Home The Constitution Part VI Article 200

Art. 200 Part VI: The States

Assent to Bills

Exact text — Constitution of India

When a Bill has been passed by the Legislative Assembly of a State or, in the case of a State having a Legislative Council, has been passed by both Houses of the Legislature of the State, it shall be presented to the Governor and the Governor shall declare either that he assents to the Bill or that he withholds assent therefrom or that he reserves the Bill for the consideration of the President: Provided that the Governor may, as soon as possible after the presentation to him of the Bill for assent, return the Bill... with a message requesting that they will reconsider the Bill... and, when a Bill is so returned, the House or Houses shall reconsider the Bill accordingly, and if the Bill is passed again... and presented to the Governor for assent, the Governor shall not withhold assent therefrom...

In Plain English

What this Article actually means

This Article gives the Governor options mirroring the President's (assent, withhold, or return for reconsideration — after which repassage compels assent) but with ONE crucial addition unique to the state level: the Governor can also RESERVE the Bill for the President's consideration, effectively passing the decision up to the Union level entirely — a power with no direct Union-level equivalent and one that has become genuinely significant and contentious in recent Centre-State relations.

Why This Matters To You

How it shows up in everyday life

This 'reservation' power, along with concerns about Governors simply sitting indefinitely on state bills without any of the three formal options, has become one of the most actively litigated and politically significant issues in contemporary Indian federalism.

Landmark Cases

How courts have interpreted this Article

State of Punjab v. Principal Secretary to the Governor of Punjab2023 SC — Held Governors cannot indefinitely withhold action on state Bills, and must act within a reasonable time — reinforcing that indefinite inaction isn't a valid fourth option beyond the three this Article specifically provides. Verify this case

Read alongside this one

Art. 201 — Bills Reserved for Consideration Art. 111 — Assent to Bills

Frequently Asked

Quick answers about Article 200

Can a Governor simply sit on a state Bill forever without deciding anything?

No — following recent Supreme Court rulings, Governors are expected to act within a reasonable time on one of the specific options this Article provides (assent, withhold, return for reconsideration, or reserve for the President), not indefinitely delay a decision.

What happens after a Governor reserves a Bill for the President?

The President then decides under Article 201 — either assenting or withholding assent, with no obligation (unlike the Governor's own reconsideration process) to eventually assent even if the state re-passes the Bill.

← PreviousArticle 199: Definition of 'Money Bills'Next →Article 201: Bills Reserved for Consideration

The text above reproduces Article 200 of the Constitution of India as amended to date, for general educational reference. It is public-domain legislative text, but we recommend cross-checking the authoritative version at legislative.gov.in or india.gov.in before relying on it for a legal matter. The explanation, examples and FAQs are general information, not legal advice — consult a qualified advocate for guidance on your specific situation.