Bill to merge Daman & Diu, Dadra & Nagar Haveli passed

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 3 

Parliament today passed a Bill to merge two Union Territories (UTs) of Daman & Diu, and Dadra & Nagar Haveli into one unit.

The Rajya Sabha passed the Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (Merger of Union Territories) Bill, 2019 through voice vote, as it was approved by Lok Sabha last week. Responding to the discussion on the bill in Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Home G Kishen Reddy said that the measure will help in strengthening administrative efficiency and fast track the development of the two union territories.

Merging will also help in cutting down administrative cost, the Minister said, adding the move was supported by civil societies along with the elected representatives of that area. “The local administration had also requested for integration, hence we have taken this step,” said the minister.

The merged Union Territory will be named as Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu. Raddy said, “The name is long but we have taken this keeping in the sentiments of the local people there," said Reddy.

Replying to the concerns of some members, Reddy said that the merged UTs would officially function in the same language in which they were working. The new merged administrative unit would also continue the reservation provided to people in the two UTs and the Bombay High Court will continue to have its jurisdiction over it.