Political and Administrative Setup of Union Territories in India

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The Union of India comprises of 'States' and 'Territories', the territories are known as Union Territories according to the Seventh Constitutional Amendment Act. The dominant central control is the hallmark of such territories. Being located strategically and separated by long distances they are spread le resins in a cake on the map of India. Most of these territories, are backward and are tribal in character. The administrative apparatus operating in these areas is not uniform. Their peculiar constitutional position and administrative structure attracts the attention. As such they constitute the extraordinary feature of the Indian Constitution and are of great academic interest on the following four grounds :

1. All the Union Territories do not have the same pattern of administration. Some of them have been given legislatures while others have Councils only. The assemblies which have been created in these territories are not in parity with legislatures existing in the States.

2. These territories are under the control of the President. They are governed by Lt. Governors or Administrators or Chief Commissioners. This pattern of administration is different from other States. A Lt. Governor enjoys more powers than the Governors of the States.

3. Though these units of the Indian Union are under the control of the President they do not have representation on the Electoral College which elects the President.

4. They do not seem to be real constituent units of the Indian federation (as pointed out in S. K. Singh vs. V. V. Giri, AIR 1970). The Union Territories are not States and legislatures created under Art. 239-An are not Lucknow, Delhi Metropolitan Council Library. Delhi, JNU Library, New Delhi, Gorakhpur University Library, Groakhpur and Railway Library. Gorakhpur. I am thankful to Dr. Yogendra Nath Misra, Lecturer in Political Science, Jawaharlal Nehru College, Barabanki who helped in the collection of Materials.

I am grateful to Shri Manoranjan Bhakta, MP. Andaman and Nicobar Islands; Shri P. K. Thungon, MP, Ex-Chief Minister, Arunachal Pradesh; Shri V. P. Naik and Shri Eduardo Falerio, MP Goa, Daman and Diu; Shri P. Shanumugan, MP. Pondicherry, Shri P. M. Sayeed, MP. Lakshadweep; Shri Laldhuama, MP, Mizoram and Shri Rattan Singh, Dy. Commissioner, Labour Department, Pondicherry-for giving their valuable time to discuss the problems concerning the Union Territories. I am also obliged to the Councillors of Delhi Metropolitan Council for giving me enough time to discuss various problems pertaining to Delhi and especially to Shri Jag Pravesh Chandra, the Chief Executive Councillor.

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