Home The Constitution Part VIII Article 239

Art. 239 Part VIII: The Union Territories

Administration of Union Territories

Exact text — Constitution of India

(1) Save as otherwise provided by Parliament by law, every Union territory shall be administered by the President acting, to such extent as he thinks fit, through an administrator to be appointed by him with such designation as he may specify.

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in Part VI, the President may appoint the Governor of a State as the administrator of an adjoining Union territory, and where a Governor is so appointed, he shall exercise his functions as such administrator independently of his Council of Ministers.

In Plain English

What this Article actually means

Unlike states, which are self-governing under their own elected governments, Union Territories are — by default — administered directly by the President through an appointed Administrator (who might be called a Lieutenant Governor, Administrator, or given another title). Clause (2) allows a neighbouring state's Governor to double as a UT's Administrator (as happens, for instance, with Puducherry historically and various other small UTs), and specifically notes that in this capacity, the Governor acts independently of their own state's Council of Ministers.

Why This Matters To You

How it shows up in everyday life

This is why territories like the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, and Chandigarh are run quite differently from states — with significant power resting directly with a centrally-appointed Administrator rather than an elected state government.

Read alongside this one

Art. 239a — Legislature or Council of Ministers for Certain Union Territories Art. 239aa — Special Provisions for Delhi

Frequently Asked

Quick answers about Article 239

Do all Union Territories have an elected government?

No — only some (like Delhi and Puducherry, under Article 239A) have their own elected legislature; most UTs are administered directly through a centrally-appointed Administrator with no local legislature.

← BackPart VIII Overview Next →Article 239A: Creation of Local Legislatures or Council of Ministers for Certain Union Territories

The text above reproduces Article 239 of the Constitution of India as amended to date, for general educational reference. It is public-domain legislative text, but we recommend cross-checking the authoritative version at legislative.gov.in or india.gov.in before relying on it for a legal matter. The explanation, examples and FAQs are general information, not legal advice — consult a qualified advocate for guidance on your specific situation.