Administration in Lakshadweep
The Union Territory of Lakshadweep is like a jewel in Arabian Sea of India. Lakshadweep is a group of coral islands and islets scattered very randomly and out of the 36 islands, only ten islands are inhabited. These islands lie about almost 220 to 420 km off the Malabar Coast with most of them being isolated geographically, each island is almost like a country in itself (called ‘Nadu’ in local tongue, meaning ‘Desh’ in Hindi).Lakshadweep has a total area of 4200 sq.km of lagoon area; the total surface area is about 32 sq.km only. The total population of Lakshadweep as per the census of 2011 was 64429. With above geographic limitations, Lakshadweep is naturally blessed with unparalleled natural beauty and serenity with huge marine resources. The white sandy beaches and crystal clear lagoons are something which attract tourists from all over the world to these islands. Lakshadweep with all these islands forms a single district which is administered by an Administrator who is appointed by the President of India under the article of 239 of the Constitution.
The official languages spoken here are Malayali and English with 84% ethnicity of Malayali people residing here. The current administrator appointed here is Mr. H Rajesh Prasad. There are ten sub divisions presently in Lakshadweep. Eight sub-divisional officers coordinate various developmental activities in eight islands, in Agatti and in Minicoy islands, the sub-division is headed by the District Collector. Here, although the various departmental offices are separately working, District Administration and Administration Secretariat are operating from the Secretariat as one unit as a single file system.
Lakshadweep District Collector’s Office
As others, the District of Lakshadweep is also having a District Collector’s office who is also the Development Commissioner as well as the District Magistrate and is responsible for the matters of administration of District and areas such as revenue, law and order and land settlement. The District Magistrate is supported and assisted by Additional District Magistrate and ten other executive magistrates to look and enforce the law and order in the district. Currently, the District Magistrate or the District Collector is Mr. J. Ashok Kumar who is an experienced IAS.Collectorate, UT of Lakshadweep
Phone – 04896-262256, 263398
Fax - 04896-263180
Lakshadweep Development Corporation Limited
Lakshadweep Development Corporation Limited or LDCL is a fully owned government company registered under Companies Act 1956, which was consequently formed with a Managing Director of IAS cadre, Pay and Accounts and other developmental departments were brought under the preview of LDCL with appointment of senior officers designated as secretaries of these allotted departments including the Development Commissioner or the Collector. The major objective of establishing LDCL held under the memorandum of association were to survey, manufacture, breed, conserve, culture, preserve and convert deals in wholesale or retail for buying, selling import, export, market all varieties of fish.It was also looked to establish market, sell, preserve, protect and deal in the agriculture produce. Look and embark operation of civil supplies, deal in raw materials used in industries and to deal in finished goods. The body was also formed to look into the matters of business operations of ships of both cargo and passenger plus also acquire ships for passenger and cargo operations for Lakshadweep Administration and Government Officials.
Lakshadweep development Corporation Ltd.
27/1038B, Panampilly Nagar, Ernakulum
Kochi- 682036
Police in Lakshadweep
The police department comes under the Administrator who is also the IGP as a capacity. Currently, there are 349 personnel in Lakshadweep Police who are directly under nine police stations plus there are two police stations out posts and 1 police aid post. The vigilance and anti-corruption unit functioning here comes directly under the supervision of Vigilance Officer based at Secretariat.Superintendent of Police
U.T. of Lakshadweep, Kavaratti - 682555
Phone – 04896- 262258, 262750
Indian Reserve Battalion in Lakshadweep
Union Government of India had specifically created IR Battalion for Lakshadweep, Dadar & Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu in order to maintain law and order and help police in the same. 355 personnel under the same are placed in Lakshadweep. For additional support and strength Lakshadweep Home Guards and Lakshadweep Marine Police has been additionally introduced in recent years. Lakshadweep Naval Detachment and Coast Guard
Naval Detachment and Coast Guard units have been recently set up at Kavaratti and Minicoy Island.High Court Lakshadweep
The Union Territory of Lakshadweep comes under the jurisdiction of the Kerala High Court. There are various Munsiff courts in island of Andrott which controls the jurisdiction of islands of Andrott, Kavaratti, Kalpeni, and Minicoy. The jurisdiction of other islands which are Agatti, Amini, Kiltan, Kadmat, Bitra and Chetlat islands is in Amini. For any concerned jurisdiction these courts also act as First class Court of Judicial Magistrate. The Magistrate in charge of the Andrott court is the Chief Judicial Magistrate of these courts.District and Sessions Court in Lakshadweep
From April 1997, the sub court of Kavaratti was upgraded as District and Sessions Court.District & Sessions Judge
Kavaratti
Phone – 04896- 263138, 262233
LPWD
The PWD takes care of Planning, Construction, Designing and maintenance of Buildings, Flood control, Roads, Sewage systems, Water Supply and activities related to Town planning in Lakshadweep islands. LPWD aims for the quantity and quality management through best and most modern techniques and through human resource development. The user satisfaction on quality and the application of appropriate technology is kept as most important. Due care is taken for application of modern technology taking aesthetics under consideration.Superintending Engineer LPWD
Kavaratti
Phone – 04896- 262252, 262331