Question

(a) If the president returns the bill passed by state legislature for reconsideration and if the bill is passed again by the state legislature and presented again to the president for his assent, the President is bound to give his assent to the bill.

(b) The constitution has fixed a period of six months within which the President has to take decision with regard to a bill reserved by the Governor for his consideration.

1. Statement (a) is correct.
2. Statement (b) is correct.
3. Both the statements are correct.
4. Both the statements are false.

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 4 : Both the statements are false.

The correct answer is Both statements are false.

• Assent of the President:
  • Assent of the President When a bill is reserved by the governor for the consideration of the President, the President may either give his assent to the bill or withhold his assent to the bill or return the bill for reconsideration of the House or Houses of the state legislature.
  • When a bill is so returned, the House or Houses have to reconsider it within a period of six months. Hence statement b is not correct.
  • The bill is presented again to the presidential assent after it is passed by the House or Houses with or without amendments.
  • It is not mentioned in the Constitution whether it is obligatory on the part of the president to give his assent to such a bill or not. Hence statement a is not correct.

•  Assent of the Governor:
  • Assent of the Governor Every bill, after it is passed by the assembly or by both the Houses in case of a bicameral legislature, is presented to the governor for his assent.
  • There are four alternatives before the governor:
    • 1. he may give his assent to the bill;
    • 2. he may withhold his assent to the bill;
    • 3. he may return the bill for reconsideration of the House or Houses; and
    • 4. he may reserve the bill for the consideration of the President.
  • If the governor gives his assent to the bill, the bill becomes an Act and is placed on the Statute Book.
  • If the governor withholds his assent to the bill, the bill ends and does not become an Act.
  • If the governor returns the bill for reconsideration and if the bill is passed by the House or both the Houses again, with or without amendments, and presented to the governor for his assent, the governor must give his assent to the bill.
  • Thus, the governor enjoys only a suspensive veto. The position is the same at the Central level also.