Kerala Govt Adds Module on Governor's Powers to Class 10 Textbook, Labels Him 'Nominal Head'

Thiruvananthapuram – The Pinarayi Vijayan-led Kerala government has taken a unique approach in its long-running feud with governors by adding a new module to the Class 10 Social Science textbook. The updated curriculum clarifies the powers and limits of the governor, describing the office as a “nominal head” and emphasizing that real authority rests with the Chief Minister and the state’s Council of Ministers.

The four-page module, incorporated under the chapter ‘Democracy: An Indian Experience’, explains that governors are appointed by the President on the recommendation of the central government and are unelected figures. It highlights the Sarkaria Commission’s recommendation that active politicians should not be appointed as governors.

The textbook notes that governors have only three options concerning bills passed by the state legislature: sign them, return them, or forward them to the President. If a bill is returned and subsequently passed again by the assembly, the governor is constitutionally obliged to give assent. The module also outlines the legislative, executive, judicial, and discretionary powers of the governor.

Education Minister V Sivankutty stated that the updated curriculum aims to educate students on the constitutional role of governors and should be read by everyone who respects the Indian Constitution.

The move comes amid ongoing disputes between the LDF government and governors Rajendra Arlekar and his predecessor Arif Mohammed Khan. Conflicts have arisen over bill approvals, university appointments, and symbolic actions such as displaying portraits at Raj Bhavan, which the government and opposition parties have criticized as politically motivated.

Constitutionally, the governor is the nominal head of the state, with executive powers exercised largely on the advice of the Council of Ministers under Article 163. While governors have discretionary powers, court rulings have clarified that these cannot obstruct the functioning of the elected government. Nonetheless, ambiguities in the Constitution regarding the scope of discretionary powers have historically led to tensions between state governments and governors from opposing political parties.

By updating textbooks, Kerala’s government has chosen to clarify the governor’s role for students, reinforcing that the governor is not the ultimate authority in the state but a constitutional figurehead.