2.1.2. Conditions for Appointment of the Governor and his Office

Qualifications: The Constitution lays down the following two qualifications for the appointment of a person as a Governor:

♤ He should be a citizen of India

♤ He should have completed the age of 35 years.

The Constitution also lays down the following conditions for Governor’s office:

♤ The Governor cannot be a member of either House of the Parliament or any of the State Legislatures.

♤ If a Member of a Legislature is appointed as the Governor of any State/s, he shall immediately cease to be a Member upon such appointment.

♤ The Governor cannot hold any office of profit.

♤ The Parliament determines the emoluments and allowances payable to him and also his free official residence. These emoluments and allowances should not be diminished during his term of office.

♤ The Chief Justice of the concerned High Court administers the oath of office to the Governor of that State. In the absence of the Chief Justice of the High Court, the oath is administered by the senior-most available Judge of the concerned High Court.

♤ The Governor can be transferred from one State to another by the President. He can resign any time by addressing his resignation to the President. The Legislature of a State does not have any role in removing the Governor from his post.

In case, the same person is appointed as the Governor of two or more states, the President of India determines the emoluments and allowances payable to him, in a proportion, among the States concerned.