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Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi transferred to Bengal

March 05, 2026 4 min read Polity & Governance GS Paper 2
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What Happened

  • President Droupadi Murmu transferred Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi to West Bengal, replacing C.V. Ananda Bose who resigned.
  • Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar was given additional charge of Tamil Nadu.
  • The reshuffle affected nine states and Union Territories, including appointments of Lt. Gen. Syed Ata Hasnain as Bihar Governor and Taranjit Singh Sandhu as Delhi Lieutenant Governor.
  • West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed displeasure, stating the Union Home Minister did not consult her as per established convention.
  • Ravi's nearly four-year tenure in Tamil Nadu was marked by frequent clashes with the DMK government over issues including withholding assent to state legislation.

Static Topic Bridges

Constitutional Provisions on Governor Appointment and Removal (Articles 155-156)

Article 155 of the Indian Constitution provides that the Governor of a State shall be appointed by the President by warrant under his hand and seal. Article 156 stipulates that the Governor holds office "during the pleasure of the President," which effectively means the Union Council of Ministers can recommend removal or transfer at any time without assigning reasons.

  • The Governor's term is five years under Article 156(2), but this is subject to the President's pleasure doctrine.
  • The President (acting on the advice of the Council of Ministers under Article 74) can remove a Governor without following any formal procedure or assigning reasons.
  • Article 157 prescribes qualifications: must be a citizen of India and at least 35 years of age.
  • Article 158 bars the Governor from holding any office of profit and from being a member of Parliament or State Legislature.

Connection to this news: Ravi's transfer exemplifies the "pleasure of the President" doctrine under Article 156, as the Centre reshuffled multiple governors without requiring any formal proceedings or stated reasons.

Sarkaria and Punchhi Commission Recommendations on Governor's Role

The Sarkaria Commission (1983) and the Punchhi Commission (2007) made significant recommendations to reform the office of the Governor. The Sarkaria Commission recommended that the appointment of a Governor should be made in consultation with the State Chief Minister, and governors should normally be allowed to complete their full five-year term. The Punchhi Commission went further, recommending that Governors should be distinguished individuals preferably from outside the state, should not be deeply involved in politics, and their removal should be based on an impartial process rather than the discretion of the Central Government.

  • Sarkaria Commission: 247 recommendations in a 1600-page report submitted in 1988; favoured status quo in Centre-State relations with reforms in governor appointment.
  • Punchhi Commission: 273 recommendations in a seven-volume report delivered in 2010; recommended fixed five-year tenure and limited discretionary powers.
  • Both commissions cautioned against using the Governor's office for partisan political purposes.
  • The Supreme Court in B.P. Singhal v. Union of India (2010) held that the President's power to remove a Governor is not absolute and cannot be exercised in an arbitrary manner.

Connection to this news: The reshuffle of multiple governors, particularly Ravi's transfer ahead of Bengal elections, raises questions about whether the spirit of these commission recommendations regarding non-partisan gubernatorial appointments is being followed.

Governor-State Government Conflicts: The Question of Assent to Bills

Article 200 of the Constitution gives the Governor options when a Bill is presented: grant assent, withhold assent, or reserve the Bill for the President's consideration. While the Constitution does not prescribe a time limit for the Governor's decision, prolonged withholding of assent has been a persistent source of friction between state governments and governors in India's federal structure.

  • The Supreme Court in the State of Punjab v. Principal Secretary to the Governor of Punjab (2023) ruled that the Governor cannot indefinitely withhold assent to Bills.
  • Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Punjab, and Telangana have seen significant Governor-state government conflicts over assent to Bills in recent years.
  • In Tamil Nadu, Governor Ravi's delay in assenting to bills, including the NEET exemption bill, led to a constitutional impasse with the DMK government.
  • Article 201 allows the Governor to reserve bills for the President's consideration, but this power too has been a subject of debate regarding its misuse.

Connection to this news: Ravi's turbulent tenure in Tamil Nadu, marked by persistent conflicts over legislative assent and public disagreements with the elected government, was a key backdrop to his transfer.

Key Facts & Data

  • R.N. Ravi served as Tamil Nadu Governor from September 2021 to March 2026 (nearly 4 years).
  • The March 2026 reshuffle affected 9 states and UTs: West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Delhi, Telangana, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, Nagaland, and Ladakh.
  • Key appointments: R.N. Ravi (West Bengal), Syed Ata Hasnain (Bihar), Taranjit Singh Sandhu (Delhi LG), Shiv Pratap Shukla (Telangana), Jishnu Dev Varma (Maharashtra).
  • Article 155: Governor appointed by the President; Article 156: Holds office during the pleasure of the President.
  • Sarkaria Commission (1988): Recommended consultation with State CM before appointing Governor.
  • Punchhi Commission (2010): Recommended fixed five-year tenure and apolitical appointees.