No need to have a different chair for Guv: Kerala Governor

Kochi: Kerala Governor P Sathasivam on Friday said there is no need to have a "different chair for a governor", pointing out that when he assumed charge, he had dispensed with the colonial era legacy of everybody addressing the head of the state as 'His Excellency'.

"No need to have a different chair for a Governor. It is not required. We are in a democratic country," he told media persons after inaugurating the golden jubilee annual day celebrations of the foundation stone laying ceremony of the Ernakulam Press Club.

A different chair was arranged for the governor on the stage in which dignitaries including Lok Sabha MP and Parliament's Public Accounts Committee Chairman K V Thomas, Hybi Eden MLA and NSG Commando P V Manesh were present.

In his address, Sathasivam reminded journalists that when he took the charge in 2014, he had dispensed with the colonial era legacy of everybody addressing the governor as 'His Excellency'.

"For information, the day I assumed the office as the governor of the state, I, through my officials in the Raj Bhavan, had clarified that there was no need to call His

Excellency, either Mr or Honourable is sufficient," Sathasivam, former Chief Justice of India, said.

He said this in response to Kerala Union of Working Journalist (KUWJ) chief Abdul Gafoor addressing him as "His Excellency" in his welcome speech.

The function was organised by the Ernakulam Press Club. In 2012, when he assumed charge as President of India,

Pranab Mukherjee had put in place a new protocol for greeting the President, replacing the salutation 'His Excellency' with 'Honourable President'.