LIVE Update | Satya Pal Malik, Ex-J&K Governor During Article 370 Abrogation, Dies at 79
✍️ Written by: Sumit Kumar
Former Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik passed away on Tuesday at the age of 79 after battling a prolonged illness. He died around 1 pm at Delhi’s Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, where he was undergoing medical treatment.
Malik served as the last Governor of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir from August 2018 to October 2019. He oversaw one of the most significant moments in modern Indian political history—the abrogation of Article 370 and the revocation of J&K’s special status—on August 5, 2019. Coincidentally, he passed away on the sixth anniversary of that decision.
पूर्व गवर्नर चौधरी सत्यपाल सिंह मलिक जी नहीं रहें।#satyapalmalik
— Satyapal Malik (@SatyapalMalik6) August 5, 2025
A Long Political Journey Across Parties and States
Following his role in J&K, Malik went on to serve as Governor of Goa and later of Meghalaya until October 2022. His political journey began in the 1970s as a socialist leader. He was first elected to the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly in 1974 from Baghpat on a Bharatiya Kranti Dal ticket.
Over the decades, Malik moved through various political affiliations, including Charan Singh’s Bharatiya Kranti Dal, the Congress, and Janata Dal, before joining the BJP in 2004. He served twice in the Rajya Sabha, in 1980 and 1989—his second term as a Congress MP. In 1987, disillusioned by the Bofors scam, he resigned and formed Jan Morcha, later merged with Janata Dal.
Malik’s death marks the end of a politically vibrant and ideologically diverse career.
Live Updates
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14:52 (IST) 05 Aug 2025
BJP Leader Sunil Sharma Remembers Satyapal Malik’s Tenure in J&K
Reacting to the passing of former J&K Governor Satya Pal Malik, BJP leader and J&K Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma said, “It is unfortunate news. His tenure in Jammu and Kashmir lasted about 1 to 1.5 years. I remained in personal contact with him during that period, and we met on various occasions. Everyone has the right to express their views freely, and he exercised that right in his own way. He also served as Governor in four different states.” #WATCH | Former J&K Governor Satyapal Malik passes away | Kishtwar: J&K LoP and BJP leader Sunil Sharma says, “… It...
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14:30 (IST) 05 Aug 2025
Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital Issues Statement on Satya Pal Malik’s Death
It is with deep sorrow that we confirm the passing of Shri Satya Pal Malik, who had been under intensive care at our facility. The former Governor had a longstanding history of diabetic kidney disease, hypertension, morbid obesity, and obstructive sleep apnea. He was admitted on May 11, 2025, at 12:04 PM with a complicated urinary tract infection. His condition rapidly worsened as he developed refractory septic shock, hospital-acquired pneumonia, and multi-organ dysfunction. Despite all appropriate and aggressive medical interventions—including ventilatory support, multiple antibiotics, two sessions of Cytosorb therapy, and comprehensive critical care—his health continued to deteriorate. He further developed disseminated intravascular...
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14:23 (IST) 05 Aug 2025
Congress MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla Pays Tribute to Satya Pal Malik
Reacting to the demise of Satya Pal Malik, Congress MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla said, “He was a good man who walked the path of truth. He always spoke the truth during his tenure as the Governor. I express my deepest condolences.”
#WATCH | On the demise of Satyapal Malik, Congress MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla says, “He was a good man who walked the path of truth. He always spoke the truth during his tenure as the Governor. I express my deepest condolences.” pic.twitter.com/HK8ahxyDPM
— ANI (@ANI) August 5, 2025
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14:12 (IST) 05 Aug 2025
Joining BJP and Role in Land Bill Panel; Appointed J&K Governor
In 2004, Satya Pal Malik joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and contested the Lok Sabha elections from Baghpat, but lost to then Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) chief Ajit Singh. During Narendra Modi’s first term as Prime Minister, Malik was appointed as the head of the parliamentary panel tasked with reviewing the Land Acquisition Bill. His panel made several recommendations against the bill, prompting the government to shelve the major reform initiative. Malik later made history by becoming the first politician to be appointed as the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir since the onset of militancy in the region. ...
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14:09 (IST) 05 Aug 2025
Shift from Lok Dal to Congress, and Rise with Janata Dal
In 1980, Satya Pal Malik was nominated to the Rajya Sabha by Lok Dal, led by Chaudhary Charan Singh. However, in 1984, he switched allegiance to the Congress party, which again sent him to the Rajya Sabha in 1986.
Following the revelation of the Bofors scam, Malik resigned from the Congress in 1987 and joined hands with V.P. Singh. In the 1989 general elections, he won the Lok Sabha seat from Aligarh as a Janata Dal candidate. In 1990, he briefly served as the Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Tourism in the central government.
