Sri Vijaya Puram, July 24: Shri Bishnu Pada Ray, Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, has once again written to the Hon’ble Union Home Minister, Shri Amit Shah, urging immediate intervention to provide a statutory framework for the Local Certificate system in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands a long-standing demand of the islanders. In his letter dated 22/07/2025, the MP reminded the Home Minister of his earlier communication dated 07.02.2025, highlighting how the absence of legal backing for the Local Certificate system has negatively impacted the employment prospects of the local youth, particularly those from remote and disadvantaged areas.
The Local Certificate requirement was originally introduced through an MHA directive in 1984 and remained a key condition for access to jobs and higher education in the islands. However, the Hon’ble Supreme Court in its 1992 judgment (UOI vs Sanjay Pant) struck down the provision due to lack of statutory support, leaving islanders without legal protection for job reservations based on local domicile.
Citing a positive precedent, Shri Ray pointed to the Ladakh Resident Certificate Order, 2021, which was notified with the approval of the Ministry of Home Affairs and provides legal backing to define ‘Resident of Ladakh’ and reserve public employment accordingly. The MP strongly urged that similar steps be taken for A&N Islands to ensure equity and fairness. Therefore, the MP has put forth the demands to the Home Minister such as (1) Statutory definition of ‘Local’ for A&N Islands under Article 16(4) of the Constitution (2) Issuance of Local Certificate through a proper legal framework (3) Reservation or preference in public employment for local residents.
Shri Bishnu Pada Ray emphasized that such a move would restore long-denied justice to the islanders and bring A&N Islands at par with the Union Territory of Ladakh in terms of employment safeguards and local identity protection.