Governor

Context – President Droupadi Murmu appoints 6 new governors, reshuffles 7 others.

 About Constitutional Provisions Related to the Governor:

• Article 153 says that there shall be a Governor for each State.
  • One person can be appointed as Governor for two or more States.
• A Governor is appointed by the President and is a nominee of the Central Government.
  • The Governor normally enjoys  5-year tenure, he can remain in office only until the pleasure of the President. ( No security of tenure)
• Governor has a dual role.
  • Constitutional head of the state
  • Functions as a vital link between the Union Government and the State Government.
• Salary and Allowances: are charged from Consolidated Fund of India.

Functions of Governor:

• There is a CoM (council of ministers) with the CM at the head to aid and advise the Governor in the exercise of his functions, except some conditions for discretion. (Article 163)
• Power to grant pardons, reprieves, etc. (Article 161).
• Governor assents, withholds assent, or reserves the bill for the consideration of the President passed by the Legislative Assembly (Article 200).
• Governors may promulgate the Ordinances under certain circumstances (Article 213).
• In the Constitution, there are no guidelines for exercise of the Governor’s powers, including for appointing a CM or dissolving the Assembly.
• There is no limit set for how long a Governor can withhold assent to a Bill.
• The Governor sends a report to the centre which forms the basis of the Union cabinet’s recommendations to the President for invoking Article 356 (President’s Rule).

 Source:   Indian Express

Previous Year Questions

Q.1) Which one of the following suggested that the Governor should be an eminent person from outside the State and should be a detached figure without intense political links or should not have taken part in politics in the recent past? (2019)

1.  First Administrative Reforms Commission (1966)
2. Rajamannar Committee (1969)
3.  Sarkaria Commission (1983)
4. National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution (2000)

Q.2) Consider the following statements:

1. No criminal proceedings shall be instituted against the Governor of a State in any court during his term of office.
2. The emoluments and allowances of the Governor of a State shall not be diminished during his term of office.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (2018)

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2