Dushyant Kumar Gautam was sworn in as Sikkim's 19th governor on Monday at Lok Bhavan in Gangtok, the ceremony overseen by Sikkim High Court Chief Justice A Muhamed Mustaque. The oath, administered in the presence of Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang, council ministers, the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, and several judges, marked the official start of Gautam's tenure.
President Droupadi Murmu appointed Gautam on October 12, 2026, succeeding Om Prakash Mathur. The appointment followed a decision by the central government that sidestepped a pending CBI inquiry into the 2022 Ankita Bhandari murder, which has raised questions about a potential VIP angle.
Last week, youths and ordinary citizens staged a peaceful dharna at the District Administrative Centre in Gangtok, demanding that the central government defer Gautam's appointment until the ongoing investigation concludes. The demonstrators cited the need for transparency and the integrity of the judicial process.
After the oath, Chief Minister Tamang introduced Gautam to the Speaker, council ministers, MLAs, and other dignitaries, a gesture of formal welcome. The governor was subsequently honored with a ceremonial Guard of Honour by the Sikkim Armed Police, underscoring the state's respect for protocol.
The CBI continues to probe the 2022 murder case, with no final report yet released. Meanwhile, the central government is monitoring the situation closely, and officials have signaled that they will review Gautam's appointment as the investigation progresses, ensuring that the state's governance remains aligned with national legal standards.