Satyapal Malik, Ex-Governor of Jammu & Kashmir During Article 370 Abrogation, Passes Away at 79
Former Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Satyapal Malik, passed away at the age of 79 at Delhi’s Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital after battling a prolonged illness.
The news of Malik’s demise was confirmed on Tuesday through a post on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle.
“Former Governor Satyapal Singh Malik Ji is no more,” the post stated.
As per the information available, Malik breathed his last at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in Delhi, where he had been admitted due to long-term health complications.
In June, Malik had himself disclosed that he was in a “very serious condition” and had even shared a phone number for contact.
He had also revealed that he was suffering from kidney-related issues, adding that though he was recovering, he had to be moved to the ICU.
Satyapal Malik served as the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir from August 23, 2018, to October 30, 2019. It was during his tenure that Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir, was revoked — on August 5, 2019 — exactly six years ago.
At that time, Malik had claimed that he had not been consulted regarding the decision to abrogate Article 370.
“I wasn’t informed. The Home Minister just called me a day before and said, ‘Satyapal, I’ll be sending a letter tomorrow morning. Please get it cleared by a committee before 11 a.m. and send it back to me’,” Malik had alleged in an interview.
Earlier this year in May, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed a chargesheet against Malik and six others in relation to the Kiru Hydro Electric Project in Jammu and Kashmir.
The case pertains to alleged irregularities in the awarding of a ₹2,200 crore civil work contract for the Kiru Hydro Electric Project (HEP) in Kishtwar, back in 2019.
In March, Malik had sharply criticised the Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre.
He had remarked, “The country’s situation will deteriorate further, with multiple crises ahead, and only the Modi government will be to blame.”
He also said, “Prime Minister Modi should remember that power is not permanent. Do not push the nation to such a state that it becomes irreparable.”
Satyapal Malik had also served as the Governor of Goa and later as the Governor of Meghalaya, a position he held until October 2022.
