Meghalaya governor K. K. Paul takes oath at Raj Bhavan in Shillong. File picture

Shillong, July 22: The present occupant of Raj Bhavan here has done away with “colonial words like His Excellency” and replaced them with “Hon’ble governor”.

Adhering to the order issued by President Pranab Mukherjee, Meghalaya governor Krishan Kant Paul will not be addressed as “Your Excellency” any longer.

“The Meghalaya governor has approved the discontinuance of the salutation ‘His Excellency’ while organising functions within the state. This salutation for the governor, however, will continue during his interactions with foreign dignitaries,” principal secretary to governor, M.S. Rao, said in a statement.

Rao said the governor desired that during ceremonial occasions in the state where currently the salutation “His Excellency” is used, the future practice would be to use the words “Hon’ble governor”.

Paul, a former commissioner of Delhi police, took over from Ranjit Shekhar Mooshahary as Meghalaya governor on July 8.

All along, governors in the state have been addressed as “Your Excellency” while chief ministers, ministers and legislators have been given the salutation “Hon’ble”.

In October last year, a few months after becoming the new First Citizen, President Mukherjee directed that the word “Hon’ble” be used for President or Governor.