Former J&K Governor Satyapal Malik dies at 79 after prolonged illness

Satyapal Malik had been suffering from kidney-related ailments and was under treatment in Delhi's Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital

Former Jammu and Kashmir governor Satyapal Malik passed away on Tuesday at Delhi's Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital after a prolonged illness, his secretary KS Rana confirmed in a post on X.

 

Malik had been suffering from kidney-related ailments and was under treatment since May 2025, when he was first admitted to Delhi's Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital.

 

In a statement, the hospital said, "It is with deep regret that we confirm the demise of Shri Satyapal Malik, who had been receiving intensive care at our facility. The patient had a longstanding history of diabetic kidney disease, hypertension, and other chronic health issues, including morbid obesity and obstructive sleep apnea. He was admitted with us on 11-5-2025 at 12:04 pm with a complicated urinary tract infection and subsequently developed refractory septic shock secondary to urinary tract infection, hospital-acquired pneumonia, and multi-organ dysfunction."

  

It further added, "Despite all appropriate and aggressive medical interventions, including multiple antibiotics and cytosorb two sessions, including ventilatory support and critical care management, his condition continued to deteriorate. He also developed disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and acute kidney injury due to chronic kidney disease, needing multiple hemodialysis sessions. He sadly passed away on 5 August 2025."

 

A look at Satyapal Malik's career

 

Born in 1946 in Uttar Pradesh's Baghpat, Malik started his political journey as a student leader. In 1974, he was elected to the state legislative assembly on the ticket of Chaudhary Charan Singh's Bharatiya Kranti Dal. He also served as a Rajya Sabha MP and later as Janata Dal's Lok Sabha MP from Aligarh. 

 

Later on, Malik also became part of the Congress, Lok Dal and Samajwadi Party.

 

Malik took charge as Jammu and Kashmir's governor in August 2018 and oversaw the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019. He became the last governor of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, which was bifurcated into two Union territories in August 2019. He was also the governor during the Pulwama terror attack when 40 CRPF personnel lost their lives. Following his stint in Jammu and Kashmir, he served as the governor of Goa and Meghalaya.

 

Prior to Jammu and Kashmir, Malik was the governor of Bihar and was later given additional charge of Odisha.

 

Bitter ties with the BJP

 

Satyapal Malik has been in the news for the last few years following his allegations against the central government. The ties between Malik and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) were strained around 2020-21, when Malik supported the farmers, who were protesting against the now-scrapped three farm laws.

 

In an interview in 2023, Malik alleged that the Centre asked him to stay silent after the Pulwama attack of 2019. He also flagged lapses that led to the attack.

 

Leaders react to Satyapal Malik's passing

 

Reacting to Satyapal Malik's passing, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi said, "I am deeply saddened to hear the news of the passing of former Governor Satyapal Malik ji. I will always remember him as a person who, until his last moment, fearlessly spoke the truth and advocated for the interests of the people."

 

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said, "The news of the passing of the vocal voice of the country's farmers and former Governor Shri Satyapal Singh Malik Ji is extremely saddening."