MP Bishnu Pada Ray Urges Statutory Framework for Local Certificates in A&N Islands, Cites Ladakh Mannequin

Tarun Karthick

Sri Vijaya Puram, 25 July 2025

Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray, Hon’ble Member of Parliament for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, has as soon as once more appealed to the Hon’ble Union Home Minister, Mr. Amit Shah, looking for pressing intervention to create a statutory framework for the issuance of Local Certificates within the islands.

In a letter dated twenty second July 2025, Mr. Ray reminded the Home Minister about his earlier illustration submitted on seventh February 2025, stressing that the dearth of authorized backing for the Local Certificate system continues to adversely have an effect on the employment prospects of island youth, particularly these from distant and economically weaker areas.

The Local Certificate requirement was initially launched in 1984 through a directive from the Ministry of Home Affairs. For a few years, it served as a key eligibility criterion for presidency jobs and better training within the islands. However, the system misplaced its authorized standing after the Hon’ble Supreme Court, within the 1992 UOI vs Sanjay Pant judgment, struck down the supply for missing statutory assist.

Referring to a profitable mannequin, the MP cited the Ladakh Resident Certificate Order, 2021, which supplies authorized backing to outline ‘Resident of Ladakh’ and ensures reservation in public employment accordingly. He strongly urged the Home Minister to implement the same authorized framework for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to make sure equity and shield the rights of native residents.

Mr. Ray has positioned three key calls for earlier than the Union Home Minister:

1. A statutory definition of ‘Local’ for the Andaman & Nicobar Islands beneath Article 16(4) of the Constitution.

2. Legal backing for the issuance of Local Certificates by a correct authorized framework.

3. Reservation or desire for native residents in public employment.

He emphasised that fulfilling this long-standing demand would carry long-overdue justice to islanders and align the A&N Islands with the employment safety insurance policies presently in place in Ladakh.