Archive · 20 Sep 2025
Nariman: Healthy Conventions, Not Amendments, Needed for Governor's Role
Imagine the President of a country is like a principal of the whole school, and the Governors are like the principals of each state.
Justice Nariman thinks the rules for these principals (Governors) need to be better.
He says, unlike the President, Governors can be easily removed, potentially influenced by the central government.
Nariman suggests using traditions and emphasizing the Governors' oath to serve the state and Constitution, rather than changing the written rules (constitutional amendments), is a better approach.
He believes these conventions can ensure the Governors act fairly, even when they're chosen by the central government.
He also hopes that the courts can set rules or guidelines on the timing of the governor's decisions to safeguard against inaction and ensure fair governance.
Former Justice Nariman spoke at NUJS Law University about the role of state governors.
He suggested healthy constitutional conventions could resolve issues of political bias, not amendments.
Nariman contrasted the President's protections with the governor's, who serve at the pleasure of the President.
He emphasized the importance of the governor's oath and judicial review to ensure fair governance.
Nariman hopes political parties would develop conventions to protect the neutrality of the governor's office.
- Who
- Former Supreme Court Justice Rohinton Nariman
- What
- Addressed the role of state governors and suggested healthy constitutional conventions could resolve issues of political bias.
- When
- September 19
- Where
- NUJS Law University
- Why
- To discuss the role of state governors in the Indian constitution.
- Event
- M K Nambiar Endowment Lecture
- Location
- NUJS Law University
- Date
- September 19
- Speaker
- Rohinton Nariman
- Speaker's Title
- Former Supreme Court Justice