Lakshadweep Administration Proposed To Change Of HC

Lakshadweep administration proposed to change the jurisdiction of the High Court, protest.

Amid opposition to the administrative reforms initiative, the Lakshadweep administration has proposed to give jurisdiction to the Karnataka High Court instead of Kerala.

Officials said the initiative has been taken after several petitions have been filed in the Kerala High Court against the decisions of island administrator Praful Khoda Patel.

These include changes in the Covid-friendly standard operating procedure, goonda laws, and demolition of fishermen’s huts to widen the road.

Opposition to the proposal to give jurisdiction to Karnataka High Court instead of Kerala.

Law experts say that the jurisdiction of the High Court can be changed only when a law is passed by the Parliament. Lok Sabha member Faisal PP said, “This is the first attempt to transfer the jurisdiction to the Karnataka High Court instead of Kerala.

Don’t know why Patel wants this. This is a complete abuse of office. Like Kerala, the mother tongue of the people of Lakshadweep is Malayalam. If any such proposal is placed in Parliament, we will oppose it.

He said that Save Lakshadweep Front (SLF) is making a peaceful demand for the removal of the administrator from the Centre.

At present, people have to travel 400 km to the Kerala High Court, while the Karnataka High Court will have to travel 1,000 km.

Legal experts say that this will also have an impact on the exchequer, as the trial of the pending case will have to be resumed.

Adviser to the Administrator for feedback on the proposal A. Efforts was made to contact Askar Ali, Collector of Anbarasu and Lakshadweep, but could not be reached.

Patel, the administrator of Daman and Diu, has been given additional charge of Lakshadweep after the death of the then administrator Dineshwar Sharma in the first week of December last year.

So far this year, at least 23 complaints of arbitrariness have reached the court against the administrator of the union territory, the police, and the local government.