The relationship between Governor and Chief Minister can clarified on the following grounds :
1. According to Article 163 of the constitution, where the head of the state executive is Governor, in reality the real head of governance is the Chief Minister.
2. The Governor’s first task is to appoint the Chief Minister. If a political party has a clear majority in the assembly and the majority party has chosen its leader, then the Governor appoints him as the Chief Minister.
3. The Chief Minister selects the ministers and gives the list to the Governor which the Governor accepts, and Governor appoints them on the basis of the list of Chief Minister.
4. The Governor effects dissolution of the Assembly when the Chief Minister advises him to do so.
5. According to the constitution, the Chief Minister mediates between the Council of Ministers and the Governor.
6. The Chief Minister gives the information of the cabinet’s decision to the Governor and communicates the views of the Governor to the cabinet.
7. The Governor acts as per the advice of the Chief Minister, including the council of ministers.
Functioning of state administration :
The most important unit of the council of ministers in the state administration is the cabinet and the cabinet takes decisions on every important matter. The Chief Minister can call the cabinet meeting whenever he wants to. These meetings are headed by the Chief Minister. There is no quorum of the meeting.
The two main rules of the cabinet’s action are :
1. Collective liability :
In the cabinet meetings almost all decisions are taken unanimously. In the case of differences, decisions are taken on the basis of mutual consultation and this decision is considered as a joint decision of all the ministers. If a minister finds himself unable to accept it, then he has to resign.
2. Secrecy :
An oath of confidentiality is taken by each member of the Council of Ministers and the proceedings and decisions of the Cabinet are kept secret. If a minister violates privacy, then he has to resign.
