The Dadra and Nagar Haveli Act, 1961

(1) This Act may be called the Dadra and Nagar HaveliAct, 1961. (2) It extends to the whole of the Union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli. (3) It shall be deemed to have come into force on the 11th day of August, 1961.

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, (a) "Administrator" means the Administrator of the Union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveliappointed by the President under article 239 of the Constitution; (b) "appointed day" means the eleventh day of August, 1961; (c) "Dadra and Nagar Haveli" means the Union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli; (d) "Varishta Panchayat" means the Varishta Panchayat as in existence immediately before theappointed day.

(1) There shall be allotted one seat to the Unionterritory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli in the House of the People. (2) In the Representation of the People Act, 1950 (43 of 1950), (a) in section 4, in sub-section (1), after the words "to the Laccadive, Minicoy and AmindiviIslands". the words ", to Dadra and Nagar Haveli" shall be inserted: (b) in the First Schedule, (i) after entry 21, the following entry shall be inserted, namely: 22. Dadra and Nagar Haveli..........1; (ii) entries 22 and 23 shall be re-numbered as entries 23 and 24 respectively. (3) In the Representation of the People Act, 1951 (43 of 1951), in section 4, after the words "to theLaccadive, Minicoy and Amindivi Islands", the words ", to Dadra and Nagar Haveli" shall be inserted.

(1) Until other provision is made by law, as from the commencement ofthis Act the Varishta Panchayat shall have the right to discuss and make recommendations to theAdministrator on, (a) matters of administration involving general policy and schemes of development; (b) any other matter referred to it by the Administrator. (2) The functions of the Varishta Panchayat referred to in this section will be advisory only but dueregard shall be given to such advice by the Administrator in reaching decisions on the matter in relation towhich the advice is given. (3) No act or proceeding of the Varishta Panchayat shall be invalid by reason only of the existence ofany vacancy amongst its members or any defect in the constitution thereof. (4) Every member of the Varishta Panchayat shall before entering upon his duties under this Actmake and subscribe before the Administrator an oath or affirmation in the following form, namely: "I, A.B., a member of the Varishta Panchayat of the Union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, doswear in the name of God that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of Indiasolemly affirm as by law established and that I will faithfully discharge the duty upon which I am aboutto enter.".

Without prejudice to the powers of the Central Government to appointfrom time to time such officers and authorities as may be necessary for the administration of Dadra andNagar Haveli, all judges, magistrates and other officers and authorities who immediately before theappointed day were exercising lawful functions in Free Dadra and Nagar Haveli or any part thereof shall,until other provision is made by law, continue to exercise in connection with the administration of Dadraand Nagar Haveli their respective functions in the same manner and to the same extent as before theappointed day.