‘Fax Machine Episode’ Remains One of the Most Unusual Moments of Late Satya Pal Malik’s Tenure

Satya Pal Malik

Dil Bar Irshad | August 6, 2025 | Politics, Jammu Kashmir & Ladakh | Follow on Google News

‘Fax Machine Episode’ Remains One of the Most Unusual Moments of Tenure of Late Satya Pal Malik Image/Photo Credit: Shashi Shekhar Kashyap

As the Jammu Kashmir completes six years of the event of ‘Abrogation of Article 370’, the union territory observed a massive protest against the decision taken by BJP led central govt in year 2019.

Meanwhile, Satya Pal Malik’s demise has sent shockwaves across the area also. While political parties are labelling the event as ‘The Black Day’, whereas Bhartiya Janta party celebrated the abrogation and called it a major achievement of Narendra Modi led Bharatiya Janta Party government.

Late Satya Pal Malik – a governer of Jammu Kashmir who remained in controversies every time, and even during the last few months, also blames BJP govt on several claims. But the most unusual moment of his tenure, as per social media users and political leaders was ‘The Broken Fax Machine’.

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As the Bhartiya Janta Party had pulled off alliance with People’s Democratic Party in year 2018, leading the Jammu Kashmir state towards uncertainty, just before the few months of article 370 abrogation.

Then, came the dramatic twist, when Mehbooba Mufti faced a letter to governor (at that time) Satyapal Malik’s office announcing a joint bid by triple engine (National Conference, Congress, PDP) to form the government in the state.

What happened few hours later, was the another keystone twist, when Governor satya Pal Malik without recognising the reciept of the fax ordered the dissolution of the assembly. The joint bid as per Mehbooba contained 56 seats off 87 seats.

To this, governor Satya Pal Malik stated that he had missed the Mehbooba’s faxed letter of government formation in the state, and blamed the state holiday for missing the faxed letter.

As the day of 5th August again surfaces, the unusual and bizarre moment was taken by social media users with a great hype.

Satya Pal Malik also stated that there were inside reports of horse trading and a lack of stable configuration. However, Mehbooba Mufti tweeted back with a fiery tweet, ““In today’s age of technology, it is very strange that the fax machine at HE (his excellency) Governor’s residence didn’t receive our fax but swiftly issued one regarding the Assembly dissolution.”

Whereas, Omar Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti, Sajad Lone were engaged into memanter (meme banter). Sajad Lone claimed to have Whatsapped to PA of his Excellency (HE).

Omar’s post featured a looping GIF of a fax machine churning out documents that drop directly into a shredder, symbolizing instant dismissal, whereas, social media users suggested the governor to go for pool money to buy the governor a new fax machine.

Even, the public pulse demanded the answer for why the stake claim faced letter was received, but an order letter for dissolution of assembly was given. Some labelled it as a major gameplan which later turned true as per social media pulse in the format of abrogation of the special status of Jammu Kashmir. Some said the governor was waiting for the right time to act, when the joint bid came, he dissolved the assembly, but Satya Pal Malik defended his dissolution order as he stated that there was no chance of a stable govt.

So far, Girish Chander Murmu,and Manoj Sinha have served as LGs of jammu and kashmir union territory. Leaving all aside, as Satya Pal Malik is no more now, and tributes pour in, the fax machine episode has been an unusual and bizarre moment of his tenure.