Dushyant Kumar Gautam was sworn in as Governor of Sikkim at a formal ceremony held at Lok Bhavan in Gangtok on October 19, marking the start of his tenure after appointment by President Droupadi Murmu on October 12.
Oath administered by Chief Justice; top state leaders present
The oath of office and secrecy was administered by Justice A. Muhamed Mustaque, Chief Justice of the High Court of Sikkim, in the presence of Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang, senior state officials, elected representatives and other dignitaries. The ceremony opened with Chief Secretary R. Telang reading out the President’s Warrant of Appointment.
After taking the oath, Gautam signed the solemn oath and affirmation, formally assuming the constitutional responsibilities of the office. He was accorded a ceremonial Guard of Honour by personnel of the Sikkim Armed Police.
Who attended
Officials and dignitaries recorded as present at the ceremony included:
- Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang
- Members of the Council of Ministers and legislators
- Speaker of the Sikkim Legislative Assembly and the Deputy Speaker
- Lok Sabha MPs from the region, including Indra Hang Subba (Sikkim) and Raju Bista (Darjeeling)
- Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Gangtok Municipal Corporation
- High Court judges, senior state government officials, advisors and chairpersons
- Representatives of the Indian Army and Central Government agencies
Formalities and transition
The appointment by the President on October 12 culminated in Monday’s swearing-in. State officials followed established protocol: the Chief Secretary presented the President’s warrant and the Chief Justice administered the oath in the prescribed form. Chief Minister Tamang introduced the new Governor to the Speaker, ministers, judges and other dignitaries after the ceremony.
| Event | Detail |
|---|---|
| Appointment by President | October 12 |
| Oath taken | October 19 at Lok Bhavan, Gangtok |
| Oath administered by | Justice A. Muhamed Mustaque, Chief Justice, High Court of Sikkim |
| Predecessor | Om Prakash Mathur (subsequently appointed Governor of Kerala, per reporting) |
Record of reports and numerical discrepancy
Reports from different outlets vary on the ordinal number assigned to Gautam’s appointment; one source refers to him as the 19th Governor of Sikkim while another describes him as the 21st. This discrepancy is recorded in official and media accounts and will require confirmation from the Raj Bhavan or the state protocol office for an authoritative count of past occupants.
Context and role
As Governor, Gautam assumes the constitutional role of the state’s ceremonial head and custodian of constitutional processes under Articles of the Indian Constitution governing state executive functions. The Governor’s responsibilities include summoning and proroguing the Assembly, giving assent to bills, and other duties as prescribed by law and by convention.
The transfer of gubernatorial assignments — including the movement of Om Prakash Mathur to Kerala as part of a wider set of appointments announced by the Rashtrapati Bhavan — follows a pattern of periodic reshuffles at the constitutional level. Gautam, known in national reporting as a senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party and a former party national general secretary, takes charge at a time when state authorities emphasise development of connectivity, tourism and protection of cultural identity.
Immediate official record
The ceremony and appointment were recorded in an information release by the state’s Information and Public Relations department. Further administrative details on the Governor’s programme, official residence and schedule will be issued by the Raj Bhavan in due course.
By constitution and convention, the Governor will act on the advice of the Council of Ministers headed by the Chief Minister in routine matters, while retaining certain prerogatives and discretionary powers in specified circumstances laid down by law and judicial interpretation.
