Rodrigues to serve full term as governor

NEW DELHI: Punjab Governor Gen (retd) S F Rodrigues will be allowed to serve his term in the state. Sources in the government said he will be in charge of the Chandigarh Raj Bhawan till his term expires in November.

After reports appeared about the Central Vigilance Commission���s probe into the allocation of land for two mega projects in the Union territory where he is the administrator, there have been speculation of his removal from the post. ���The probe is yet to be completed. Unless we have the final report with us, we cannot pronounce him guilty. There will be no change in the Raj Bhawan till November,��� said sources in the government.

Meanwhile, the governor���s counsel said TV channels are engaged in ���a wanton, malign and repeated telecast of completely outrageous, egregiously false and wholly indefensible slander of the Governor���.

It said the reports have inflicted grave, incalculable and irreparable damage to the reputation, character and credibility of Gen Rodrigues.

The sources said the new governor will be selected in November. Several senior Congressmen are in the running for the vacancies that would come up by then.

Among those whose names are under the active consideration for the assignments in Punjab and other states include Arjun Singh and Shivraj Patil.