that the Governors of Opposition-ruled States, such as Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Punjab, Telangana and West Bengal, learn from their counterparts in States ruled by the BJP and its allies, where Bills are granted assent without delay.

Senior advocate Gopal Subramanium, for Karnataka, said that giving Governors expansive powers would create a dyarchy — a government with two independent authorities — in a State.

Follow the live blog for updates: