Archive · 17 Sep 2026
Five Governors Remain Beyond Terms as Patel Case Reaches Court
Mangubhai Patel is the governor of Madhya Pradesh.
His five-year term ended on July 8.
He is still doing the job because the rules allow a governor to continue until a replacement takes over.
Someone filed a petition asking the court to give the governor’s responsibilities to the chief justice.
The Madhya Pradesh High Court has not announced its decision yet.
Four other governors have also completed five years but remain in office.
The BJP is discussing whether some governors should be replaced.
Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, and Uttarakhand may get new governors.
A petition concerning Madhya Pradesh Governor Mangubhai Patel’s completed tenure is pending before the Madhya Pradesh High Court.
The petition asks that the governor’s responsibilities be handed to the chief justice, and the court has reserved its judgment.
Patel’s five-year tenure ended on July 8, but he continues in office under the stated rules.
Governors Anandiben Patel, Acharya Devvrat, Thawarchand Gehlot, and Lieutenant General Gurmeet Singh have also completed five years in office.
The BJP is considering governor appointments, with Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, and Uttarakhand potentially receiving new governors.
- Who
- Madhya Pradesh Governor Mangubhai Patel and four other governors are involved; a petitioner has approached the Madhya Pradesh High Court.
- What
- A petition challenges the continuation of Mangubhai Patel after his five-year tenure and asks that the chief justice take over the governor’s responsibilities.
- When
- Patel’s tenure ended on July 8; the High Court has reserved its judgment.
- Where
- The petition is before the Madhya Pradesh High Court in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
- Why
- The petition concerns Patel continuing in office after his five-year term, while the stated rules allow governors to remain until successors take over.
Petitioners’ Position
Continuation Under Existing Rules
Whether Patel should continue
Petitioners’ Position
The petition asks the court to transfer the governor’s responsibility to the chief justice after Patel’s five-year tenure ended.
Continuation Under Existing Rules
The stated rules allow a governor to remain in office after five years until a new governor is appointed and takes over.
Need for a replacement
Petitioners’ Position
The petition indicates that Patel’s completed term should lead to a change in who performs the governor’s responsibilities.
Continuation Under Existing Rules
The current governor continues because no new incumbent has taken over, according to the article.
- Petitioner’s request
- Hand over the governor’s responsibility to the chief justice.
- Court status
- The Madhya Pradesh High Court has reserved judgment.
- Mangubhai Patel’s tenure
- Ended on July 8.
- Other governors named
- Anandiben Patel, Acharya Devvrat, Thawarchand Gehlot, and Lieutenant General Gurmeet Singh.
- Stated rule
- A governor remains in office until a successor takes over.
- Possible changes
- Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, and Uttarakhand may receive new governors.
- Appointment discussions
- The BJP has begun considering governor appointments; the RSS is described as playing an important role.