Satyapal Malik, former Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, passed away at 1:10 pm on Tuesday at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in New Delhi, aged 79, after a prolonged battle with kidney-related complications. His personal secretary, KS Rana, and hospital authorities confirmed the news, noting that Malik had been in the ICU since May 11, 2025, undergoing dialysis for a urinary tract infection and kidney failure.

Malik, a prominent Jat leader from Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh, had a distinguished political career spanning over five decades. Starting as a student leader at Meerut University, he was elected an MLA in 1974 with Chaudhary Charan Singh’s Bharatiya Kranti Dal. He served as a Rajya Sabha MP (1980–1986, 1986–1989) and Lok Sabha MP from Aligarh (1989–1991) with Janata Dal. Malik held gubernatorial posts in Bihar (2017–2018), Odisha (2018), Jammu and Kashmir (2018–2019), Goa (2019–2020), and Meghalaya (2020–2022). His tenure in J&K coincided with the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, a pivotal moment in Indian history.

On June 8, Malik shared a social media update describing his condition as “serious,” noting he had been hospitalized for over a month. Known for his outspoken nature, Malik later criticized the BJP, alleging security lapses in the 2019 Pulwama attack and corruption in the Kiru Hydropower Project, claims that led to a CBI chargesheet against him, which he dismissed as a “vendetta.” His forthright stance made him a polarizing figure in Indian politics.

Malik’s body will be taken to his R K Puram residence, with cremation scheduled for Wednesday at Lodhi crematorium. His passing marks the end of an era for a leader whose contributions to public service and advocacy for farmers’ rights left a lasting impact.