Who is the Chief Executive head of the state?

Concept

Under Article 154 of the Constitution, the executive power of a State is vested in the Governor, who is appointed by the President for a term of five years. This provision makes the Governor's office the state's constitutional head of executive authority, exercised directly or through officers subordinate to it, on the same design the Constitution uses for the President as the Union's executive head under Article 53.

Application

In this item, the phrase "Chief Executive head of the state" points to the office in which the Constitution formally places state executive authority — the Governor's office — even though this authority is exercised largely on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers headed by the Chief Minister, following the parliamentary convention used in every state.

Contrast

• Chief Minister — appointed by the Governor as the leader of the party or coalition holding a majority in the Legislative Assembly; heads the Council of Ministers and directs the state's day-to-day administration as the real executive.

• Home Minister — a member of the state Council of Ministers, appointed by the Chief Minister to hold the portfolio for police administration, law and order, and internal security within the state cabinet.

• District Magistrate — typically an officer of the Indian Administrative Service posted to head the revenue and executive administration of a single district, reporting upward through the state government's administrative hierarchy.

Therefore, the office in which the Constitution places the state's chief executive authority under Article 154 is the Governor's.