Supreme Court says Union Territories independent entities

The Supreme Court has said that Union Territories are Centrally administered, but are independent entities.

A bench of Justices Anil R. Dave and L. Nageswara Rao though made just a passing observation to this effect, and refrained from adjudicating the issue. The bench observed: “We entertained a doubt about the properties of Union Territories being treated as properties of the Union. The administration of Union Territories is by the Central government, but that does not mean that Union Territories become merged with the Central government. They are centrally administered, but retain their independent entity. But, we refrain from adjudicating this issue as constitutional questions are not decided unless they directly arise for consideration”. The bench was hearing a case related to the Delhi government leasing out 8,086 square meters of land to North Delhi Power Ltd.