Governor's Appointment
Tenure, Neutrality & Reforms
PART I — THE STATUS QUO
ARTICLE 155
The Appointment
- Appointed directly by the President (Union Government).
- Deliberately not elected to avoid parallel power centers with the CM.
- Often functions as a "spoils system" to reward retired politicians and loyalists.
ARTICLE 156
The Pleasure Doctrine
- Holds office strictly during the **pleasure of the President**.
- Normal term is 5 years, but can be dismissed arbitrarily at any time.
- Lack of security of tenure makes the office highly subservient to the Union.
PART II — CRISIS & REFORMS
THE DILEMMA
The Neutrality Crisis
- Expected to be a neutral constitutional head (the "Umpire").
- In practice, frequently acts as the active political agent of the Union.
- Friction peaks during Govt formation in hung assemblies or passing contentious state bills.
THE BLUEPRINTS
Reform Debates
- **Sarkaria Commission (1983):** Must be an eminent figure from outside the state, not an active politician. Consult CM before appointment.
- **Punchhi Commission (2007):** Give Governor a fixed 5-year tenure. Remove via impeachment by State Assembly, not by arbitrary Presidential recall.
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