Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 20 June 2023
In a significant move, the Private Members’ Bill introduced by Member of Parliament Mr. Kuldeep Rai Sharma, demanding the grant of Legislative Assembly status to Andaman and Nicobar Islands, will be discussed in the Parliament on 21st July and 11th August.
The bill, introduced on 3rd December 2021, aims to amend the Constitution of India by adding Article 239C, which will provide special provisions for Andaman and Nicobar Islands concerning the establishment of a Legislative Assembly. This move comes in response to the longstanding demand of the Island’s residents, who seek to have a legislative body on the lines of National Capital Territory of Delhi and Puducherry.
The creation of a Legislature for Andaman and Nicobar Islands has been a subject of discussion for several years, with the demand gaining momentum during the Home Ministry Advisory Committee meeting on 28th July 2017.
Securing the fifth position in the Private Members’ Bill ballot held on 6th July 2023, the bill has now been included in the List of Bills to be discussed during the upcoming sessions. The bill’s discussion will allow Members of Parliament from various parties to present their views and initiate a national-level debate on the demand for a Legislative Assembly in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
With the population of the islands steadily increasing, the need for a dedicated platform to express their voices and have local governance through democratic means has become more apparent.
The bill envisions establishing a democratic setup in the form of a Legislative Assembly with constitutional powers for the Union Territory. It also includes provisions for a Chief Minister and Council of Ministers for Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
This bill is a crucial step in giving a voice to the people of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and fulfilling their long-pending demand for a separate Legislative Assembly. The creation of a Legislature will lay the foundation of democracy in the region.
The upcoming discussions in the Parliament on 21st July and 11th August are expected to shed light on the matter and consider the justifiability of granting the Island territory a Legislative Assembly status. The move, if approved, will empower the people of Andaman and Nicobar Islands with a greater say in their governance and pave the way for further development with the rest of the nation.