Union Territories Administration – Current Affairs June 2025 | TNPSC Group 1

Supreme Court Reiterates LG’s Subordinate Role in Puducherry Administration

The Supreme Court, reaffirming the 2018 Constitution Bench ruling in NCT of Delhi v. Union of India, clarified that the Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry must act on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers on subjects within the State List, and cannot act independently except on reserved matters referred to the President. The judgment reinforced that elected governments in UTs with legislatures retain executive primacy on transferred subjects.

GS Paper II – Indian Constitution and GovernanceUnion Territories → UTs with Legislature → Art.239A (Puducherry) → Role of LG

J&K Statehood Restoration Bill Deliberations Intensify in Parliament

Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs reviewed the roadmap for restoring Jammu & Kashmir’s statehood, which was downgraded to a UT with legislature under the J&K Reorganisation Act 2019. The Supreme Court in December 2023 had set a September 2024 election deadline; post-elections, the statehood question remains constitutionally live. Aspirants must note J&K is a UT with a legislature (like Puducherry) but without permanent residency provisions for outsiders owning land being debated afresh.

GS Paper II – Constitutional Amendments and ReorganisationUnion Territories → J&K Reorganisation Act 2019 → Art.3 → UT with Legislature

Delhi LG Overrides AAP Government on Transfer Postings Under GNCTD Amendment Act 2023

Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor exercised authority over the National Capital Civil Service Authority (NCCSA) constituted under the Government of NCT of Delhi (Amendment) Act 2023, directing transfers of senior IAS officers without Cabinet concurrence. This Act, passed after the Supreme Court’s May 2023 ruling that gave Delhi government control over services, reversed that verdict through a legislative override. The tussle is a model question topic on the special status of Delhi under Article 239AA and the limits of an elected UT government.

GS Paper II – Centre-State Relations; Special Status of DelhiUnion Territories → Delhi Special Status → Art.239AA → GNCTD Act 1991 → GNCTD Amendment 2023

Ladakh Tribal Leaders Demand Sixth Schedule Protection and Statehood

The Leh Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance jointly petitioned the Central Government demanding inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution to protect tribal land rights, along with public service reservations for local residents. Ladakh is the only UT without a legislature (along with Andaman & Nicobar, Chandigarh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, and Lakshadweep). This issue tests knowledge of the distinction between UTs with and without legislatures.

GS Paper II – Tribal Administration; Sixth Schedule; UT AdministrationUnion Territories → UTs without Legislature → Art.239 → Sixth Schedule Applicability

Chandigarh Administrator Issues Ordinance-Like Directions Under Article 239

The Administrator of Chandigarh, acting as a direct agent of the President under Article 239, issued executive directions on municipal governance bypassing elected local bodies, sparking debate on democratic accountability in UTs without legislatures. Since Chandigarh has no legislature, the President administers it through the Administrator and Parliament alone can legislate for it under Article 246(4). This is a frequently tested static-dynamic link in TNPSC Group 1 Prelims and Mains.

GS Paper II – Union Executive; Local Governance in UTsUnion Territories → UTs without Legislature → Art.239 + Art.246(4) → Administrator’s Powers