Question

Which of the statement(s) is/are correct about the Governor of an Indian State?

(i) The Governor is appointed by the President of India.

(ii) The Governor holds office for a fixed term of five years and cannot be removed before that.

(iii) The Governor acts as a constitutional head of the state and functions on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers.

(iv) A Governor may simultaneously be appointed for more than one state.

• A. Options (ii) and (iii) are correct
• B. Options (i), (iii) and (iv) are correct
• C. Options (i) and (ii) are correct
• D. All of the above

Answer 1

Answer:

B. Options (i), (iii) and (iv) are correct

(i) The Governor is appointed by the President of India.

• According to Article 155 of the Indian Constitution, the Governor of a state is appointed by the President by a warrant under his hand and seal.

• The Governor is the appointee and representative of the central government.
  

(iii) The Governor acts as a constitutional head of the state and functions on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers.

• Similar to the President at the central level, the Governor is the de jure or constitutional head of the state.

• He/she performs his/her duties based on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers, headed by the Chief Minister.
  

(iv) A Governor may simultaneously be appointed for more than one state.

• The 7th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1956, added a provision that the same person can be appointed as Governor for two or more states.

• In such a case, the salary and allowances payable to the Governor are allocated between the states in such proportion as the President may by order determine.
  

• While the normal term of office for a Governor is five years, he/she holds the office during the pleasure of the President.

• This means the President can remove a Governor at any time, without providing a reason.

• There have been instances where Governors were removed before the completion of their five-year term.