Satyapal Malik, former J&K governor, passes away at 79

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Aug 6, 2025: Former Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satyapal Malik passed away at Delhi’s Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital after a prolonged illness on Tuesday. He was 79.

A statement released by the hospital said Malik had a long-standing history of diabetic kidney disease, hypertension, and other chronic health issues.

"Despite all appropriate and aggressive medical interventions, his condition continued to deteriorate." "He also developed disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and acute kidney injury on chronic kidney disease, and passed away at 1:12 pm," the statement added.

Malik served as the last governor of Jammu and Kashmir. It was during his tenure that the Union government announced the abrogation of Article 370.

Malik also served as Governor of Bihar, Goa, Meghalaya, and Odisha.

Malik, who was an aide of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, became a staunch critic of the government after being relieved of his gubernatorial duties. He even questioned the incumbent government on alleged lapses during the Pulwama attack.

Satyapal Malik was born in Baghpat district in West UP and joined politics in the 1960s as a student union leader in Meerut University. He was sent to the Rajya Sabha by former PM and Lok Dal leader Chaudhary Charan Singh in 1980.

Malik later won a Lok Sabha election on a Congress ticket and eventually settled down in the Janata Dal.

He joined the BJP in 2004 and was made the Governor of Bihar in 2017. He then became the J&K Governor in 2018, Goa Governor in 2019, and Meghalaya Governor in 2020.