The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : Governors as watchdogs

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Friday, Jun 17, 2005

Opinion

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Governors as watchdogs

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's statement urging Governors to act as watchdogs (June 16) is interesting. The appointment of Governors is dictated by political considerations, more than anything else. Any new government at the Centre ensures that Governors are changed in the States where rival parties are in power. The UPA Government is not an exception. In such circumstances does not the exhortation that Governors should rise above partisan politics seem a misnomer?

K.P. Ashok Kumar,
Thiruvananthapuram

President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam's sane call to Governors to keep away from nurturing `affiliations' and to be loyal to the Constitution is not going to bring any change. The political appointees of the Centre are left with no choice but to dance to the tune of their patrons. Unless they have a fixed tenure and are either elected by the State Legislatures the way the President is elected by Parliament and the Assemblies, or selected and posted by a high power committee comprising topmost constitutional authorities, an impartial Governor will remain a fictional character.

M.C. Joshi,
Lucknow

That the President and the Prime Minister have to urge Governors to rise above partisan politics is a sad commentary on the way they have been functioning. Persons holding constitutional offices ought to know the legal and ethical boundaries within which to function. Whimsical or patently partisan decisions of Governors should invite impeachment or some such rap on the knuckles, if accountability is to be ensured.

A. Umakantha Sarma,
Mountain View, California

While Mr. Kalam has reminded the Governors of their dharma, the Prime Minister has given them a four-point mantra. Coming from the nation's conscience-keepers, the advice, if followed, will give a facelift to the rubber stamp image of the Governors. But for that to happen, the oft-repeated drama of shuffling Governors whenever there is a change of guard at 7, Race Course Road, should end.

Kala Kalyanram,
Chennai

Just as the Prime Minister was giving District Collectors lessons in impartial administration and expressing concern over frequent transfers last month, the Bihar Governor transferred two District Magistrates. Now, both our President and Prime Minister appealed to the Governors to discharge their constitutional duties impartially. Only a few days ago, did the President give his express approval at midnight, while on a foreign tour, to dissolve the Bihar Assembly. Such yawning gap between preaching and practice makes people cynical.

L.K. Kandpal,
New Delhi

It is a pity that the President and the Prime Minister have to give seasoned, elder statesmen lessons in administration. The solution to partisan politics lies in appointing apolitical Governors.

Jose K. Thomas,
Kulanada, Kerala

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