New Delhi, Aug 05: Satya Pal Malik, former Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 79 at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in New Delhi after a prolonged illness. Hospital authorities confirmed his death at 1:12 p.m., marking the end of a long and impactful journey in Indian public service.
Malik served as the last Governor of the former state of Jammu and Kashmir from August 2018 to October 2019, overseeing a critical phase in the region’s history. His tenure coincided with the Indian government’s decision to abrogate Article 370 on August 5, 2019 — a constitutional change that revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and led to its reorganization into two Union Territories. His passing, notably, comes on the sixth anniversary of that watershed decision.
Following his assignment in Jammu and Kashmir, Malik was appointed as the 18th Governor of Goa and later as the 21st Governor of Meghalaya, a post he held until October 2022. His gubernatorial tenures across various states were marked by administrative focus and a reputation for speaking candidly on public issues.
Born in Uttar Pradesh, Malik had a decades-long political and administrative career, earning recognition for his straightforward approach and active engagement with regional and national matters. His leadership in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly during a time of constitutional transition, remains a defining chapter in his legacy.
According to hospital officials, Malik had been in intensive care for several weeks, battling complications related to multiple health conditions. His death has sparked an outpouring of condolences from political leaders, bureaucrats, and civil society figures across the country, all of whom remembered his commitment to governance and national service.
While the government has not yet released official details regarding the funeral, sources suggest that preparations for a state funeral are underway.
Malik had also served as Governor of Bihar and Odisha and was a Member of both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha during his long political career.
In a statement, RML Hospital said: “It is with deep regret that we confirm the demise of Satya Pal Malik, who had been receiving intensive care at our facility.”
The hospital detailed that Malik had a long-standing history of diabetic kidney disease, hypertension, morbid obesity, and obstructive sleep apnea. He was admitted on May 11 at 12:04 p.m. with a complicated urinary tract infection. His condition worsened due to refractory septic shock, hospital-acquired pneumonia, and multi-organ dysfunction.
“Despite all appropriate and aggressive medical interventions, including multiple antibiotics, Cytosorb-2 sessions, ventilatory support, and critical care management, his condition continued to deteriorate,” the statement said.
He also developed disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and acute kidney injury on chronic kidney disease, requiring multiple hemodialysis sessions. Malik passed away on August 5, 2025, at 1:12 p.m.
In recent years, Malik attracted controversy after alleging that he was offered a bribe to clear files for two major projects in Jammu and Kashmir. He also criticized the BJP-led central government over issues related to farmers and the Pulwama terror attack. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which took over the probe into the bribery allegations, filed a chargesheet against him in May this year in one of the cases involving the ₹2,200-crore Kiru hydropower project.
