Governor of Uttaranchal

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Governor of Uttaranchal
उत्तरांचल के राज्यपाल
StyleHer Serene Highness The Excellency
Reports toRashtradhyaksh
Government of Vishwamitra
AppointerRashtradhyaksh
on the advice of the Union Council of Ministers and the Privy Council
Term lengthAt His Illustrious and Royal Majesty's pleasure
Constituting instrumentGovernorship Act, 2023
Formation18 September 2016 (first creation)
17 March 2023 (second creation)
First holderSaikat Seal (first creation)
Reshmi Hazarika (second creation)

The Governor of Uttaranchal (Hindi: उत्तरांचल के राज्यपाल) is the vice-regal representative of the Rashtradhyaksh, the federal ruler and the union government in the state and the ceremonial deputy head of state of the state of Uttaranchal who serves as the deputy to the Rajpramukh of Uttaranchal, the hereditary executive ruler of the state. The governor is responsible for assisting the Rajpramukh and the state government in the discharge of the administrative and other functions. The governor is also eligible to act as the head of state in the case of the absence of the Rajpramukh.

The position of the governor first came into existence in 2016 after the creation of the state of North Guwahati. At the time of the first creation, the governor served as the head of state and was responsible for the entire administration of the state. Following Vishwamitra's transition to a monarchy in 2020, the responsibilities rendered by the state governors were transferred to the hereditary rulers known as Rajpramukhs.

In March 2023, the Governorship Bill, 2023 was tabled in the Lok Sabha by Deputy Prime Minister and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Arthur Lacey-Scott-FitzLacia and was subsequently passed by the parliament. The bill received royal assent on 17 March 2023 and thus became an act. Soon after receiving assent, following the provisions laid in the act, the governors of the states were appointed. Princess Bishakha of Purvanchal is the current governor who has been in office since 5 November 2023.

History

First creation (2016–2020)

The first instance of the creation of governors of states can be traced to September 2016 when the position was created in the state after the state's establishment. The administration of the state was placed under a presidential nominee, the governor who was designated as the head of state and de jure executive while the chief minister was the de facto executive and the head of the government.

Saikat Seal was appointed to serve as the first governor on 18 September 2016. He remained in office until resigning from the position after being appointed as the Chief Minister of Greater Guwahati on 1 January 2017 and was succeeded by his elder brother, the Governor of Greater Guwahati Arnab Sil on temporary basis who was assigned the additional charge of the governor of the state.

On 2 February 2020, the role of the governor was replaced by the Governor-General who became the head of the dominion of Purvanchal. Prior to the appointment of the governor-general, all the governors who were appointed were non-local to the state. The position of governor was re-introduced in May 2020. The position remained in use till its abolition on 8 June 2020 following Vishwamitra's transition to a monarchy. The duties of the governor were transferred to the Rajpramukh of Uttaranchal, who is the hereditary executive monarch of the state.

Second creation (2023–present)

The position of the governor came into existence for the second time in 2023 after the passage of the Governorship Act, 2023 by the Lok Sabha and its receiving royal assent on 17 March 2023. Under the provisions of the act, the governors are to be the vice-regal representative of the Rashtradhyaksh and shall serve as deputy to the hereditary state rulers and act as head of state whenever needed. Reshmi Hazarika, who also holds the record of serving as the longest-serving governor in the nation and that of the longest-serving governor of Uttaranchal during the previous creation was appointed to serve as the first governor after the position's re-introduction on 17 March 2023.

Functions and role

The governor served as the head of state of Uttaranchal between 2016 and 2020 having control over large range of responsibilities in the governance of the state. The functions of the governor included:

  • discharging the day-to-day affairs of the state.
  • maintain law and order and general administration of the state.
  • communicate and brief the President about activities in the state.
  • appoint the chief minister and other officials upon approval of the President.

Following the re-introduction of the position in March 2023, the functions of the governor have been reduced to largely ceremonial ones. The governor, being the vice-regal representative of the Rashtradhyaksh, shares their duties and functions with the Rajpramukh and performs the functions whenever needed as asked by the Rashtradhyaksh. The principal duty rendered by the governor is to act as a bridge in the communication between the state government and the central government and to relay information to the central government and to convey information from the central government to that of the state.

List of office-holders

  Acting/caretaker governor or administrator

Titles

  • 8 September 2016 – 7 May 2017: Governor of North Guwahati
  • 7 May 2017 – 29 July 2017: Governor of Uttar Guwahati
  • 29 July 2017 – 2 February 2020: Governor of Uttaranchal
  • 2 February – 13 May 2020: Governor-General of Uttaranchal
  • 13 May – 7 June 2020: Governor of Uttaranchal
  • 17 March 2023 – present: Governor of Uttaranchal

First creation (2016–2020)

No. Portrait Name
(born – died)
Home state Tenure in office Prior positions held Political party Appointed by
From To Time in office
Governors of Uttaranchal (18 September 2016 – 2 February 2020)
Governors of North Guwahati (18 September 2016 – 7 May 2017
Governors of Uttar Guwahati (7 May 2017 – 29 July 2019)
Governors of Uttaranchal (29 July 2019 – 2 February 2020)
1
(1)
File:Saikat-Seal.PNG Saikat Seal
सैकत सील
(born 2006)
North Guwahati 18 September
2016
1 January
2017
105 days Freedom Party Tanishkaa Patranabish
(President)
Served as Minister of State with independent charge for External Affairs prior to appointment. Appointed as the inaugural Governor of North Guwahati following the creation of the state on 18 September 2016. Continued to serve in office until resigning from the position on 1 January 2017 after being appointed as Chief Minister of Greater Guwahati and Leader of the Opposition in the Parliament.
File:Portrait of Arnab Sil.png Arnab Sil
अर्नब सिल
SR
(born 2004)
(Additional charge)
Greater Guwahati 2 January
2017
25 February
2017
54 days Freedom Party Sarala Baishya
(Acting President)
Additional charge; Governor of Greater Guwahati was assigned the additional charge of the Governor of North Guwahati soon after his appointment following the resignation of incumbent governor Saikat Seal. Continued to serve as the interim governor until the permanent appointment of Subhajit Kar on 25 February 2017.
2 Subhajit Kar
सुभाजीत कर
(born 2001)
Central Guwahati 25 February
2017
12 April
2017
46 days

None

Independent Sarala Baishya
(President)
Appointed as Governor of North Guwahati on 25 February 2017 to succeed Arnab Sil, Governor of Greater Guwahati who was holding the additional charge of the Governor of North Guwahati. Tenure marked by the conduction of the first state legislative assembly election on 11 April. Continued to serve in office until resigning from the position on 12 April 2017, a day after being elected as the Chief Minister of Central Guwahati in the state legislative assembly election.
3 Asmi Patranabis
अस्मी पत्रनाबिस
(born 2007)
South Guwahati 12 April
2017
5 July
2017
84 days Secular Party Varuna Sriraya
(President)
Served as Minister of Information and Broadcasting in the outgoing cabinet under Prime Minister Varuna Sriraya. Appointed as the Governor of North Guwahati on 12 April 2017, soon after the resignation of prime minister Varuna Sriraya, succeeding Subhajit Kar who was earlier dismissed as the governor of the state. Subsequently, became the Governor of Uttar Guwahati on 7 May 2017 following the state's name change. Continued to serve as governor of the state until resigning from office on 5 July 2017 to contest election to the Sadasya Sabha and subsequently join the union council of ministers.
4 Kalyan Dey
कल्याण दे
(born 2001)
Brihattar Guwahati 5 July
2017
6 September
2017
63 days Freedom Party Varuna Sriraya
(President)
Governor of Beltola at the time of appointment. Transferred and subsequently appointed to serve as the Governor of Uttar Guwahati on 5 July 2017 to succeed Asmi Patranabis who had earlier resigned as the governor. Indisposed from 16 July till 31 July 2017 during which Reshmi Hazarika, the Governor of Beltola held the additional charge of the governor of the state. Continued to serve in office after resuming the duties until resigning from the position on 6 September 2017 in order to join the union council of ministers.
File:Reshmi Hazarika.jpg Reshmi Hazarika
रेशमी हज़ारिका
(born 2003)
(Additional charge)
Basistha 16 July
2017
31 July
2017
15 days Independent Varuna Sriraya
(President)
Additional charge; Governor of Beltola was assigned the additional charge of the Governor of Uttar Guwahati from 16 July 2017 till 31 July 2017 during the period of indisposition of incumbent governor Kalyan Dey. Relinquished additional charge following the resumption of duties by governor Kalyan Dey.
Rajdeep Deka
राजदीप डेका
(born 2002)
(Additional charge)
Uttar Guwahati 6 September
2017
17 September
2017
11 days Independent Party Varuna Sriraya
(President)
Additional charge; Governor of Madhya Guwahati was assigned the additional charge of the Governor of Uttar Guwahati on 6 September 2017 following the resignation of incumbent governor Kalyan Dey. Continued to serve as the interim governor until the permanent appointment of Bhargab Jyoti Medhi on 17 September 2017.
5
(1)
Bhargab Jyoti Medhi
भार्गब ज्योति मेधी
(born 2001)
Brihattar Guwahati 17 September
2017
25 December
2017
99 days Independent Party Varuna Sriraya
(President)
Appointed as the Governor of Uttar Guwahati on 17 September 2017, days after being dropped from the union council of ministers. Continued to serve as governor of the state until resigning from office on 25 December 2017 to join the union council of ministers.
6
(1)
File:Reshmi Hazarika.jpg Reshmi Hazarika
रेशमी हज़ारिका
(born 2003)
(Additional charge until 23 April 2018)
Basistha 25 December
2017
23 April
2018
1 year, 41 days Independent Varuna Sriraya
(President)
23 April
2018
4 February
2019
Anoushkaa Patranabish
(President)
Governor of Beltola was assigned the additional duties of the Governor of Uttar Guwahati on 25 December 2017 following the resignation of incumbent governor Bhargab Jyoti Medhi. Continued to hold the additional charge until being transferred and subsequently being appointed as the Governor of Uttar Guwahati for a fresh term on 23 April 2018. Remained in office until transferred and subsequently appointed as the Governor of Brihattar Guwahati on 4 February 2019.
7 Sanghita Roy
संघिता रॉय
(born 2006)
Madhya Guwahati 4 February
2019
15 June
2019
131 days Secular Party Varuna Sriraya
(President)
Governor of Beltola at the time of appointment. Transferred and subsequently appointed as the Governor of Uttar Guwahati on 4 February 2019 to succeed incumbent governor Reshmi Hazarika who was transferred as the Governor of Brihattar Guwahati. Continued to serve in office until being dismissed from the position by President Varuna Sriraya on 15 June 2019.
8 File:Ankurjyoti Thakuria.jpg Ankurjyoti Thakuria
अंकुरज्योति ठाकुरिया
(born 2002)
Kamrup Pradesh 15 June
2019
20 July
2019
35 days Congress Varuna Sriraya
(President)
Administrator of Dadara and Kamrup prior to the territory being granted statehood on 15 June 2019. Appointed as Governor of Uttar Guwahati following the dismissal of incumbent governor Sanghita Roy on 15 June 2019. Continued to serve in office until being transferred and appointed as the Governor of Beltola on 20 July 2019.
6
(2)
File:Reshmi Hazarika.jpg Reshmi Hazarika
रेशमी हज़ारिका
(born 2003)
Basistha 20 July
2019
4 September
2019
46 days Independent Varuna Sriraya
(President)
Second term; Governor of Brihattar Guwahati at the time of appointment. Transferred and subsequently appointed as the Governor of Uttar Guwahati on 20 July 2019 to succeed incumbent governor Ankurjyoti Thakuria who was transferred as Governor of Beltola. Became the Governor of Uttaranchal on 29 July 2019 following the state's renaming. Continued to serve in office until being transferred and appointed as the Governor of Madhya Prant for another term on 4 September 2019.
5
(2)
Bhargab Jyoti Medhi
भार्गब ज्योति मेधी
(born 2001)
Purvanchal 4 September
2019
4 October
2019
30 days Congress Varuna Sriraya
(President)
Second term; Appointed as the Governor of Uttaranchal for a second term on 4 September 2019 soon after being dropped from the union council of ministers. During the period as governor of the state, held additional charge of the Governor of Beltola from 29 September 2019 following the resignation of governor Abhiraj Kar. Continued to serve in office until being transferred and permanently appointed as the Governor of Beltola on 4 October 2019.
7 Sampriti Paul
संप्रीति पॉल
(born 2004)
Madhya Prant 4 October
2019
2 February
2020
121 days Congress Varuna Sriraya
(President)
Governor of Kamrup Pradesh at the time of appointment. Transferred and subsequently appointed as the Governor of Uttaranchal on 4 October 2019 to succeed incumbent governor Bhargab Jyoti Medhi who was transferred as the Governor of Beltola. Tenure saw the significant period of imposition of President's rule in the state and the dismissal of chief ministers as members of parliament by the Supreme Court. Appointed Dishant Kashyap as the state's chief minister on 22 November. Continued to serve in office until being succeeded by Reshmi Hazarika as the Governor-General of Uttaranchal on 2 February 2020.
Governors-General of Uttaranchal (2 February – 13 May 2020)
6
(3)
File:Reshmi Hazarika.jpg Reshmi Hazarika
रेशमी हज़ारिका
(born 2003)
Basistha 2 February
2020
13 May
2020
101 days Independent Varuna Sriraya
(President)
Third term; Governor of Madhya Prant at the time of appointment. Transferred and appointed as the first Governor-General after changes in the federal structure and the position on 2 February 2020. Continued to serve in office until being transferred and appointed as the Governor of Beltola for another term on 13 May 2020 and was succeeded by Saikat Seal, the first governor of the state who was appointed for a second term.
Governors of Uttaranchal (13 May – 7 June 2020)
1
(1)
File:Saikat-Seal.PNG Saikat Seal
सैकत सील
(born 2006)
Purvanchal 13 May
2020
7 June
2020
25 days Congress Tanishkaa Patranabish
(President)
Second term; Governor-General of Madhya Prant at the time of appointment. Transferred and subsequently appointed as the Governor of Uttaranchal for a second term on 13 May 2020. Served as the last governor of the state and the last office-holder prior to the position's abolition on 8 June 2020 following the transition to the monarchy.
Position abolished on 8 June 2020

Second creation (2023–present)

The position of the Governor of Uttaranchal was re-established by the Governorship Act, 2023 which received royal assent on 17 March 2023. Following the re-introduction of the position, the governor now serves the vice-regal representative of the Rashtradhyaksh of Vishwamitra. The inaugural holder of the office following the re-introduction is Reshmi Hazarika, a former three-time Governor of Uttaranchal under the republican period, who has been in office since 17 March 2023.

No. Portrait Name
(born – died)
Home state Tenure in office Prior positions held Appointed by Rajpramukh
From To Time in office
Governors of Uttaranchal (17 March 2023 – present)
1 File:Reshmi Hazarika.jpg Tan Sri Datin Sri Utama
Reshmi Hazarika

रेशमी हज़ारिका
SUVB DSUU SUBB DPBM DPMP DPMM UVDS RSP CSP
(born 2003)
Basistha 17 March
2023
Incumbent 1 year, 11 days Varuna Sriraya
(Rashtradhyaksh)
Bishnu Chetry
Mayor of Navanna at the time of appointment. Appointed to serve as the first Governor of Uttaranchal after the position's re-establishment in 2023. Previously served as three-time governor of the state and is also the longest-serving governor of the state.

Trivia

  • Saikat Seal was the first office-holder of the position of the Governor of the state and served in office on two occasions.
  • Reshmi Hazarika, the current governor is the longest-serving governor of the state and the only person to have served as the state's governor for more than three occasions (including the additional terms).
  • Arnab Sil, Rajdeep Deka, and Reshmi Hazarika served as caretaker governors of the state.
  • Among the governors who served on temporary basis, Arnab Sil holds the record of serving in office for the longest tenure with 54 days in office.
  • Asmi Patranabis was the first female governor of the state. Three others, Reshmi Hazarika, Sanghita Roy and Sampriti Paul, had served as the state's governors.
  • Subhajit Kar is the only individual appointed as governor who no prior experience on any position.
  • Rajdeep Deka (acting governor) is the only local to be appointed as the state's governor.

Timeline

Ankurjyoti ThakuriaSanghita RoyBhargab Jyoti MedhiRajdeep DekaReshmi HazarikaPrincess AsmiArnab Sil, Rajpramukh of Madhya PrantSaikat, Crown Prince of Madhya Prant

Time in office

  • Longest serving: Reshmi Hazarika (current; 2 years, 215 days)
  • Shortest serving: Rajdeep Deka (acting) (11 days)

Below is the list of the governors of Madhya Prant by total time in office:

  1. Reshmi Hazarika2 years, 215 days
  2. Sanghita Roy – 131 days
  3. Saikat Seal – 130 days
  4. Bhargab Jyoti Medhi – 129 days
  5. Sampriti Paul – 121 days
  6. Asmi Patranabis – 84 days
  7. Kalyan Dey – 74 days
  8. Arnab Sil (acting) – 54 days
  9. Subhajit Kar – 46 days
  10. Ankurjyoti Thakuria – 35 days
  11. Rajdeep Deka (acting) – 11 days

See also