Administrative Setup

The entire Union Territory of Lakshadweep is considered as one district. Earlier the district was divided into four Tehsils. At present there are 10 Sub Divisions. While the Sub Divisional Officers coordinate development activities in 8 islands, in Minicoy and Agatti the Sub Division is under a Deputy Collector. Administration Secretariat was shifted from Kozhikode to Kavaratti in March 1964. With increase in various plan schemes and fund allocation, the necessity of decentralization of department was felt and accordingly in 1972 new offices were created. Though the departmental offices are working separately, Administration Secretariat and District Administration are functioning from the Secretariat Building as compact unit under a single file system.

Matters coming under District Administration, such as revenue, land settlement, law and order are under the purview of the Collector cum Development Commissioner who is also the District Magistrate. Consequent upon the appointment of an officer of Indian Administrative Service as the Managing Director of Lakshadweep Development Corporation Limited (LDCL) and creation of the post of Secretary, Pay and Accounts, the development departments have been allotted among these senior officers including Collector cum Development Commissioner and they are also designated as Secretaries of allotted departments.

The District Magistrate is assisted by one Additional District Magistrate and Ten Executive Magistrates with respect to enforcement of law and order. Lakshadweep Police is under the command and control of Administrator in his capacity as Inspector General of Lakshadweep Police. The Lakshadweep Police has sanctioned strength of 349 personnel for’ 9 Police Stations, 2 Police Out Posts and 1 Police Aid Post. Superintendent of Police is the head of the force. For maintenance of law and order in addition to Police force, Union Government have raised a company of India Reserve Battalion exclusively for Lakshadweep, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu. 355 personnel of IRB are stationed in various islands of Lakshadweep. Lakshadweep Marine Police and Lakshadweep Home Guards have also been raised in the recent years to further strengthen the law and order machinery. Naval Detachment & Coast Guard Units are set up in Kavaratti. A Naval Detachment is functioning in Minicoy island also.

For the purpose of implementing community development schemes the territory is divided into five Community Development Blocks with Kavaratti, Amini, Andrott, Minicoy and Kiltan as block head quarters. To bring Administration closer to the people there are eight Sub Division Officers and two Deputy Collectors posted on all inhabited islands except Bangaram which is part of Agatti Sub Division. They also function as Block Development / Additional Block Development officers of concerned islands.