Prevention of Anti-Social Activity (PASA) Act

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• Policies introduced by Lakshadweep Administrator Praful Khoda Patel in Lakshadweep have sparked protests in the union territory. Patel was made administrator of Lakshadweep in December 2020. 

• He took over as the Administrator after the passing of Dineshwar Sharma, former Director of, Intelligence Bureau.

Key Highlights about policies: 

• Draft Lakshadweep Development Authority Regulation 2021 (LDAR) 

Lakshadweep Development Authority (LDA) was recently created with extensive powers such as eviction of landowners. This is being criticized as they think LDA was pushed by the real estate lobby against the will of islanders. The legislation, LDAR, provides extensive powers to authority to prepare comprehensive development plans for any area and to remove or relocate people living in Lakshadweep from their property for the purpose of town planning or any developmental activity. 

• Prevention of Anti-Social Activities Act (PASA) 

This act was introduced in January 2021. According to it, a person can be detained without any public disclosure for a period of up to one year. 

• Draft Panchayat notification 

According to the notification, a member with more than two children stands disqualified from being a member. 

NOTE: The administrator is appointed by the President of India. This is an important post for any union territory because a person is charged to do all functions in an area. The administrator acts on behalf of the President.