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Book Release: Goanetter Valmiki Faleiro's "Patriotism in Action" Dec 18, 2010 (Sat) at 5.30 pm at Goa Chitra, Benaulim, Goa Copies available at: Hotel Mandovi or Broadway (Panjim), OIB (Mapusa), Sainik Co-Op (Porvorim), Literati (Calangute), David & Co, Confidante (Margao) David & Co Mumbai, Mumbai Catholic Gymkhana; Manney's and Popular (Pune), Narayan (Bangalore), Ritana Books (Delhi). Online: http://goa1556.notlong.com (DefenceColony Flyover Market) --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Apropos the discussion taking place about the appointment of a person from the same state to various important offices, I have attempted to provideinformation regarding the appointment to various offices like Governor, Police chief, Judges, Human Rights Commissoner. Governor – as per convention, no person hailing from the same state has been appointed as Governor of that state. The most plausible reason could be to maintain neutrality and avoid conflict of interest. Governors exercise no executive powers. They are titular heads like the President or the Queen of England. The only time the Governor exercises executive powers is when the state is under President’s Rule or when there is a breakdown in state machinery where no government can be formed. Under President’s Rule, the real power is wielded by the bureaucrats. President’s Rule can be imposed for a maximum of 6 months only. After the Bommai case judgement, it has become very difficult to impose President’s Rule under Article 356. Under extraordinary circumstances as that which was prevailing in Punjab and J&K, President’s Rule can be extended for further periods upto 6 months each with the approval of Parliament. Police Chief – a person from the same state can be appointed as Police Chief. Eg: KPS Gill DGP of Punjab, K P Medhekar DGP of Maharshtra, S S Khandwala DGP of Gujarat. Judges – until 1993 judges to the High Court were appointed from the same state. However, due to allegations of corruption, bias and favouritism, in 1993 the policy was changed making the services of High Court judges transferable anywhere within India. Hence today, judges of the HC are transferred from one state to another state, and generally the Chief Justice has always been a person from outside the state. Human Rights Commissioner- There is no bar on the appointment of a person from the same state to the office of State Human Rights Commissioner. In fact, if one gleans through the names of other state commissioners, nearly all of them hail from the same state. Goa seems to have become an exception for reasons only the appointing authority can answer. http://www.shrc.tn.nic.in/