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| Governors of Odisha | |
|---|---|
| Post | Governor of Odisha |
| Flagcaption | Flag of Odisha |
| Insigniacaption | Emblem of Odisha |
| Incumbent | Raghubar Das |
| Incumbentsince | 20 May 2023 |
| Style | His Excellency |
| Residence | Raj Bhavan, Odisha |
| Appointer | President of India |
| Termlength | Five years |
| Inaugural | John Austen Hubback |
Governors of Odisha The Governors of Odisha are the constitutional heads of the Indian state of Odisha, representing the President of India in matters relating to the Odisha Legislative Assembly, Odisha Legislative Council (historical), and state administration. The office has been held by a sequence of British and Indian officials since the province's formation, interacting with central institutions such as the Union Cabinet, Election Commission of India, and the Supreme Court of India.
The office emerged during the British colonial reorganization culminating in the creation of the Province of Orissa in 1936 under the Government of India Act 1935, with inaugural holder John Austen Hubback serving as Governor. Post-1947, the role transitioned under the Indian Independence Act 1947 and the Constitution of India, alongside interactions with the Constituent Assembly of India, Rajya Sabha, and Lok Sabha. Throughout the Republic era, Governors have engaged with events such as the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, the Emergency (India) 1975–1977 declared by the President of India on advice of the Prime Minister of India, and judicial review by the Supreme Court of India in cases involving gubernatorial discretion and floor tests in the Odisha Legislative Assembly. Governors have occasionally acted during crises linked to natural disasters like the 1999 Odisha cyclone and policy shifts influenced by the Planning Commission and later the NITI Aayog.
The list includes colonial and post-independence incumbents, among them John Austen Hubback, Sir Chandulal Madhavlal Trivedi, Asaf Ali, Ajudhia Nath Khosla, B. D. Jatti, Saiyid Nurul Hasan, Gopal Swarup Pathak, B. B. Lal, Y. V. R. Reddy, S. C. Jamir, M. M. Rajendran, C. Rangarajan, M. O. H. Farook, S. K. Singh, M. K. Narayanan, S. C. Jamir (second tenure), S. H. Kapadia (honorary reference), Siddheshwar Prasad, Murlidhar Chandrakant Bhandare, C. P. Radhakrishnan, Ganeshi Lal, and incumbents like Raghubar Das. Many served previously in roles at institutions such as the Indian Administrative Service, Indian Foreign Service, Lok Sabha Secretariat, Rajya Sabha Secretariat, Reserve Bank of India, University Grants Commission, All India Services, and Election Commission of India.
The Governor's constitutional powers derive from the Constitution of India and include appointive and supervisory functions: appointing the Chief Minister of Odisha, summoning and proroguing the Odisha Legislative Assembly, recommending President's Rule under Article 356 of the Constitution of India, and assenting to bills passed by the legislature. Governors interact with the Chief Justice of Orissa High Court regarding judicial appointments, consult the Union Home Ministry on security matters, and receive reports from agencies like the Orissa State Disaster Management Authority during calamities. Discretionary functions have been litigated before the Supreme Court of India in cases involving floor tests, dissolution of assemblies, and the remit of the Governor's Rule.
The Governor is appointed by the President of India for a term of five years but holds office at the President's pleasure, as provided by the Constitution of India. Appointments are typically made on advice from the Prime Minister of India and the Union Cabinet; candidates often include former members of the Indian Administrative Service, former Chief Ministers from other states, retired Judges of the Supreme Court of India or High Courts and diplomats from the Indian Foreign Service. Governors may be transferred between states; precedents include exchanges involving incumbents posted to Bihar, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka. Removals and suspensions have sometimes prompted petitions to the Supreme Court of India and debates in the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha.
Several governors left notable records: B. D. Jatti later served as acting President of India; Saiyid Nurul Hasan was a scholar with ties to Aligarh Muslim University and Jamia Millia Islamia; Y. V. R. Reddy went on to chair the Reserve Bank of India and influence fiscal policy; S. C. Jamir combined gubernatorial duty with earlier careers in the Nagaland Legislative Assembly and national politics. Governors played roles during events such as the 1999 Odisha cyclone relief coordination, imposition of President's Rule after political crises, and the management of assembly floor tests involving parties like the Biju Janata Dal, Indian National Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party, Communist Party of India, and Janata Dal (Secular). Controversial decisions have led to litigations citing precedents like S. R. Bommai v. Union of India.
The official residence is the Raj Bhavan, Odisha in Bhubaneswar, featuring colonial-era architecture and hosting ceremonies tied to state institutions such as the Odisha Legislative Assembly and cultural events showcasing the Odissi tradition and festivals like Ratha Yatra. The gubernatorial insignia includes the Emblem of Odisha and the state flag and is used on official communications with bodies such as the Orissa State Information Commission and the Department of Home (Odisha). Raj Bhavan grounds host guest receptions for dignitaries from the President of India, Prime Minister of India, Governor of West Bengal, Chief Minister of Odisha, and visiting foreign envoys accredited through the Ministry of External Affairs.
Category:Lists of Indian governors Category:Politics of Odisha