Does Governor let down propriety of his office?

Though Andhra Pradesh Governor ESL Narasimhan’s long stay in New Delhi was undoubtedly meant for State bifurcation, it also evoked a serious debate on the issue of protocol and also on the duties of the Governors of the States.  

Probably in a haste to implement the Centre’s decision on formation of Telangana, the Governor’s itinerary was tightly fixed with end-to-end engagements not only with government heads including P Chidambaram, M. Veerappa Moily, A.K. Antony, Sonia Gandhi and also the President, Pranab Mukherjee, but also with non- constitutional authority like Digvijaya Singh.
Experts on the affairs of Constitution took serious exception on the functioning of Narasimhan as Governor. According to them, the Governor is positioned after President of India, Vice President and the Prime Minister in the ‘Order of precedence’ in Republic of India. So, strictly speaking, the Governor calling on the Union cabinet ministers, who are lesser to him in rank, should also be a protocol lapse. 
“Governor should keep the propriety of his office. Meeting Digvijaya Singh and even meeting Sonia Gandhi, who is elevated to Cabinet rank, also are an affront to his gubernatorial stature. He is not supposed to meet other than the President and the Prime Minister,”  distinguished  political scientist and Professor in School Of Social Sciences, Hyderabad Central Uninversity, G Haragopal told Sakshipost.
According to him, the general functioning of Governors in contemporary India, gives an erroneous notion on their role.
“Governor is not an employee, or an agent of the Centre,” he averred.
Another renowned scholar of political sciences from Andhra University, Ramachandra Murthy quoted from Sarkaria Commission Report on Centre-State Relations (1988). According to the quote, the Governor post turned to be careerist,   rehabilitation to 'burnt out' politicians or retired loyal bureaucrats.
“If it is put ideally in Ambedkar terms, the position of the Governor is exactly the same as the position of the President by all means. As the President acts on the advice of the Union Cabinet, it is generally assumed that the Governor also follows the suit. But it is wrong supposition,” Prof Murthy added.
Governor met Sonia Gandhi on Friday, third time during his present stay. According to reliable sources, the Governor is so loyal in unfolding the political forecast to the Centre, particularly to Sonia.
“The Governor Narasimhan politicized his post. He should understand that he is not a servant to Union cabinet and his office is not subordinate or subservient to Digvijaya Singh,” said political analyst and renowned Psephologist Ramalingam Vavilala.
The Governor holds a high constitutional office. But, being very amenable to ruling party, the Governor Narasimhan allegedly lowered the prestige of his office.

-Naresh@Sakshipost