How Long Can a Governor Sit on a State's Bill? The 2025 Answer

Under Article 200 a Governor can sign, withhold, return, or send a bill to the President — but the text sets no deadline.

An April 2025 bench fixed timelines and 'deemed' 10 Tamil Nadu bills passed; a Constitution Bench scrapped both in November 2025.

The final word: no fixed deadlines, no automatic 'deemed assent', and courts cannot sign a bill into law for the Governor.

But a Governor cannot stall forever — unexplained delay invites limited judicial review and a court order to act.

This is a Centre-versus-opposition-state fight, recurring in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Punjab and Telangana.