Satyapal Malik, a seasoned Indian politician and the 10th Governor of Jammu & Kashmir, passed away on August 5, 2025, at the age of 79. He died at approximately 1:10 PM in New Delhi’s Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, where he had been receiving treatment for kidney-related complications and other chronic health issues.
Malik had been admitted to the hospital on May 11 after developing a complicated urinary tract infection, which led to septic shock, hospital-acquired pneumonia, and multi-organ dysfunction. Despite intensive care—including dialysis, ventilator support, antibiotics, and cytosorb therapy—his condition deteriorated, and he later developed disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and acute kidney injury.
His political journey spanned over five decades, beginning in the 1970s as a student leader and legislator in Uttar Pradesh under Chaudhary Charan Singh’s Bharatiya Kranti Dal. He later served in the Rajya Sabha, Lok Sabha, and held roles including Union Minister of State, BJP national vice president, and governorships of Bihar, Odisha (additional charge), Jammu & Kashmir, Goa, and Meghalaya.
Malik was the last Governor of the former state of Jammu & Kashmir (August 2018 to October 2019), overseeing the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019, which revoked the region’s special status and led to its reorganisation into two Union Territories.
Known for his outspoken views, Malik later became a critic of central government policies and commented on pivotal national issues such as the Pulwama attack and farmers’ protests, alleging lapses in handling security and poor governance.
