Governor: Role and Functions

By Mayank Yadav|Updated : May 4th, 2021

The Governor is the De Jure executive head at the state level. His position is analogous to that of the President at the centre. It is a constitutional post and he is constitutional head of the state. In this article we will discuss the appointment, role and function of the governor. Have a look on it!! 

The Governor

  1. The Governor is appointed by the president.
  2. To be appointed as the Governor of any state or two or more states as a person
    (a) Should be a citizen of India.
    (b) And should have attained 35 years of age.
  1. He should not hold any office of profit as well.
  2. Like the President, the governor is also entitled to a number of immunities and privileges. During his term of office, he is immune from any criminal proceedings, even in respect of his personal acts.
  3. The oath - is administered by the chief justice of the corresponding state high court and in case he’s absent, the senior-most judge of that particular court.
  4. He holds office until the pleasure of the President and he offers his resignation to the President. Generally, governor holds office for a term of five years from the date on which he enters upon his office.

Role of the governor

  • All executive actions of the government of a state are formally taken in his name.
  • He appoints the chief minister and other ministers. They also hold office during his pleasure.
  • He appoints the advocate general of a state and determines his remuneration. The advocate general holds office during the pleasure of the governor.
  • He appoints the state election commissioner. However, the state election commissioner can be removed only in the like manner and on the like grounds as a judge of a high court.
  • He appoints the chairman and members of the state public service commission. However, they can be removed only by the president and not by a governor.

Functions of the governor

  • A governor is an integral part of the state legislature. He can summon or prorogue the state legislature and dissolve the state legislative assembly.
  • He nominates one-sixth of the members of the state legislative council.
  • The Governor can withhold the assent to bills, return the bills for reconsideration (if they’re not money bills), and even reserve the bills for consideration by the President. (He can even reserve a money bill for consideration by the President).
  • He can promulgate ordinances when the state legislature is not in session. The ordinances must be approved by the state legislature within six weeks from its reassembly. He can also withdraw an ordinance anytime (Article 213).
  • Money bills can be introduced in the state legislature only with his prior recommendation.
  • He can grant pardons, reprieves, respites, and remissions of punishment or suspend, remit and commute the sentence of any person convicted of any offence against any law relating to a matter to which the executive power of the state extends (Article 161).
  • He is consulted by the president while appointing the judges of the concerned state high court.

Important Articles pertaining to the office of Governor

153 - Governors of states

154 - Executive power of the state

155 - Appointment of Governor

156 - Term of office of Governor

157 - Qualifications for the appointment as the Governor

158 - Conditions of the Governor’s office

159 – Governor’s Oath or Affirmation

161 - Power of the Governor to grant pardons and others

163 – Aid and Advice by the Council of Ministers to the Governor

165 - Advocate-General for the state

200 - Assent to bills (i.e. assent of the Governor to the bills passed by the state legislature)

201 - Bills reserved by the Governor for consideration of the President

213 – Governor’s power to promulgate ordinances

217 – Consultation of Governor by the President in the matter of the appointments of the judges of the High Courts

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