Satya Pal Malik takes oath as J&K Guv

While Jammu and Kashmir Assembly remains in suspended animation, a change of guard took place at the Raj Bhawan as Satya Pal Malik took oath as the 13th Governor of the State, replacing veteran former bureaucrat NN Vohra, who served for more than two terms.

Malik was administered the oath of office by Chief Justice of J&K High Court Gita Mittal at a simple function on the sprawling lawns of the Raj Bhawan here. The warrant of appointment of SP Malik was read out by Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam.

Former chief ministers Farooq Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti, legislators and Minister of State in PMO Dr Jitendra Singh were among over 400 guests present at the ceremony.

Malik, a career politicians, poet and author replaced the longest serving Vohra, who was given a two-month extension after completing 10 years as the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir. Malik was Bihar Governor before he was shifted to Srinagar Raj Bhawan. A former BJP leader, union minister and parliamentarian, he has also served as Orissa Governor.

On Wednesday, he was received at Srinagar airport by Advisors of Governor, Chief Secretary and other senior officers from divisional administration, police, army and other security agencies.

Sources said that Vohra was expecting to continue in office through September before setting up a firm environment for conduct of local body and panchayati elections in the embattled state.

Vohra was in New Delhi with his ailing wife at a hospital for routine check-up when he was informed about his replacement. He had flown to the national capital after presiding over a crucial meeting on Kashmir’s water bodies.

Soon after taking oath Malik said that reinforcing good governance and delivering results urgently on the developmental front must be the topmost priority of the State administration at all levels to bring J&K back on course. He said rapid people centric development was the need of the hour.

An official spokesman said that after assuming office Governor convened the first official meeting with his Advisors BB Vyas, K Vijay Kumar and Khurshid Ahmad Ganai and Chief Secretary B V R Subrahmanyam at Raj Bhavan and took first-hand appraisal of the functioning of Governor’s Administration. To ensure a tangible turnaround, Governor enumerated the measures to be taken to give a fresh push to the “Mission on Delivering Development” and “Mission on Good Governance”.

He said the state administration shall have to function with efficiency, speed and accountability and deliver quick results on the ground on developmental and governance fronts.

He said the Grievance Redressal mechanism shall have to be further strengthened and expanded to ensure that people see the desired results on the ground within the shortest possible time.

“Focus has to be on working through transparency and consultation to promote a culture of excellence in governance characterized by integrity and highest standards of deliverance,” he said and added that judicious and productive use of resources has to be ensured so that the funds are utilized according to priorities keeping in mind the larger public good and requirement of basic amenities.

Governor said a clear message shall have to go down the line that the focus should be on development on all fronts and reaching out to the people to meet their basic needs. He prioritized the health, education, rural development and social welfare sectors for focussed attention.

Governor also called for ensuring that the major development programs and projects and flagship schemes are given a renewed push and completed on time. PMDP projects must be given priority so that projects such as AIIMSs, IIT, IIM, Ring Roads and others are completed on time. Cleaning up the iconic Dal Lake must also be given topmost priority and the lake should be restored to its pristine glory. He said completing all such projects which are hanging fire for quite some time due to varied reasons should be the priority and these projects must be completed within a set timeframe. Governor also met MOS in PM’s Office Dr Jatindra Singh who extended warm greetings to Malik.