New Delhi on Tuesday appointed the incumbent Governor of Bihar, Satya Pal Malik as the new Governor of Jammu and Kashmir to replace N N Vohra who was asked to continue after completion of his second term in June until the end of the ongoing Amarnath pilgrimage.
The President of India, Ram Nath Kovind ordered the appointment of Malik, who hails from Meerut in Uttar Pradesh, as Governor of Jammu and Kashmir.
“Satya Pal Malik, Governor of Bihar is transferred and appointed as Governor of Jammu & Kashmir,” said a Rashtrapati Bhavan communiqué issued Tuesday evening.
Malik’s new appointment will take effect from the date he assumes charge.
He is likely to be sworn in on August 23.
Satyapal Malik will arrive in Srinagar by chartered flight at 3.30 pm on August 22.
Vohra has resided in the state’s Raj Bhavan for more than ten years since June 2008.
The position of J&K Governor was created in 1965 through a constitutional amendment, before which date the state’s constitutional head was known as Sadar-i-Riyasat.
This is the first time in the state’s history when a career politician has been chosen by New Delhi for the assignment considered sensitive and critical.
The decision to appoint Malik comes as the state under Governor’s rule after collapse of the PDP-BJP coalition government on June 19.
Malik, who was appointed as Governor of Bihar last year, was also saddled with additional charge of Odisha Governorship between March 21 and May 28 this year. He served as the Union Minister of State, Parliamentary Affairs and Tourism and has held many important positions in central and state governments.
He was a member parliament in Rajya Sabha for two terms and a Lok Sabha member from 1989 to 1990.
The veteran politician, who has a socialist background, was also a member of Uttar Pradesh Assembly from 1974 to 1977. In his political career, Malik has also been the chairman and member of many parliamentary committees.
A law graduate, Malik has held the position of BJP national vice-president and also remained affiliated with Congress party, Samajwadi Party, Janta Dal and Bharatiya Kranti Dal.
Malik will be the 13th Governor of J&K.
Others who held the constitutional position were, Karan Singh (March 30 1965 to May 15 1967), Bhagwan Sahay (May 15,1967 to July 3, 1973), Lakshmi Kant Jha (July 3, 1973 to Feb 22, 1981), B K Nehru (Feb 22, 1981 to April 26, 1984), Jagmohan (Apr 26, 1984 to July 1989), K. V. Krishna Rao(July 1989 to Jan 19, 1990), Jagmohan (second term from Jan 19, 1990 to May 26,1990),Girish Chandra Saxena (May 26, 1990 to March 12, 1993), K. V. Krishna Rao (Mar 12, 1993 to May 02, 1998), Girish Chandra Saxena (second term May 2 ,1998 to June 04, 2003), S.K. Sinha (Jun 04 2003 to June 25, 2008) and NN Vohra (June 25, 2008 to till date).
Justice J N Wazir and Justice V Khalid also served as acting Governors of J&K for brief periods.