New Delhi: Satya Pal Malik, former Governor of multiple Indian states including Meghalaya and Jammu & Kashmir, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 79 after a prolonged illness.
He breathed his last at 1:12 pm at New Delhi’s Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital, where he had been undergoing treatment in the intensive care unit for several months.
Confirming his death, hospital authorities said Malik had been suffering from a range of chronic health issues, including diabetic kidney disease, hypertension, morbid obesity, and obstructive sleep apnea.
He was admitted to the facility on May 11 with a severe urinary tract infection, which later developed into a critical condition marked by septic shock, pneumonia, and multi-organ failure.
“Despite aggressive treatment including ventilator support, multiple antibiotics, cytosorb sessions, and dialysis, his condition continued to worsen,” the hospital said in a statement, adding that he also developed disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) before his death.
Malik’s long public career spanned both legislative and executive roles.
Mourning the death of Satya Pal Malik, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma posted on X: “Deeply saddened to hear about the demise of former Hon’ble Governor of Meghalaya, Shri Satya Pal Malik ji.”
He served as Governor of Jammu and Kashmir during a pivotal moment in the region’s history—the abrogation of Article 370 and the state’s bifurcation into two Union Territories on August 5, 2019.
He passed away exactly six years after that landmark development.
Over the years, Malik also held gubernatorial posts in Bihar, Goa, and Odisha, and had earlier represented Uttar Pradesh in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
Known for his outspoken views, Malik often made headlines for criticising the BJP-led central government, especially on the handling of the Pulwama attack and the farmers’ protest.
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He also stirred controversy with allegations of corruption in Jammu and Kashmir, claiming he was offered bribes to approve files for major infrastructure projects.
In May 2025, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed a charge sheet against Malik in connection with alleged irregularities in the Rs. 2,200-crore Kiru hydropower project, a case stemming from his tenure as Governor of J&K.
Malik’s passing marks the end of a turbulent but influential political journey, defined as much by his official roles as by his candid commentary on national affairs.
