Former Odisha Governor Satyapal Malik Passes Away at 79

Bhubaneswar/New Delhi: Satyapal Malik, former Governor of Odisha and several other Indian states, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 79 following a prolonged illness. He breathed his last at 1 PM at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in New Delhi, where he had been undergoing treatment for kidney-related complications since May. His condition had deteriorated over the past few weeks, leading to his admission in the ICU.

A seasoned politician and administrator, Malik briefly served as the Governor of Odisha from March 21 to May 28, 2018, while holding concurrent charge as the Governor of Bihar. He succeeded S.C. Jamir in the role during that interim period.

Born on July 24, 1946, in Hisawada village of Baghpat district, Uttar Pradesh, Malik hailed from a Jat family. His political career began in the late 1960s when he served as president of the students’ union in 1968–69.

He represented Uttar Pradesh in the Rajya Sabha from 1980 to 1986 and again from 1986 to 1989. Later, he was elected as a Member of Parliament in the 9th Lok Sabha (1989–1991) from Aligarh as a Janata Dal candidate.

In August 2018, he was appointed as the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, serving as the 10th and final Governor of the erstwhile state before its reorganization into two Union Territories in October 2019. Following that, he was appointed as the Governor of Goa, and later Meghalaya, where he served until October 2022.

Malik was widely known for his outspoken views and deep engagement with national and regional politics. His passing marks the end of a long and eventful public life that spanned over five decades.

Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced by the family shortly.