Common Guv of AP, Telangana to be responsible for security

Once divided, Andhra Pradesh and the new state of Telangana will have a common Governor with special responsibility for the security of life, liberty and property of all those residing in the common capital of Hyderabad.  

However, the common Governor shall discharge the special responsibility after consulting the Council of Ministers of the successor state of Telangana.  But the Governor can exercise individual judgment as to the action to be taken and his/her decision will be final, according to the draft AP Reorganisation Bill-2013.   In particular, the responsibility of the Governor shall extend to matters such as law and order, internal security, security of vital installations and management and allocation of government buildings in the common capital area, a proviso in the draft Bill states.   In discharge of the functions, the Governor, after consulting the Council of Ministers of the state of Telangana, will exercise his individual judgment as to the action to be taken.  The decision of the Governor in his discretion shall be final and the validity of anything done cannot be called to question, the draft Bill adds.   The Governor shall be assisted by two advisers to be appointed by the central government.
Though the Group of Ministers, constituted to look into the bifurcation issue, recommended that the common Governor arrangement be put in place for a period not exceeding ten years, the draft Bill says the Governor of the existing state of Andhra Pradesh shall be the Governor for both the successor states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana for such period as may be determined by the President.   Interestingly, the Department of Legal Affairs, in its comments on the draft Bill, noted it is pertinent to mention that there are all possibilities of difference of opinion and conflict of interests in the advice to be tendered by the Council of Ministers of the successor states on various issues.
 On a reference made by the Administrative Ministry to examine the feasibility of empowering the common Governor of successor states with powers those conferred under Article 371H, the Department of Legal Affairs commented that it may not be feasible to incorporate a provision to the effect in the State Reorganisation Act relating to Andhra Pradesh.  Article 371H was incorporated through a constitutional amendment when Arunachal Pradesh was made a state from a Union Territory because of its sensitive location and constitutional history.   No such circumstances exist with regard to Andhra Pradesh requiring a constitutional amendment, the DLA pointed out.