VETO POWER AND ITS TYPES - POLITY

News: The President who used 'pocket veto' to stall legislation he didn't agree with

 

Veto Power:

Features:

       A bill must be forwarded to the Indian President for approval before it can become an act after being tabled in the Parliament and passed by the body.

       The decision to accept, reject or withhold assent to the measure rests with the President of India.

       The choice of the President over the bill is called his veto power.

       A veto cannot be used to take a certain decision, it can be only used to prevent a decision.

 

Does the President have a scope to reject or act in his discretion?

       The president has the authority to reject legislation that has been approved by the legislature.

       The president of India has the discretionary powers to veto measures.

       He does not need to take the advice of the council of ministers into consideration in order to use this power.

 

Absolute Veto:

       By using this veto the President can withhold the assent to the bill.

       In such cases the bill gets rejected and it cannot become law.

 

Suspensive Veto:

       The President, instead of rejecting, sends the bill to parliament for reconsideration.

 

Pocket Veto:

       Under this power, the president neither gives assent to the bill, nor he returns it to the parliament.

       The bill remains pending for an uncertain time. Thus, the bill cannot become the law.

 

Constitutional Provision:

       Article 111 of the Indian Constitution governs the veto power of the President of India. Under this article

       the President declares if he assents to the Bill.

       he/she withholds assent (Absolute veto power).

       he/she returns the Bill (except Money Bill) to the parliament with a message for reconsideration of the Bill. (Suspensive Veto).

       the Houses shall reconsider the returned Bill, and if it passed the Bill again and presented to the President, then he shall not withhold assent.