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IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
NITIN JAMDAR, CJ, ZIYAD RAHMAN A.A., J.
Suo Motu - Appellant
Versus
Union of India, Rep. by its Secretary, New Delhi - Respondent
W.P. (C) No. 7547 of 2025
Decided On : 21-08-2025
| Table of Content |
|---|
| 1. overview of lakshadweep legal jurisdiction (Para 1 , 2 , 3) |
| 2. background of the petition and administrative issues (Para 4 , 5 , 6) |
| 3. topography and historical context of jurisdiction (Para 7 , 8) |
| 4. legal history influencing current governance (Para 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13) |
| 5. evolution of judicial roles in lakshadweep (Para 14 , 15 , 16) |
| 6. current judicial structure and its implications (Para 17 , 18 , 19 , 20) |
| 7. need for focused judicial administration (Para 21) |
| 8. recent assessments and administrative reports (Para 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29) |
| 9. key issues for consideration in judicial proceedings (Para 30 , 31 , 32) |
| 10. implementation of ict in judicial process (Para 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44) |
| 11. power supply issues affecting court functionalities (Para 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52) |
| 12. importance of physical court infrastructure (Para 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60) |
| 13. priorities in filling court staff positions (Para 61 , 62 , 63 , 64) |
| 14. need for a distinct judicial workforce (Para 65 , 66 , 67 , 68) |
| 15. establishment and functioning of family courts (Para 69 , 70 , 71 , 72 , 73 , 74) |
| 16. public prosecutor roles and recruitment issues (Para 75 , 76 , 77 , 78) |
| 17. welfare considerations for advocates (Para 79 , 80) |
| 18. status of mukhtyars in the legal framework (Para 81 , 82) |
| 19. juvenile justice provisions and their challenges (Para 83 , 84 , 85) |
| 20. implementation of child welfare committee functions (Para 86 , 87 , 88) |
| 21. issues regarding mental healthcare delivery (Para 89 , 90) |
| 22. probe into domestic violence legislation enforcement (Para 91 , 92) |
| 23. probation officer appointments and challenges (Para 93 , 94) |
| 24. functions of committees under the ndps act (Para 95 , 96 , 97) |
| 25. need for statutory transparency in legal matters (Para 98 , 99 , 100) |
| 26. summary of judicial initiatives and future considerations (Para 101 , 102 , 103 , 104 , 105 , 106) |
| 27. formation and role of the lakshadweep judicial administration committee (Para 107 , 108 , 109) |
| 28. request for formal orders and administrative support (Para 110 , 111) |
JUDGMENT :
Nitin Jamdar, C.J.
1. Introduction Lakshadweep, an archipelago of islands off the west coast of Kerala in the Arabian Sea, falls under the jurisdiction of the High Court of Kerala. The issues concerning the administration of justice in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep are the subject matter of this petition.
2. Lakshadweep consists of 36 islands, 12 atolls, three reefs, and five submerged banks. Inhabited islands are Agatti, Amini, Andrott, Bitra, Chetlat, Kadmat, Kalpeni, Kavaratti, Kiltan, and Minicoy. The uninhabited islands are Viringili, Cheriyam, Kodithala, Tilakkam-I, Tilakkam-II, Tilakkam-III, Pitti-I, Pitti-II, Bangaram, Tinnakara, Parali-I, Parali-II, Parali-III, Kalpitti, Suheli Valiyakara, Suheli Cheriyakara, and Pitti-Bird Island.
3. The District Court for Lakshadweep is at Kavaratti. The Court of Munsiff at Andrott exercises jurisdiction over Kavaratti, Andrott, Minicoy, and Kalpeni. A Sub Judge Court at Amini has jurisdiction over Amini, Agatti, Kadmat, Kiltan, Chetlat, and Bitra. Air connection to the mainland is through the airstrip at Agatti. Travel from the mainland to the islands by ship takes considerable time, particularly during inclement weather. The monsoon prevails in the region from around 15 May to 15 September, during which inter-island transportation is severely affected by turbulent seas. The islands are scattered and separated from each other, with courts functioning on only three of the thirty-six islands. The distances between them are considerable, with ship as the only available means of transport. This unique topography and isolation of Lakshadweep islands present significant challenges to the effective administration of justice, which this judgment seeks to address.
4. In July 2020, an advocate and resident of Kalpeni Island filed this petition, W.P. (C) No. 7547 of 2025, for the appointment of Pub
The court asserted the necessity of establishing robust judicial infrastructure and processes in Lakshadweep to ensure effective justice delivery in a geographically isolated context.
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