'Against Interests Of General Public': Lakshadweep ADM Denies Entry Permits To Kerala MPs

The Additional District Magistrate of Lakshadweep, Collector S Asker Ali on Monday denied entry permits to eight MPs from Kerala to the islands, citing public interest and irregularities in the application. 

In the order refusing entry to the islands, the Collector has stated:

"There is every possibility of public gathering and such gathering may lead to Covid spread in the islands, thereby affecting the efforts taken by the administration in its fight against the pandemic." 

A group of MPs of the State had approached the Administration seeking an entry permit to the islands 'to have a fact check on the impact of administrative actions and reforms under the present Administrator on the people of Lakshadweep'. These MPs had then moved the Kerala High Court challenging the Administration's refusal to grant them entry permits. Subsequently, the UT Administration undertook to dispose of the representation within 10 days.

The ADM's order mentions that all the proposed regulations initiated by the Administration have been submitted to the Ministry of Home Affairs, GoI for further necessary action on their end. Further, the local Police has submitted a report anticipating the proposed visit of the MPs from Kerala to activate the local citizenry, political parties/activists, and social workers about the ongoing agitation against the Administration.

At the outset, the police expected a possible public protest on the islands if the MPs were allowed into the Union Territory.  

Citing the aforementioned reasons, the applications for entry permits were rejected by the Addl. District Magistrate.   

"I am satisfied that their visit to the islands for political activities will certainly disturb the calm and peaceful atmosphere in the islands and it will be against the interest of the general public, public order, and the security of the Union Territory. The present situation is not conducive for the visit of politicians as such visits may instigate the locals and create disturbances in these highly sensitive islands"

It was also declared that the applications for entry permits were not legally maintainable for the following reasons:

1. The applicants failed to submit Form I application as per Rule 5 of Laccadive Minicoy And Amindivi Islands (restriction on Entry and Residence) Rules, 1967.

2. The applicants failed to remit the application fee and produce the challan receipt of the same.  

3. The applicants failed to produce the undertaking from the sponsor duly signed before a Notary Public/Magistrate/Oath Commissioner.

4. The applicants failed to submit the aforementioned documents despite receiving a letter requiring these documents. 

The Lakshadweep Collector also granted the applicants the liberty to file an appeal to the Administrator within 30 days. 

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