Image Source Feb 18, 2021 12:35 IST · 1 min read
Lieutenant governors and administrators
India has 28 states and 8 Union Territories, the 28 states are headed by the governor of the respective state but the Union Territories are governed by the Lieutenant Governors and Administrators.The lieutenant governor and administrators are appointed by the President of India for a term of five years, and holds office at the President's pleasure.
Administrators are usually drawn from the IAS or IPS. Since 1985 the Governor of Punjab has also been the ex-officio Administrator of Chandigarh.
A lieutenant governor is the constitutional head of five union territories ("Delhi", "Jammu and Kashmir", "Puducherry", "Andaman and Nicobar Islands", "Ladakh"), other three union territories ("Chandigarh", "Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu", "Lakshadweep") are governed by an administrator.
The union territories of Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir and Puducherry have a measure of self-government with an elected legislature and council of ministers.
The Government of Union Territories Act, 1963 says that the UT will be administered by the President of India through a Lieutenant Governor.
In case of a difference of opinion between the Lieutenant Governor (LG) and his Ministers on any matter, the Administrator is bound to refer it to the President for a decision and act accordingly.
Related Info
The President has directed that Dr. Kiran Bedi shall cease to hold the office of the Lieutenant-Governor of Puducherry and has appointed Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan, Governor of Telangana, to discharge the functions of the Lieutenant-Governor of Puducherry.The Government of Union Territories Act, 1963 provides for a Legislative Assembly of Puducherry, with a Council of Ministers to govern the UT.