Recently, the President has announced the appointment of Governor for 5 states, which has been done under this constitutional provision. According to Article 155 of the Indian Constitution, “The Governor of a State shall be appointed by the President by his hand and seal.”
Appointment of new Governor of 5 states
- Odisha: Mizoram Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati has been appointed as the new Governor of Odisha.
- Manipur: Former Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla has been appointed as the Governor for Manipur.
- Kerala: Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar has been made the new Governor of Kerala. He was earlier the Governor of Bihar.
- Bihar: The current Governor of Kerala, Arif Mohammad has been appointed as the new Governor of Bihar.
- Mizoram: Former Army Chief and Union Minister VK Singh has been made the Governor of Mizoram.
Governor
- Chief executive head of the state: The governor is the chief executive head of the state, which follows the principles of the Canadian model.
- Convention of appointment: The governor should not be from the state where he is appointed, so that he remains independent of local political influence.
- Consultation with the Chief Minister: The President consults the Chief Minister of the state before appointing the governor, so that the constitutional machinery can function smoothly.
- Appointment of Governor: The governor is appointed by the President through a warrant bearing his hand and seal. It is a nominated post, not a post selected by election.
- Tenure: The governor serves at the pleasure of the President and can be removed at any time.
- Oath of office: The governor is sworn in by the Chief Justice of the High Court of the state. If the Chief Justice is absent, the senior-most judge of the High Court administers the oath.
- Privileges of Governor: The salary and allowances of the governor cannot be reduced during his tenure. These are determined by Parliament and include privileges attached to the post.
Constitutional Provisions Related to Governor
- Article 153: Every state must have a governor, and a person can become governor of more than one state.
- Appointment: The governor is a nominee of the central government, appointed by the President.
Role of Governor
- He is the constitutional head of the state and is bound to follow the advice of the state’s Council of Ministers (CoM).
- He acts as the vital link between the central and state government.
- Article 157 and 158: Eligibility criteria for the post of governor:
A citizen of India
- At least 35 years of age
- Not a member of Parliament or state assembly
- Should not hold an office of profit
- Article 161: The governor has the power of pardon and reprieve.
- Article 163: The Governor receives aid and advice from the Council of Ministers headed by the Chief Minister, except discretionary powers.
- Article 164: The Governor appoints the Chief Minister and other ministers of the state.
- Article 200: The Governor assents, withholds assent, or reserves for the consideration of the President a bill passed by the state legislature.
- Article 213: The Governor can issue ordinances under certain specific circumstances.