The resignation of two Governors this week and more likely to follow, and the defiant stance of a few of them against the request of the ruling party to step down, has brought back the role and functioning of governors in focus. Few will dispute that despite Supreme Court strictures and strict guidelines on the role of governors, the august office has been abused and trampled on, on many occasions by the ruling parties since Independence.
In recent years both the Congress and the BJP have not had an unblemished record in matters relating to Governors - be it their appointment or the manner in which they have been used to serve their partisan interests.
There are also fundamental questions long unanswered. Do we need the office of the Governor at all? The office is a vestige of the Raj and an anachronism. A white elephant of avoidable pomp and glory with little seeming purpose except used often to offer sinecures to rehabilitate troublesome or useless politicians within the party or to offer plum postings to pliant bureaucrats as quid pro quo after retirement? The Governors are also used more 'as an eye on the wall' to spy on state's rival parties , akin to soft espionage indulged by diplomats posted in foreign countries. And they are most handy to serve the ruling party's interests during a political impasse or crisis when rival parties stake claim to form the government when they fall short of numbers.
It may be prudent to once again review the necessity and role of governors in the modern state with the kind of politics of accountability and awareness that has come about in the wake of Anna Hazare's movement which is seeking autonomy for an increasing number of institutions. And the focus now shifting to growth, development and good governance and less government, the new 'Modi mantra'.
If it is found that the governor is a necessary adjunct in today's political situation, then the very first step should be to make his selection, appointment, transfer and removal transparent, fair and independent of the ruling party.
It has to be modeled after the selection process for the Lokpal, made by a high-profile panel of eminent people from the ruling party, opposition, judiciary etc so that he acts fairly, without fear, favour or pressure and upholds the constitution in letter and spirit.
There have been numerous instances when governors have seemed to bend over backwards to please political interests and as many instances of the ruling party unceremoniously sacking them when they did not toe the line.
On the other hand, if it is just a ceremonial appendage, costing the exchequer astronomical sums, serving no useful purpose, then in the spirit of Mr Modi's maiden speech in Parliament, where the emphasis was on eliminating poverty, and offering healthcare to the millions who cannot afford it, and creating quality primary and secondary education, then this may be a good time to jettison that post of unwanted and unseemly luxury of retired politicians who do nothing besides the rituals of inaugurating all kinds of sundry events, and when the situation demands do readily the unsavoury biddings of their masters in Delhi.
That money can be put to good use in uplifting the quality of life of our poor people.
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