The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Barnala sworn in Governor for another term

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 21, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Barnala sworn in Governor for another term

Special Correspondent

High Court Chief Justice A.P. Shah administers the oath of office

FRESH TERM: Governor Surjit Singh Barnala (right) being greeted by Chief Justice of the Madras High Court A.P. Shah (left) after the swearing-in ceremony at Raj Bhavan on Tuesday. Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi is also seen. — Photo: S. R. Ra ghunathan

CHENNAI: Surjit Singh Barnala, who assumed office as Governor of Tamil Nadu in November 2004, on Tuesday was sworn in for a fresh term.

Chief Justice of the Madras High Court A.P. Shah administered the oath of office at a simple but well attended function at Raj Bhavan here.

Earlier, Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi received the Governor and his wife Surjit Kaur at the Durbar Hall, venue of the swearing-in ceremony. After the short version of the national anthem and the "Tamil thai vazhthu" were played, Chief Secretary L.K. Tripathy read out the Warrant of Appointment, after obtaining the Governor's permission. Following this, the Chief Justice administered the oath of office. The Governor, who took the oath in the name of God, later signed it. The police band played the national anthem.

The Chief Minister introduced Speaker R. Avudaiappan and the Ministers. The Chief Justice introduced the judges of the High Court, who attended the function.

According to information posted on the Tamil Nadu Government website, Mr. Barnala was born on October 21, 1925 at Ateli, Begpur now in Mohindergarh district of Haryana.

He was instrumental in establishing Guru Nanak Dev University in Amritsar when he was Punjab's Education Minister.

Solitary confinement

During Emergency and after Operation Blue Star, he was kept in solitary confinement for long. He went to jail nine times for various political agitations and spent, in all, three and a half years in jail. In 1985, he was elected president of the Shiromani Akali Dal after the assassination of Sant Longowal. Under his leadership, the Akali Dal won a landslide in Assembly elections and he became Punjab Chief Minister in 1985.

Mr. Barnala was the first Governor of Uttaranchal.

He was the Governor of Andhra Pradesh from January 2003 to November 2, 2004.

He was Tamil Nadu Governor in 1990 but resigned after about a year.

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