The Governor is appointed by the President and holds office during the:
Pleasure of the President
The Governor does not have a constitutionally guaranteed fixed tenure of five years.
The constitutional provisions relating to tenure, resignation and removal are mainly contained in:
Article 156
The key principle is:
Governor → President appoints, President can remove, Governor resigns to President
The Governor's tenure and removal are primarily governed by:
Article 156
Article 156 provides that:
The Governor's normal term is:
Five years
However, this does not mean that the Governor is guaranteed a five-year tenure.
The Governor holds office during the:
Pleasure of the President
Therefore:
Five years = Normal term
but:
Pleasure of President = Actual constitutional tenure
The Governor may resign from office at any time.
The resignation must be addressed to the:
President of India
Therefore:
Governor
↓
Resignation Letter
↓
President
The Constitution does not require the Governor to give a specific reason for resignation.
4. Governor's Removal
The Governor can be removed by the:
President
The Constitution does not prescribe a formal impeachment procedure for the Governor.
Therefore:
Governor ≠ Impeachment
Unlike the President, the Governor is not removed through an impeachment process.
5. Pleasure of the President
The expression:
"Pleasure of the President"
is the constitutional basis for the Governor's removal.
The President can remove the Governor before completion of the normal five-year term.
However, the Governor's office is constitutional in nature, and the power of removal is not intended to be exercised in an arbitrary or politically improper manner.
6. Is Governor's Five-Year Term Guaranteed?
No.
The Governor's normal term is five years, but the Governor may leave office earlier because of:
Resignation
Removal by the President
Other constitutional circumstances
Therefore:
Five-year term ≠ Guaranteed tenure
7. Can Governor Be Removed Before Five Years?
Yes.
Since the Governor holds office during the pleasure of the President, the President can remove the Governor before completion of five years.
Normal Term
↓
Five Years
↓
But subject to
President's Pleasure
↓
Removal possible before 5 years
8. Is Parliamentary Approval Required for Removal?
No.
The Constitution does not require:
Parliamentary impeachment
Approval of Parliament
Supreme Court proceedings
for removal of a Governor.
The removal is effected by the:
President
9. Can President Remove Governor Without Impeachment?
Yes.
The Governor's removal is fundamentally different from the President's removal.
President
Removed through:
Impeachment by Parliament
under Article 61.
Governor
Removed by:
President
under the constitutional arrangement of Article 156.
10. Grounds for Removal
The Constitution does not provide a detailed statutory list of grounds for removal of a Governor.
The Governor holds office during the pleasure of the President.
However, constitutional conventions and judicial principles require the office to be treated as:
A constitutional office
rather than as an ordinary political appointment.
Removal should therefore not be understood as an unrestricted political power.
11. Can Governor Be Removed for Political Reasons?
The issue has been the subject of constitutional debate.
A change in the Union Government does not by itself provide a constitutional reason to remove every Governor.
The Governor is expected to function as an:
Impartial Constitutional Authority
and not as a political representative of the Union Government.
12. B.P. Singhal v. Union of India — 2010
B.P. Singhal v. Union of India
This is the most important Supreme Court judgment concerning:
Removal of Governors
The Supreme Court held that although the Governor holds office during the pleasure of the President, the power of removal cannot be exercised in an:
Arbitrary, capricious or unreasonable manner.
A change in the Union Government or political considerations alone cannot justify arbitrary removal.
The judgment is therefore important for understanding:
Pleasure Doctrine + Constitutional Limitations
13. Pleasure Doctrine Is Not Absolute
The expression:
"Pleasure of the President"
does not mean that the President has an unlimited or completely arbitrary power to remove a Governor.
The Supreme Court in B.P. Singhal recognised that constitutional power must be exercised:
Fairly
Reasonably
In accordance with constitutional principles
Thus:
Pleasure ≠ Absolute Discretion
14. Governor and Change of Union Government
A particularly important issue is what happens when a new Union Government comes to power.
A new government cannot simply assume:
"Our government has changed, therefore all Governors must resign."
Governors are constitutional office-holders.
Their removal must comply with:
Constitutional limitations
15. Governor Asking to Resign
A political controversy may arise when the Union Government asks a Governor to resign.
The important distinction is:
Voluntary Resignation
The Governor chooses to resign and submits resignation to the President.
Removal
The Governor does not resign voluntarily and is removed by the President.
Therefore:
Request to Resign ≠ Constitutional Removal
16. Successor and Continuity
A Governor continues in office until the successor enters upon office.
Therefore:
Governor's Term Ends
↓
Successor Not Yet in Office
↓
Existing Governor Continues
↓
Successor Enters Office
This prevents a constitutional vacuum.
17. Reappointment
A Governor may be appointed again after completing a term.
The Constitution does not impose a general prohibition on:
Reappointment
The same person may also serve as Governor of:
Two or more States
subject to constitutional arrangements.
18. Governor After Resignation
Once the Governor resigns:
The resignation is addressed to the President.
The Governor ceases to hold office according to the constitutional process.
The office may then be filled by:
Appointment of a new Governor
Additional constitutional arrangements for discharge of functions
19. Temporary Vacancy
A vacancy in the office of Governor can arise because of:
Resignation
Removal
Death
Completion of tenure
Other circumstances creating a vacancy
The Constitution provides mechanisms for dealing with the Governor's functions during such situations.
20. Additional Charge
When necessary, the President may make arrangements for another Governor to discharge the functions of the Governor of a State.
For example:
Governor's Office Vacant
↓
President makes arrangement
↓
Another Governor may discharge
functions
↓
Until regular appointment
This ensures:
Continuity of constitutional administration
21. Governor's Removal vs President's Removal
This is an important UPSC comparison.
Governor President
Article 156 Article 61
Removed by President Removed by Parliament through impeachment
No impeachment Impeachment required
Holds office during President's pleasure Fixed constitutional removal procedure
Resigns to President Resignation addressed to Vice-President
22. Governor's Resignation vs President's Resignation
Governor
Resignation is addressed to:
President
President
Resignation is addressed to:
Vice-President
This is a common UPSC Prelims distinction.
23. Governor's Term vs Chief Minister's Term
The Governor has:
Normal five-year term
subject to President's pleasure.
The Chief Minister does not have a constitutionally fixed five-year tenure.
The Chief Minister continues as long as the government enjoys the confidence of the:
Legislative Assembly
Therefore:
Governor → President's pleasure
Chief Minister → Legislative confidence
24. Governor's Removal and Federalism
The removal power is controversial because the Governor is appointed by the:
Union
but functions as the:
Constitutional Head of a State
This creates a potential tension between:
Union authority + State autonomy
Therefore, arbitrary removal of Governors can affect:
Federalism
Political neutrality
Centre-State relations
Institutional independence
25. Sarkaria Commission
The Sarkaria Commission examined the role of the Governor in Centre-State relations.
It recommended that the Governor should be:
An eminent person
Detached from active politics
Impartial
Independent in constitutional functioning
The Commission also emphasised that the Governor should not be treated as:
An agent of the Union Government
26. Punchhi Commission
The Punchhi Commission also examined issues concerning the Governor.
It emphasised:
Constitutional neutrality
Federalism
Limited discretion
Institutional independence
Clearer conventions
The broader objective is:
Cooperative Federalism
27. Can Governor Be Removed by State Legislature?
No.
The State Legislature does not have the constitutional power to remove the Governor.
The Governor is appointed by and holds office during the pleasure of the:
President
Therefore:
State Legislature → Cannot remove Governor
28. Can Supreme Court Remove Governor?
No.
The Supreme Court does not exercise the constitutional power of removing a Governor.
However, courts can review the legality or constitutionality of governmental action concerning the Governor.
Therefore:
Judicial Review ≠ Power to Remove Governor
29. Can Governor Resign to Chief Minister?
No.
The Governor's resignation is addressed to the:
President
Not:
Chief Minister
Prime Minister
Chief Justice of the High Court
Speaker
30. Governor — Removal and Resignation Flow
GOVERNOR
↓
Article 156
↓
┌────────────┴────────────┐
↓ ↓
Resignation Removal
↓ ↓
Governor writes to President
President ↓
↓ President's
Resignation constitutional
power
31. UPSC Prelims Facts
Governor's tenure is governed mainly by Article 156.
Governor normally has a five-year term.
Governor holds office during the pleasure of the President.
Governor can be removed before completion of five years.
Governor resigns by writing addressed to the President.
Governor is not removed through impeachment.
State Legislature cannot remove the Governor.
President can remove the Governor.
Parliamentary approval is not required for removal.
Governor continues in office until the successor enters upon office.
A Governor may be reappointed.
One person may serve as Governor of two or more States.
B.P. Singhal v. Union of India (2010) is an important case on removal of Governors.
Pleasure of the President is not an unlimited or arbitrary power.
A change in the Union Government does not automatically justify removal of a Governor.
32. UPSC Prelims Traps
Trap 1
"Governor has a guaranteed five-year tenure."
False
The Governor holds office during the pleasure of the President.
Trap 2
"Governor can be removed by impeachment."
False
There is no impeachment procedure for removal of a Governor.
Trap 3
"Governor resigns to the Chief Minister."
False
The resignation is addressed to the:
President
Trap 4
"State Legislature can remove the Governor."
False
The President has the constitutional power of removal.
Trap 5
"Governor can be removed only after completing five years."
False
The President can remove the Governor before completion of the normal term.
Trap 6
"President has completely unrestricted power to remove a Governor."
False
The Supreme Court in B.P. Singhal held that the power cannot be exercised arbitrarily or capriciously.
Trap 7
"Change in Union Government automatically requires Governors to resign."
False
A Governor cannot be removed merely because there is a change in the Union Government.
Trap 8
"Governor's resignation is addressed to the Vice-President."
False
The Governor resigns by writing to the:
President
33. Quick Revision
ARTICLE 156
↓
Governor's Term
↓
Normal Term = 5 Years
↓
But:
Pleasure of President
↓
┌───────────────┴────────────────┐
↓ ↓
Resignation Removal
↓ ↓
To President By President
↓
No Impeachment
↓
Subject to Constitutional
Limitations
34. Article Memory Trick
Remember:
153 → Governor's Office
155 → Appointment
156 → Term + Removal + Resignation
161 → Pardoning Power
163 → Aid and Advice
164 → Council of Ministers
Therefore:
156 = Governor's Tenure
35. Mains Perspective
The Governor's removal mechanism reflects the constitutional balance between:
Union Appointment + State Constitutional Role
The pleasure doctrine provides flexibility to the President, but unrestricted removal could undermine:
Federalism
Political neutrality
Institutional independence
Constitutional governance
The Supreme Court's decision in B.P. Singhal is therefore significant because it establishes that:
Constitutional discretion cannot be converted into arbitrary power.
The Governor's office requires:
Security of Constitutional Position + Accountability + Political Neutrality
36. Way Forward
Follow Constitutional Principles
Removal should not be based merely on political disagreement.
Preserve Neutrality
Governors should remain detached from active party politics.
Strengthen Conventions
Clear conventions should govern appointment, tenure and removal.
Protect Federalism
The Union should respect the Governor's role as constitutional head of the State.
Avoid Arbitrary Transfers and Removals
Changes in political leadership should not automatically result in removal of constitutional office-holders.
37. Final Takeaway
The Governor's removal and resignation are primarily governed by:
Article 156
Remember:
Normal term → 5 years
Actual tenure → Pleasure of President
Removal → President
Resignation → Governor writes to President
Impeachment → Not applicable
State Legislature → Cannot remove
The most important judicial principle is:
B.P. Singhal (2010) → Pleasure of President does not mean arbitrary power.
Therefore:
Governor = Five-year normal term + Presidential pleasure + No impeachment + Resignation to President