Which former Chief Justice of India was later appointed as the Governor of Kerala?

Introduction / Context:
Sometimes senior judges and Chief Justices of India are appointed to constitutional or gubernatorial posts after retirement. This question checks awareness of one such case where a former Chief Justice became Governor of a state. It focuses on Kerala and requires matching the correct name from among important public figures.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The question mentions a former Chief Justice of India later appointed as Governor of Kerala.
- Options list two former Chief Justices, another former Chief Justice and a film actress as a distractor.
- The learner should know at least some examples of judges who moved to gubernatorial positions.
- We assume basic knowledge of Indian judiciary and state level posts.

Concept / Approach:
The correct concept is that Justice P. Sathasivam, after retiring as Chief Justice of India, was appointed as Governor of Kerala. K. G. Balakrishnan served as Chief Justice and later as Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission, not as Governor of Kerala. R. M. Lodha also served as Chief Justice but did not become Governor of Kerala. Suchitra Sen was a famous film actress and has no link with the judiciary or governorship. Therefore, the task is to recall this specific career move of Justice Sathasivam.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify which names in the options are actually former Chief Justices of India. Step 2: Recognise that K. G. Balakrishnan, P. Sathasivam and R. M. Lodha all served as Chief Justice at different periods, whereas Suchitra Sen was a film star. Step 3: Recall news reports stating that P. Sathasivam was appointed Governor of Kerala after retirement from the Supreme Court. Step 4: Remember that Balakrishnan went to the National Human Rights Commission and Lodha did not become Governor of Kerala. Step 5: Conclude that P. Sathasivam is the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
For verification, candidates can match typical headline patterns: P. Sathasivam is often mentioned as the first former Chief Justice of India to become a Governor of a state. K. G. Balakrishnan is mostly mentioned in connection with being the first Dalit Chief Justice and later NHRC chairperson. Suchitra Sen appears only in cinema contexts, and R. M. Lodha is associated with judicial reforms and committee work, not a governorship in Kerala. These distinctions confirm the answer beyond doubt.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
K. G. Balakrishnan did become an important post retirement office bearer in NHRC but is not associated with the position of Governor of Kerala.
R. M. Lodha, though a former Chief Justice, did not assume the office of Governor of Kerala as per common GK and news references.
Suchitra Sen was a legendary Bengali film actress and has no connection with the judiciary or gubernatorial responsibilities.
Thus, all these alternatives conflict with the specific requirement of the question.

Common Pitfalls:
The main confusion arises between Balakrishnan and Sathasivam because both are linked with Kerala in public discourse and served as Chief Justices. Students may misremember which one became Governor. To avoid this, remember a clear mapping: "P. Sathasivam – former CJI who became Governor of Kerala" and "K. G. Balakrishnan – former CJI who became NHRC chairperson".

Final Answer:
P. Sathasivam