Other States - Rajasthan   

S. K. Singh takes over as Governor

Photo: Gopal Sunger

Welcoming the Head of State: Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje receives the new State Governor, S.K. Singh, on his arrival at the Jaipur airport on Thursday.

JAIPUR: Former diplomat Shilendra Kumar Singh was sworn in as the new Governor of Rajasthan at a simple function in Raj Bhavan here on Thursday. The acting Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court, J.M. Panchal, administered the oath of office to Mr. Singh.

Mr. Singh, shifted from Arunachal Pradesh to Rajasthan, is the 18th Governor of the State. Haryana Govenor A.R. Kidwai was holding the additional charge of Rajasthan since Pratibha Patil resigned to contest the Presidential election in July.

Mr. Singh took the oath in English after the Chief Secretary, D.C. Samant, read out the Presidential warrant for his appointment. He was given a guard of honour by the State police and he took salute and inspected the parade.

Talking to reporters after the brief ceremony, Mr. Singh said Rajasthan was progressing fast and he would focus his attention on water conservation and information technology development. “I am happy to be here,” he said, adding that water supply and desertification would be the areas of concern for him during his tenure in the State.

Among others, Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, Cabinet Ministers, Leader of Opposition Ramnarain Chaudhary, Congress leaders and former Chief Ministers Ashok Gehlot and Jagannath Pahadia, Admiral Madhavendra Singh Shekhawat, Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee president Omen Deori and Mr. Singh’s family members attended the function.

Earlier, Ms. Raje and senior State Government functionaries received Mr. Singh and his wife, Manju Singh, at Sanganer airport here. A 101-strong battalion of Rajasthan Armed Constabulary (RAC) gave him a guard of honour.

Born on January 24, 1932, Mr. Singh began his career in the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) in 1954 after getting his Masters degree in history from Agra University. He studied Persian and international law at Trinity College, University of Cambridge.

Mr. Singh was appointed the Foreign Secretary of India in 1989. He served as India’s longest serving High Commissioner to Pakistan from 1985 to 1989 and was also India’s envoy to Austria, Jordan, Lebanon, Cyprus and Afghanistan.

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