The Department of Panchayats is the Nodal Department for the Panchayati Raj Institutions in Lakshadweep. Its functions include constitution of Panchayats, guiding and assisting the PRIs, providing required infrastructure and empowering them as local self-government Institutions. It also coordinates the Panchayats with different departments and the agencies of the Administration and Ministries.
The Lakshadweep Panchayats Regulation, 1994 under which 10 Village (Dweep) Panchayats and one District Panchayats were constituted has been repealed and in its place, a new Regulation, Lakshadweep Panchayat Regulation, 2022 is promulgated. Under the provisions of the new Regulation, the Administrator, UT of Lakshadweep has notified the Panchayats in islands and a District Panchayat for the entire Union Territory of Lakshadweep. (copy of the notification attached).
However, due to a Court case pending the Hon.ble High Court of Kerala the General Election to the Panchayats could not be held. Hence, in exercise of the powers under Section .63 (3&4) of LPR, 2022, the Hon’ble Administrator has appointed Special Officers for each Panchayat and the Panchayats are being run by them.