The Indian Constitution deals with the administration of union territories (UTs) in Articles 239 to 241 in Part VIII. While all union territories fall under one category, there is variation in their administrative systems. Here's an overview of the key aspects of the administration of union territories:
1. Administration:
- President's Role: The President of India administers each union territory through an appointed administrator who serves as the President's agent.
- Designation of Administrator: The administrator's title may vary and can be Lieutenant Governor or Administrator. Current designations are:
➤ Lieutenant Governor in the cases of Delhi, Puducherry, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
➤ Administrator in the cases of Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, and Lakshadweep.
2. Legislative Assemblies:
- Some union territories have local legislatures and councils of ministers headed by a chief minister:
➤ Puducherry (1963), Delhi (1992), and Jammu and Kashmir (2019): These union territories have a legislative assembly and a council of ministers.
- Legislative Powers: Although these UTs have their own legislative assemblies, the Parliament retains the power to make laws on any subject of the three lists (including the State List) for the union territories.
3. High Courts:
- Jurisdiction: Parliament can establish a high court for a union territory or place it under the jurisdiction of the high court of an adjacent state.
- Delhi High Court: Delhi is the only union territory with its own high court (since 1966).
➤ Other High Courts:
- Bombay High Court has jurisdiction over Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.
- Calcutta High Court covers Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
- Punjab and Haryana High Court covers Chandigarh.
- Kerala High Court covers Lakshadweep.
- Madras High Court covers Puducherry.
- The Jammu and Kashmir High Court serves both Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
4. Legislative Powers:
- Parliament: Parliament can legislate on any subject of the three lists (including the State List) for union territories. This power remains unaffected even when a UT has a local legislature.
- Local Legislatures: UTs with local legislatures have powers to make laws on subjects from the State and Concurrent Lists.
➤ Puducherry can legislate on any subject from the State and Concurrent Lists.
➤ Delhi can legislate on any subject from the State and Concurrent Lists, except public order, police, and land.
➤ Jammu and Kashmir can legislate on any subject from the State and Concurrent Lists, except public order and police.
The Constitution does not provide separate provisions for the administration of acquired territories, so the provisions for the administration of union territories also apply to them.
