Position Held

·          Governor of Karnataka 25 June 2009 – 28 June 2014

·          Governor of Kerala  1 March 2012 – 9 March 2013

·         Minister of Law and Justice  22 May 2004 – 28 May 2009

·         Minister of State in the Ministry of Law and Justice from 31 December 1984 to November 1989

·         Minister of State (Independent Charge) in the Ministry of Planning and Programme Implementation from 21 June 1991 to 2           July 1992

·         Minister of State in the Ministry of Law, Justice and Company Affairs from 3 July 1992 to May 1996

·         Union Cabinet Minister of Law and Justice  from 22 May 2004 to 28 May 2009.

Member of

·         Rajya Sabha in April 1982

·         Rajya Sabha in April 1994 and April 2000

·         Rajya Sabha in 20 March 2006 from Haryana

He holds the record of having the second longest tenure in Law Ministry since independence