Editorial
Soon after installation of a new government at the centre, governors appointed by the outgoing government start packing – some on their own gracefully and some after exit call from the central government. As in the past, this happened after Bharatiya Janata Party formed government and Narendra Modi became Prime Minister on 26 May after their emphatic victory in the General Elections this year.
Many governors appointed by the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government resigned, some were removed and some others transferred. Uttar Pradesh governor BL Joshi resigned. Puducherry Lt Governor Virendra Kataria was removed. Gujrat governor Kamla Beniwal, who kept logging horns with the then chief minister Modi since she took office in Gandhinagar, was first transferred to Mizoram in July this year and within a month was sacked by the central government led by Modi on 06 August.
The directive to governors to quit was sent through the home secretary of the central government. The official called also to Aziz Qureshi, governor of Uttarakhand, and asked the Congress veteran to quit on his own or would be sacked. Instead of bowing to the order, the 74-year-old trained lawyer dragged the central government to Supreme Court of the country challenging its move to sack him without any reason. He also challenged the authority of home secretary to ask a governor to quit. Qureshi who hails from Madhya Pradesh said he won’t quit unless he gets a call to do so from President of India or Prime Minister.
The apex court heard his arguments on 21 August and referred the matter to a five-judge constitution bench as the issue is related to Article 156 (1) of the constitution that deals with appointment of governors. The bench will hear the case after six weeks.
The ugly and undemocratic trend is not new. When Congress came to power in 2004 it did exactly what the BJP is doing now. It had removed NDA1-appointed governors Vishnu Kant Shastri (Uttar Pradesh), Babu Parmanand (Haryana), Kailashpati Mishra (Gujarat) and Kidarnath Sahni (Goa).
Uttarakhand governor Aziz Qureshi deserves a big hand for challenging the trend of unceremonious exit of governors. As the constitution bench of the apex court is hearing the issue, it is hoped it will decide for the good of the country and system for ever. At least for now, Qureshi’s steely defiance has saved many heads at Raj Bhawans in different states from falling – with Home Minister Rajnath Singh defensively saying, only after the matter reached the constitution bench, that the centre did not ask Qureshi to quit.
A Governor, in Indian political system, represents President of the country in the state. Like President, at least in principle, he is and should be above party politics and not play partisan role in any issue involving state and central governments. But in the recent past, the way governors have been appointed and sacked has questioned the maturity of our democracy and political system. In the past, eminent non-political personalities of great integrity and academic background were made governors. Now party loyalists of whatever or no quality are awarded the post of governor.
