• Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry Kiran Bedi was removed from her post on February 16.

• A brief communique issued by Rashtrapati Bhavan said the President has directed that Bedi “shall cease to hold the office of the Lieutenant-Governor of Puducherry”.

• President Ram Nath Kovind gave the additional charge of the Union Territory to Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan “with effect from the date she assumes charge of her office, until regular arrangements for the office of Lieutenant-Governor of Puducherry are made”.

• The direction from the President comes amid the political crisis where the ruling Congress-led government has been reduced to a minority after one more MLA quit the party on February 16.

Profile of Kiran Bedi

• Kiran Bedi is the first woman to join the Indian Police Service (IPS) in 1972.

• She remained in service for 35 years and moved up to the highest rank, Director General, Bureau of Police Research and Development.

• Bedi served as Police Advisor to the Secretary-General of the United Nations in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations in New York.

• She is recipient of the Ramon Magsaysay Award, also called Asia’s Nobel Peace Award, for bringing about a positive relationship between police and people.

• She assumed office as Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry on May 29, 2016.

• Bedi has written many books which include ‘It’s Always Possible’, ‘As I See...’, ‘Creating Leadership: Illustrations from My Top Cop Years’.

Administration in Union Territories

There are eight Union Territories (UTs) in India.

1) Andaman and Nicobar Islands

2) Chandigarh

3) Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu

4) Lakshadweep

5) Jammu & Kashmir

6) Ladakh

7) Puducherry

8) National Capital Territory of Delhi. 

• The Union Territories are specified in Part-II of the First Schedule to the Constitution of India. 

• These territories are administered in accordance with the provisions of Article 239 to 241 of the Constitution of India. 

• Every Union Territory is administered by an Administrator appointed by the President under Article 239 of the Constitution of India. 

• Out of these eight Union Territories, NCT of Delhi, Puducherry and Jammu & Kashmir have legislatures and Council of Ministers while the rest of the UTs are without legislature.

• The Governor of Punjab is concurrently the Administrator of Chandigarh.

• In Delhi, Puducherry, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh the Administrators are designated as Lieutenant Governors.

• Under the Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules 1961, ministry of home affairs is the nodal ministry for all matters of UTs relating to legislation, finance & budget, services and appointment of Lieutenant Governors and Administrators.

• The five UTs without legislature have the forum of Home Minister’s Advisory Committee (HMAC ) / Administrator’s advisory Committee (AAC). While HMAC is chaired by the Union Home Minister, AAC is chaired by the Administrator of the concerned UT.

• Members of Parliament and elected members from the local bodies (District Panchayats and Municipal Council) of the respective UTs are the members of these committees among others. The Committee discusses the general issues relating to social and economic development of the UTs.

Union Territory of Puducherry

• Puducherry is a Union Territory with a legislature. It comprises four regions namely Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam lying geographically separated from one another.

• The Legislative Assembly of Puducherry may make laws with respect to matters enumerated in List II or List III in the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution so far as these matters are applicable in relation to the Union Territory.

• Some Bills, passed by the Legislative Assembly of Puducherry and NCT of Delhi are required to be reserved for consideration and assent of the President. 

Removal of governor

• The governor is appointed by the President which really means, by the Union Council of Ministers. The governor holds office during the pleasure of the President and there is no security of his/her tenure. He can be removed by the President at any time.

• Article 156 of the Constitution deals with the term of office of governor. 

It says that: 

(1) The Governor shall hold office during the pleasure of the President. 

(2) The Governor may, by writing under his hand addressed to the President, resign his office. 

(3) Subject to the foregoing provisions of this article, a Governor shall hold office for a term of five years from the date on which he enters upon his office.

Supreme Court order on removal of governors

• In 2010, the Supreme Court had ruled that the governors of states cannot be changed in an arbitrary and capricious manner with the change of power.

• A five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice K.G.Balakrishnan held that a Governor can be replaced only under “compelling reasons” for proven misconduct or other irregularities.

• The apex court said though the governor is appointed and remains in office at the pleasure of the President, he or she cannot be removed merely because they are “not in sync” with the party in power.

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