Plain English: This is the basic rule for all Union Territories (UTs). It states that every UT shall be administered by the President of India. The President performs this administration through an “Administrator” whom they appoint. The President can give this Administrator any title they want.
Real-World Example: In Delhi, Puducherry, and Andaman & Nicobar, the Administrator is called the “Lieutenant Governor” (LG). In Chandigarh, they are just called the “Administrator.” In all cases, they are the agents of the President.
Clause (2):
Plain English: The President has the option to appoint the Governor of a neighboring state to also be the Administrator of a UT.
Crucial Detail: When a Governor is “wearing this second hat” as an Administrator, they act independently of their state’s Council of Ministers. They report directly to the President (i.e., the Union Government in Delhi).
Real-World Example: The Governor of Punjab is, by default, also the Administrator of the Union Territory of Chandigarh. When they are making a decision about a policy for the city of Chandigarh, they do not need to ask the Chief Minister of Punjab for advice.
Article 240: Power of President to make regulations for certain Union territories.
Clause (1):
Plain English: The President is given the full power to make laws (called “Regulations”) for the “peace, progress and good government” of the following specific Union Territories:
(a) The Andaman and Nicobar Islands
(b) Lakshadweep
(c) Dadra and Nagar Haveli
(d) Daman and Diu
(e) Puducherry
Real-World Example: The President, on the advice of the Union Home Ministry, can issue a “Regulation” to ban a certain type of plastic in the Andaman Islands to protect the environment. This “Regulation” has the same force as an Act of Parliament.
Proviso to Clause (1):
Plain English: This is an exception only for Puducherry. The President’s special power to make regulations for Puducherry is suspended as long as the UT has a functioning local legislature (Assembly).
Real-World Example: Since Puducherry has its own elected Assembly, the President does not normally make “Regulations” for it. The Assembly makes its own laws.
Second Proviso to Clause (1):
Plain English: This is the exception to the exception. The President gets back the power to make regulations for Puducherry if its local Assembly is “dissolved” or its functioning is “suspended” (e.g., during a period of President’s Rule in the UT).
Real-World Example: The Puducherry Assembly is dissolved for new elections. In the meantime, an urgent law is needed. The President can now step in and issue a “Regulation” to handle the matter.
Clause (2):
Plain English: A “Regulation” made by the President under this article is extremely powerful. It has the same force as an Act of Parliament and can even be used to repeal or amend an existing Act of Parliament in its application to that UT.
Real-World Example: Parliament passed an all-India “Coastal Zone Act” in 2011. The President, if they deem it necessary, could issue a “Lakshadweep Regulation” in 2024 that amends certain clauses of that 2011 Act, making a special version of the law that applies only to Lakshadweep.
Article 241: High Courts for Union territories.
Clause (1):
Plain English: This gives Parliament the power to pass a law to:
Create a brand new High Court for any Union Territory (UT).
Declare an existing court inside a UT to be the High Court for that UT.
Real-World Example: Parliament passed a law to establish the Delhi High Court as the specific High Court for the National Capital Territory of Delhi.
Clause (2):
Plain English: This says that the rules in Part VI, Chapter V (which we’ve already covered, e.g., appointment of judges, salaries) will apply to these new UT High Courts, but Parliament can modify those rules as needed.
Clause (3):
Plain English: This is a “continuity” clause. It says that any High Court that already had jurisdiction over a UT before the 1956 (7th Amendment) changes, will continue to have it.
Real-World Example: The Calcutta High Court had jurisdiction over the Andaman & Nicobar Islands before 1956, and this clause (along with Art. 230) allows that arrangement to continue today.
Clause (4):
Plain English: This clarifies that this article doesn’t stop Parliament from using its other power (under Art. 230) to “share” a state’s High Court with a UT.
Real-World Example: This article allows for the creation of the Delhi High Court (a dedicated UT High Court). Article 230 allows for the Bombay High Court (a state High Court) to be shared with the UTs of Daman & Diu. This article just confirms both models are valid.
Article 242: [Coorg.]
Plain English: This article was about special provisions for the state of Coorg. It was repealed and removed from the Constitution by the 7th Amendment Act in 1956, as Coorg was merged into the state of Mysore (now Karnataka) and no longer existed as a separate entity. It is now only of historical importance.
