History

Judicial Administration at Lakshadweep:

Lakshadweep is an archipelago of a 10 inhabited Islands viz Androth, Amini, Kadmat, Kiltan, Chetlat, Kavaratti, Bitra, Minicoy, Kalpeni and Agatti. The Govt. of India declared the whole islands as Union Territory and the Administration is Governed by the Administrator appointed by Govt. of India from time to time.

Once the Lakshadweep was under the control of Kolathiri Rajas, Arakkal Beevi etc and later the British took over the Administration and introduced Modern Judicial System in the year 1816. They appointed a Monegar invested with the powers of a Village Magistrate and Village Munsiff with a limited Criminal Jurisdiction. His powers was raised in 1872 and conferred with the power of Second Class Sub- Magistrate with Jurisdiction over Amini Islands. In 1909 the Monegar became a Third Class Magistrate and in 1948 he was appointed Second Class Magistrate having Criminal Jurisdiction. The local Amins and Kariyakkars constituted Civil Courts and Magistrate Courts.
In 1965 a Civil Court Regulation – the Laccadiv Minicoy and Amini Dweep Islands 9/65 promulgated by the President of India in exercise the power of Art. 240 of the constitution and brought into force on 01.11.1967 marking the event of the institution of the regular Judicial officer for the Union Territory. Accordingly, a Sub Court at Kavaratti which is later upgraded as District & Sessions Court, Kavaratti and a Munsiff Magistrate Court at Amini which is also upgraded as Sub Court Cum Chief Judicial Magistrate Court on 2014, and another Munsiff Court at Androth Island were established. The General Administrative control over the Sub Ordinate Court is with the District Judge. The Govt. has proposed to establish two more Courts one Munsiff Magistrate Court at Kadmat Island another Munsiff Magistrate Court at Minicoy. The Civil Procedure Code, Criminal Procedure Code, IPC, Indian Evidence Act, Court Fee Act, The Indian Stamp Act and some other Pre- Constitution enactments were made applicable to Lakshadweep from 01.11.1967. The Hon’ble High Court of Kerala is the High Court for Lakshadweep from 01.11.1956. The Presiding Officers of the Courts are appoint from the Kerala Judicial Service on deputation.

Shri. Pratheep Kumar(I/C) is the present District & Sessions Judge, Kavaratti at District & Sessions Court. Smt. Ramya Menon is the Sub Judge Cum Chief Judicial Magistrate at Amini and Shri. K. Sidhik is the Munsiff and Judicial First Class Magistrate at Androth.

The Power of attorney holders/ Mukthiyars and Legal Practitioners are practicing in the Court of Lakshadweep.