Veto Powers of President of India

Veto Powers of President

Veto Power – It is defined as the constitutional right to reject a decision made by the law making body

President of India

Veto Power of President of India

• Article 111 states that after the bill is passed by the both Houses of the parliament, the president shall give his assent for the bill to become act

• No bill can become act unless it is approved by the president

• If president doesn’t give his approval it the exercise of veto by the president on that bill

• There is no mention in the constitution regards to time period to give assent to bill by president

Note: In case of Money Bill and constitutional amendment Bill president cannot use veto power

Veto Powers of President

President can exercise three types of veto powers

• Absolute veto
• Suspensive veto
• Pocket veto

Absolute veto

If the bill is rejected by the president there is a death of bill, it is called absolute veto, however this power of president is very limited, he can exercise absolute veto only on two types of bill

• A private member Bill
• Any state bill if reserved by the governor for consideration of the president 

Dr. Rajendra Prasad, 1954 used absolute veto In PEPSU Appropriation bill

Suspensive veto

President can return any bill passed by the parliament once for reconsideration, by the parliament, while returning the bill for reconsideration, the president suspends the bill for temporary period, this is called suspensive veto, however once the bill is reconsidered by both the houses of Parliament and again send to president, it is mandatory for president to give his assent to the bill

Pocket veto

The president sit over the bill for indefinite period, because constitution doesn’t specify the time limit, within which president has to give his assent, if president does so it is called Pocket veto

Thrice this Pocket veto has been used by Indian President’s

• Hindu court Bill by President Dr.Rajendra Prasad, 1954
• President Zail Singh used pocket veto on controversial Postal Bill in 1986

In early 1990, President Venkataraman with held assent to a Bill regarding to Pension benefits

President of India 1.     Qualification of President of India 2.     Veto Powers of President of India 3.     Financial Powers of President of India 4.     Constitutional Powers of President of India 5.     Executive Powers of President of India 6.     Emergency Powers of President of India 7.     Military Powers of President of India 8.     Legislative Powers of President of India 9.     Judicial Powers of President of India