No state mourning for Satyapal Malik in J&K, but his ‘fax machine moment’ lives on

Srinagar: Despite his pivotal role during a defining phase of Jammu and Kashmir’s recent history, the UT administration has not announced ‘State mourning’ following the demise of former Governor Satyapal Malik, who passed away on August 5, 2025.

Malik served as the last Governor of the erstwhile state from August 2018 to October 2019, a time marked by the abrogation of Article 370 and 35A and the bifurcation of J&K into two Union Territories. He later held gubernatorial positions in Goa and Meghalaya, and earlier in Bihar and Odisha. He was also a former Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MP.

Though the Ministry of Home Affairs guidelines don’t mandate state mourning for ex-Governors, the discretion lies with the state or UT government. Notably, in 2021, the J&K administration declared three-day mourning after the death of former Governor Jagmohan. The contrast in Malik’s case has drawn sharp attention.

J&K BJP chief spokesperson Sunil Sethi questioned: “If state mourning was announced for Jagmohan, it should have been there for Malik too. Whether a case was pending or not is beside the point—there was no conviction. This decision lies with the Chief Minister, who heads the General Administration Department.”

While Malik’s tenure is remembered for the constitutional overhaul, one of its most bizarre and politically charged moments came not from Delhi, but from a broken fax machine in Srinagar.

In June 2018, after the BJP withdrew support from its alliance with the PDP, the state plunged into uncertainty. PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, backed by National Conference and Congress, staked claim to form the government by faxing a letter to Raj Bhavan in November 2018.

But the Governor’s office claimed it never received it. Around the same time, People’s Conference chief Sajad Lone, backed by the BJP, also staked his claim, saying he had sent the letter through WhatsApp after the fax failed.

Malik swiftly dissolved the Assembly, citing horse-trading and lack of stability. Mehbooba responded sharply: “Strange that the fax machine couldn’t receive our letter, but could issue one on dissolution so fast.” Omar Abdullah, now the Chief Minister, had then quipped, “Raj Bhavan needs a new fax machine urgently.”

Malik later defended his action, saying: “There was no chance of a stable government. There were reports of horse trading.”

Now, as tributes pour in, the decision not to accord even symbolic state mourning has drawn criticism, but one thing is certain: the broken fax machine episode remains an unforgettable—and uniquely Kashmiri—chapter in the political legacy of Satyapal Malik.