Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Select apolitical persons as governors' that was published in Newsband

Select apolitical persons as governors

The National Democratic Alliance government is trying to make some Governors appointed by UPA to quit. This makes it clear that the office of Governor is politicised. In 2004, the United Progressive Alliance government removed some Governors appointed by the regime that preceded it, and the present dispensation wants to follow that precedent.

But in 2010, the Supreme Court ruled that a Governor’s removal is justifiable and there should be good, valid and compelling reasons for such a removal. The power should not be exercised arbitrarily, capriciously or unreasonably.

To avoid such wars of vendetta between current rulers and the past ones, the office of governor should be depoliticized. Only non political persons of high integrity and merit should be posted as governors.

In the last two decades with a rare exception the Governors are persons without merit who had been serving the party or family loyally or had come up through manipulating the system, no tears ought to be shed if the present lot goes too. There could be some criteria for appointments to begin with; then one may expect that there will be less arbitrary removals too

Some fundamental questions like: Is there a need for a Governor? What are his roles? Can it not be performed without a Governor but somebody else? These questions need to be revisited in my view. DMK has been vocal and perhaps the only party which called for abolition of Governor's post even though they did in inconvenient times.

The names of some BJP leaders are doing the rounds for Governor's post for some six or seven States. No doubt they are experienced and knowledgeable. But why not PM Modi make bold to break from the unhealthy past and blaze a new trail by appointing eminent apolitical persons as Governors and disarm his critics in one stroke ?

If Modi goes in for apolitical persons for Governor, he will be hailed as one who depoliticised Governor's office. The 2014 people's mandate is only for Modi. Does he have the party's mandate to usher in apolitical Governors?