Which of the Indian Union Territories has a Legislative Assembly

Currently, the union territories of Delhi and Puducherry have a legislative assembly and council of ministers. This article will briefly throw more light on the legislative assembly and administration of union territories.

Legislative Assembly – Union Territory Administration

The President of India administers the union territories of India through an administrator appointed by the President.

  • The administrators of Puducherry, Delhi, Andaman & Nicobar Islands are designated as Lieutenant Governors.
  • The Administrator of Dadra and Nagar Haveli is concurrently the Administrator of Daman and Diu.
  • The Governor of Punjab is concurrently the Administrator of Chandigarh.

Legislative Assembly of Puducherry

  • The Legislative assembly of the Union Territory of Puducherry has the powers to make laws with respect to matters mentioned in List III or List II in the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution.

Legislative Assembly of National Capital Territory of Delhi

  • The Legislative assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi has the powers to make laws with respect to matters mentioned in List III or List II in the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution with the exception that Entries 18, 2 and 1 of the List II are not within the legislative powers of the legislative assembly.

Legislative Assembly of Union Territories – Exception to some Bills

  • Some bills passed by the legislative assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi and the legislative assembly of Puducherry require the approval of the President of India.
  • Some categories of bills require the prior approval of the Central Government before they can be introduced in the legislative assembly of the union territories.

Legislative Assembly – Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir

  • Currently the posts of speaker, deputy speaker, leader of the house (chief minister), deputy leader of the house (deputy chief minister), and leader of the opposition lie vacant as the Governor of the former state of Jammu & Kashmir dissolved the Jammu and Kashmir legislative assembly on 21st November 2018.
  • The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, passed by the Parliament of India in August 2019 converted the state of Jammu & Kashmir into two new union territories – Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir.
  • Prior to the passage of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act in August 2019, Jammu & Kashmir had a bicameral legislative assembly.
  • On 16th October 2019, the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Council was formally abolished after Jammu & Kashmir was converted into a union territory.
  • Although the Jammu and Kashmir legislative assembly is currently vacant, the legislative assembly members will be elected when the next state assembly elections are held.
  • In March 2020, a 3-member Delimitation Commission was appointed to carry out the delimitation of the union territory of Jammu & Kashmir.
  • The final report of the Delimitation Commission was submitted on 5th May 2022, which came into force on 20th May 2022.
  • After the enforcement of the recommendation of the Delimitation Commission, in the next state elections, Jammu and Kashmir legislative assembly will be contested for a total of 90 seats.
  • 24 seats were always reserved for areas currently under the illegal occupation of Pakistan. These seats remain officially vacant.

Related Links

State Legislature – Powers & Functions of Legislative Assembly & Legislative Council

Difference between Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha) and Legislative Council (Vidhan Parishad)

Parliament and State Legislature: Comparison To Understand State Legislature vs Parliament

List of State Legislative Council of India [UPSC Notes]

Difference between Legislative and Executive

Separation of Powers in the Indian Constitution – Relationship between Executive, Legislature and Judiciary

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1

Does Jammu & Kashmir have a legislative assembly?

Jammu & Kashmir had a bicameral legislative assembly when it held the status of a state. On 16th October 2019, the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Council was formally abolished after it became a union territory. On 21st November 2018, the Governor dissolved the Jammu and Kashmir legislative assembly. In the next Jammu and Kashmir legislative election the total tally of seats will be 90.
Q2

Does Ladakh have a legislative assembly?

Ladakh does not have an elected legislative assembly. The two districts of Ladakh elect their own autonomous district councils. There is Kargil Autonomous Hill Development Council and Leh Autonomous Hill Development council.
Q3

How many union territories have legislative assemblies?

Currently, the National Capital Territory of Delhi and Union Territory of Puducherry each has a legislative assembly and council of ministers. On 16th October 2019, the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Council was formally abolished after it became a union territory.
Q4

Does Chandigarh have a legislative assembly?

The union territory of Chandigarh does not have a separate legislative assembly. Chandigarh is a city, a union territory. Chandigarh is the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana. The city of Chandigarh has the legislative assemblies of Punjab and Haryana.
Q5

Does Jammu & Kashmir have a bicameral legislature?

When Jammu and Kashmir had the status of a state, it had a bicameral legislature, i.e., there was a Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly and Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Council. On 21st November 2018, the Governor dissolved the Jammu and Kashmir legislative assembly and on 16th October 2019, the Legislative council of Jammu and Kashmir was abolished.