Union Territories

• Articles 239 to 241 in Part VIII of the Constitution deal with the union territories.
  
• Article 1 of the Constitution deals with the territory of India.

Three categories of territories:

(a) territories of the states
(b) union territories
(c) territories that may be acquired by the Government of India at any time.

• Now, there are twenty-eight states, eight union territories in India.
  
• The union territories are under the direct control and administration of the Central government.(‘centrally administered territories’).
  
• In 1956, they were constituted as the ‘union territories’ by the 7th
  
• Constitutional Amendment Act (1956).
  
• In 1992, Delhi was predesignated as the National Capital Territory of Delhi. Till 2006, Puducherry was known as Pondicherry.
  
• In 2019, the Jammu and Kashmir was bifurcated into two separate union territories (the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, and the Union territory of Ladakh).
  
• Every union territory is administered by the President acting through an administrator appointed by him.
  
• Puducherry, Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir have their own local legislatures.
  
• The President can make regulations for the peace, progress and good government of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu and Ladakh.
  
• The Parliament can establish a high court for a union territory or place it under the jurisdiction of the high court of a nearby state.
  
• Delhi is the only union territory that has a high court of its own (since 1966).
  
• The Jammu and Kashmir High Court is the common high court for the two union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
  
• Ministry of Home Affairs is the nodal ministry for all matters of Union Territories relating to legislation, finance and budget, services and appointment of Lt. Governors and Administrators.

Important Articles-

• 239. Administration of Union territories
  
• 239AA. Special provisions with respect to Delhi
  
• 239B. Power of administrator to promulgate Ordinances during recess of Legislature
  
• 240. Power of President to make regulations for certain Union territories
  
• 241. High Courts for Union territories