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The Governor of Rajasthan

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The Governor of Rajasthan (State Executive)

[!IMPORTANT] The Governor is the Constitutional Head of the State. Articles 153 to 167 of the Indian Constitution deal with the State Executive, which includes the Governor, the Chief Minister, the Council of Ministers, and the Advocate General of the State.

1. Constitutional Provisions

  • Article 153: There shall be a Governor for each state. The 7th Constitutional Amendment (1956) facilitated the appointment of the same person as a Governor for two or more states.
  • Article 154: Executive power of the state is vested in the Governor.
  • Article 155: Appointment of Governor is done by the President of India.
  • Article 156: Term of office тАФ Pleasure of the President (Usually 5 years).
  • Article 157 & 158: Qualifications and conditions of office. Must be 35+ years old and a citizen of India.
  • Article 159: Oath or affirmation (administered by the Chief Justice of the State High Court).
  • Article 161: Pardoning powers (limited compared to the President).

2. Powers and Functions

CategoryKey Functions
ExecutiveAppoints CM, Ministers, RPSC members, Advocate General, State Election Commissioner.
LegislativeSummons/prorogues Assembly, Dissolves Assembly, Addresses the first session, Ordinance Power (Art 213).
FinancialMoney bills require prior recommendation. Constitutes State Finance Commission.
JudicialConsultation for High Court judge appointments, Appoints District Judges.
DiscretionarySelection of CM during hung assembly, recommendation for President's Rule (Art 356).

3. Rajasthan Specific Historical Facts

ProfileNameTenure/Detail
First GovernorGurmukh Nihal Singh1956тАУ1962 (Longest serving)
Current GovernorHaribhau BagadeSince July 2024
First Woman GovernorPratibha Patil2004тАУ2007 (Later became President)
Passed away in officeDarbara SinghFirst to die in office (1998)
Other Women GovernorsMargaret Alva, Prabha RauNotable figures
Rajpramukh (Pre-1956)Sawai Man Singh II1949тАУ1956

4. President's Rule in Rajasthan (Article 356)

Rajasthan has witnessed President's Rule four times since its formation:

No.PeriodGovernorChief MinisterReason
1st13 Mar 1967 тАУ 26 Apr 1967SampurnanandMohan Lal SukhadiaHung Assembly (Indecisive election)
2nd29 Apr 1977 тАУ 22 Jun 1977Vedpal Tyagi (Acting)Haridev JoshiDismissal of State Govt by Center
3rd16 Feb 1980 тАУ 5 Jun 1980Raghukul TilakBhairon Singh ShekhawatDismissal of State Govt by Center
4th15 Dec 1992 тАУ 3 Dec 1993M. Chenna ReddyBhairon Singh ShekhawatPost-Babri Masjid demolition unrest

[!TIP] The fourth instance was the longest (nearly one year), while the first was the shortest (44 days).