[IAC#RG] RAJ BHAVANS CANNOT BE REDUCED TO BEING POLITICALDENS

It is high time that the nation reflects on and debates the manner in which Governors are appointed and whether we need ornamental puppet Governors who needlessly burden the taxpayer.

Constitutionally the Governor possesses executive, legislative, financial and judicial powers. The role of the Governor is very important and essential for the healthy functioning of democracy. However, in recent times this post has been reduced to becoming a retirement package for politicians. As a result people think that the post of the Governor is worthless and  just a financial burden on state governments even though technically the role of the Governor if exercised wisely and fairly for the benefit of the state and its people is very vital.

Some Governors of the past had this to say. Sarojini Naidu, the one-time Governor of UP had said that she considered herself "a bird in a golden cage". Dr.Pattabhi Sitaramayya, Governor of Madhya Pradesh had this to say, "My duties as a governor lay more in getting visitors and providing them tea, lunches and dinners than anything else. The first thing I do in the morning is to peruse the list of visitors and invitees to lunch and dinner". KM Munshi, Governor of Uttar Pradesh had a tiff with his Chief Minister and had complained to Pandit Nehru for redressal. When his plea was turned down, he described his job thus: "to run a hotel and entertain guests". NV Gadgil, Governor of Punjab considered himself as "the Patwari of the State of Punjab whose function was to assess the conditions prevailing in the state and report to the Union government".

Governors should not end up being mere rubber stamps as they constitutionally have a major role to play in overseeing that the State is well administered in accordance with law. They should be appointed on merit as the Raj Bhavans cannot end up being shelter homes to rehabilitate the deadwood of the ruling political party. It is imperative that the Governors should be truly non-partisan at all times. We need to reflect and consider whether there is a need to house a "spare wheel" at the state level?

Adv. Aires Rodrigues

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