New Delhi: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Monday criticized Governor R.N. Ravi for failing to grant assent to a bill more than 40 days after it was passed by the state assembly.
Speaking at an event in Thanjavur, Stalin referred to an April 2025 Supreme Court ruling that labelled the governor’s delays in approving state bills as "erroneous and illegal." He remarked that the governor appeared not to have any lesson even after the court’s judgment.
Stalin pointed out that the bill in question was related to the establishment of a new university in Thanjavur. He noted that had the governor approved the bill promptly, the foundation stone for the proposed Kalaignar University could have already been laid by now, Deccan Chronicle reported.
Earlier, the bill to establish a university named after the late DMK leader M. Karunanidhi had earlier been passed by the Tamil Nadu state assembly.
At the event, he questioned the priorities of Governor R.N. Ravi, suggesting that the people of Tamil Nadu would likely wonder what could be more important for a governor than approving such a bill.
Stalin also accused the Union Government of creating additional hurdles by withholding funds and making the state's efforts more difficult. He reiterated that the governor had failed to act even after the Supreme Court’s recent judgment criticizing such delays, and warned that if the state’s patience were exhausted, it would take steps to ensure the governor gives his assent, the Wire reported.
His remarks reflect renewed friction between the Tamil Nadu government and the Raj Bhavan, amid broader concerns among opposition-led states over governors allegedly stalling assembly-approved legislation.
In a landmark ruling delivered in April this year, the Supreme Court made it clear that governors do not have the authority to indefinitely block decisions made by legislatures, which are elected bodies accountable to the public.
The ongoing standoff between the Tamil Nadu government and Governor R.N. Ravi has drawn significant public attention. The DMK-led administration under Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has accused the governor of violating constitutional norms by withholding assent to as many as 13 bills and other executive decisions passed by the state government.