Shanmugathan sworn in as Aruchal Governor

FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT

ITAGAR, Sept 14: Meghalaya Governor V Shanmugathan on Wednesday was sworn in as the 20th Governor of Aruchal Pradesh in a simple ceremony organized in the Darbar Hall of the Raj Bhawan here.

Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court Justice Ajit Singh administered the oath of office to the new governor in presence of Chief Minister Pema Khandu, his cabinet colleagues besides a host of civil and police officials.

President Prab Mukherjee has asked Shanmugathan to discharge additiol duty of the state after he sacked former Governor Jyoti Prashad Rajkhowa on September 12 last, weeks after the Supreme Court restored the Congress government in the state, censuring him.

Shanmugathan, who arrived here on Tuesday, visited the Itafort, Buddhist Gompa and Jawaharlal Nehru State Museum accompanied by his secretary Dr. Joram Beda.

The governor during his visit also offered prayers in the Gompa and interacted with the monks.

Rajkhowa, who was appointed the Governor of the state on May 12 last year, was the first gubertorial appointee of the Modi government and has also been sacked by it after informing the President that it has 'lost trust' in him.

Rajkhowa said he had been asked to resign 'on health grounds' weeks after the Supreme Court had restored the Congress government in Aruchal Pradesh and censured him.

Rajkhowa had also written to the President explaining his position and the letter was forwarded to the Home Ministry by Mukherjee.

Rajkhowa, a 1968 batch IAS officer, had retired as Chief Secretary of Assam before being appointed as Governor. On July 13, the Supreme Court had reinstated the Congress government in Aruchal Pradesh by cancelling all decisions of the Governor precipitating its fall in January.