Term of Office of Governor
Official heading: “Term of office of Governor.”
- Source edition
- The Constitution of India (as on 1 May 2026)
- Source locator
- Part VI, Article 156, printed pages 70–71
- Last human source-link check
- Not yet checked
- Last human legal review
- Not yet reviewed
AI-assisted source comparisons are noted with the citations below; the check date remains pending until a human confirms the link. The report link opens your email app; you choose whether to send it.
1. In One Sentence
Article 156 provides that the Governor holds office during the pleasure of the President, subject to a normal five-year term and the right to resign.
2. What It Means in Everyday Language
Article 156 defines the tenure of the Governor. Clause (1) incorporates the "doctrine of pleasure", stating that the Governor holds office during the pleasure of the President.
Subject to this pleasure doctrine, Clause (3) provides a standard term of five years from the date the Governor enters upon office. A Governor continues in office, notwithstanding the expiry of five years, until a successor enters upon the office.
Landmark Ruling on Arbitrary Removal: In B.P. Singhal v. Union of India (2010), a 5-judge Constitution Bench held that while the President can remove a Governor without showing cause, the power cannot be exercised arbitrarily, whimsically, or for reasons not germane to the constitutional office (such as a mere change of party in power at the Centre). Such removals are subject to limited judicial review.
3. Practical Illustrative Example
A newly elected Union government seeks to summarily dismiss all sitting Governors appointed by the outgoing regime.
4. Important Limits, Qualifications & Exceptions
Article 156 balances gubernatorial tenure security with executive accountability.
- Pleasure doctrine: President holds the power to withdraw pleasure under Article 156(1).
- Five-year tenure: Standard statutory duration subject to pleasure doctrine.
- Holdover clause: Prevents gubernatorial vacancy by continuing in office until successor assumes duty.
- Judicial review: B.P. Singhal bars mala fide, arbitrary, or discriminatory removals.
5. Operative Constitutional Text
6. Sources & Historical Assembly Deliberations
Assembly quotations are withheld until wording, dates, and attribution have been checked against the primary record.
- •Government of India (Legislative Department, Ministry of Law and Justice) • Part VI, Article 156, printed pages 70–71 • Human source-link check pending
Primary PDF accessed and transcribed with AI assistance on 14 October 2026. Formatting and amendment annotation markers are omitted; operative wording is retained. This is not human legal review. Later amendments and commencement notifications have not been comprehensively checked.