Relationship of the Governor with the Chief Minister: 1. The Governor is the constitutional head of the State. All executive actions in the State are taken in his name.
2. The Governor appoints the Chief Minister and on the advice of the Chief Minister, he appoints other ministers.
3. The Governor is responsible for smooth running the State administration. It is his duty to see that the State administration is carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.
4. If he finds that the Constitutional machinery of the State has broken down or the administration cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution, he may recommend to the Union Government to proclaim emergency in the State.
5. The Governor in his report can advise the President to impose President's Rule in the State. If the President is satisfied, he will declare emergency under Article 356, popularly known as President's Rule in the State.
6. After proclamation, the State comes under the control of the Centre and the Governor acts as the Centre's agent. The Council of Ministers is dismissed and Assembly (Vidhan Sabha) is dissolved or suspended.
7. The Constitution provides that there shall be a Council of Ministers with the Chief Minister at its head to aid and advise the Governor in the exercise of his functions, except when he is required by the Constitution to act on his discretion.
8. When the Chief Minister enjoys the confidence of the majority in the State Legislature, then the Governor's capacity to exercise his discretionary power is reduced. In such a situation the Chief Minister is the real head of the State administration and the Governor is the constitutional head. So we see that the Governor plays a dual role. As the Constitutional head of the State, he acts on the advice of the Council of Ministers and also serves as the agent of the Central Government.
9. The relationship between the Governor and the Chief Minister is influenced by the political and Constitutional conditions in the State. 10. In normal conditions, the Governor is the ceremonial head of the State but during the President's Rule he becomes the agent of the Centre and assumes the control of the State administration.
11. Keeping the spirit of the Constitution in mind, the Governor may in a sense be the "eyes and ears" of the Central Government and as he is appointed, removed or transferred by the Centre he continues to be subservient to Centre as well as the party in power there.
12. It may be emphasised that the job of the Governor would not be merely that of an umpire to see that the game is played according to the letter and spirit of the Constitutional provisions.
