'Why Not Have Full-Time Administrator For Lakshadweep?': Kerala High Court Asks In PIL Alleging Maladministration In Union Territory

The Kerala High Court on Wednesday (August 5) orally asked why a full-time administrator has not been appointed for the Union Territory of Lakshadweep.While considering a public interest litigation pointing out alleged arbitrary actions by the present Administrator's Advisor and seeking a full-time Administrator, the Division Bench of Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Syam Kumar V.M. orally asked:“Why this adhoc administrator? Why can't you have a proper administrator, who can take all decisions?... Can you not have a proper administrator appointed for Lakshadweep? Because it is so strategically located and there are so many issues.”The Additional Solicitor General of India P. Sreekumar representing the Centre replied that there are no rules mandating such an appointment and that it is the prerogative of the President to appoint or give additional charges to an Administrator. Noting that the PIL has also pointed out various other issues, including demolition of educational infrastructure forcing children into one overcrowded school, mass unemployment, public health issues, arbitrary ban on construction, etc., the Court orally observed:“The other thing is school, which is a matter which may require some consideration.”The Court then directed the respondents, including the Advisor to the Administrator of Lakshadweep, the UT of Dadra and Nagar Havely & Daman and Diu (represented by the Home Secretary) as well as the UT of Lakshadweep (represented by the Home Secretary) to file affidavit within 2 weeks:“While the decision of the Hon'ble President to entrust the additional charge to the Administrator cannot be questioned in a writ petition, the other allegations relating to the conduct and functioning of the Administrator in the administration of Lakshadweep call for an affidavit.”The case is posted to August 19 for further consideration.The PIL has highlighted numerous issues, which according to the petitioner, demonstrate visible maladministration and arbitrary action by the officers responsible. Some of the graver issues pointed out were:Destruction of educational infrastructure and substandard facilitiesIt is stated that the islands' administration had arbitrarily demolished various school buildings and the students are forced to go to a single, overcrowded one. The PIL calls for an urgent technical audit of the existing facilities to see if the same meet the standards prescribed by the State or CBSE Boards.Mass unemploymentThe PIL states that the administration closed down various vital industrial units run by the Lakshadweep Development Corporation Ltd. (LDCL), including the DCP unit and the tuna processing unit, rendering many people jobless.“In the absence of the Administrator at islands, the bureaucracy headed by the Advisor to the Administrator may be hyper-active to and uncurbed to take their own whims and fancies like massive premature retirements like on its employees… This is an excessive misuse of powers by the bureaucracy headed by Advisor to the Administrator. This may be the result of long term absence of the Administrator in charge from the islands. The Hon'ble Court may direct an investigation in to this to ascertain the ultra vires actions engaged by the Advisor to Administrator in this action under the supervision of this Hon'ble Court,” adds the plea.Lack of public health facilitiesThe plea points out that the Administration has failed to ensure adequate supply of essential medicines, placing the residents' health at risk. Moreover, the Agatti Super Specialty Hospital lacks doctors, staff, medicines, proper infrastructure and other facilities.Arbitrary ban on constructionIt is stated that the administration has imposed a blanket ban on all construction activities in the island, leaving developmental and housing activities to a halt and thereby, affecting the rights of citizens.Permitting liquor sale and consumption in a predominantly Muslim communityThe PIL states that by permitting sale and consumption of alcohol in the islands under the guise of “tourism promotion”, there was cultural invasion, especially since the islands' residents are predominantly Muslims.Agricultural and veterinary neglectIt is pointed out that there was gross negligence on the part of the administration in addressing a massive white flu fungus infection that affected coconut trees, which forms the backbone of the island's economy.“The veterinary and animal husbandry system has partly paralysed, with no governmental intervention to support livestock owners or address animal diseases,” it is added.The plea thus prays for a direction commanding production of a report of the statuses of the Agatti Super Specialty Hospital and other medical facilities in the islands, the current status of the school infrastructure, teacher-pupil ratio, the action taken to fill up existing vacancies in the Administration, among other reliefs.Case No: WP(PIL) No. 155 of 2026Case Title: Mohammed Muslim Khan P.P. v. Union of India and...

'Why Not Have Full-Time Administrator For Lakshadweep?': Kerala High Court Asks In PIL Alleging Maladministration In Union Territory

K. Salma Jennath

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K. Salma Jennath

'Why Not Have Full-Time Administrator For Lakshadweep?': Kerala High Court Asks In PIL Alleging Maladministration In Union Territory

K. Salma Jennath

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K. Salma Jennath

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