Puducherry (formerly known as "Pondicherry") is a Union Territory of India. Governance and administration of the territory fall under the federal authority.
List of chief governing officers
In the days of the French East India Company, the title of the top official was most of the time Governor of Pondicherry and General Commander of the French settlements in the East Indies (French: Gouverneur de Pondichéry et Commandant Général des Établissements Français aux Indes Orientales). After 1816, it was Governor of French establishments in India (French: Gouverneur des Établissements Français de l'Inde').
French India became an Overseas territory (French: territoire d'outre-mer) of France in 1946.
French India de facto transferred to the Republic of India in 1954.
The first High Commissioner, Kewal Singh was appointed immediately after the Kizhoor referendum on 21 October 1954 as per Foreign Jurisdiction Act, 1947. The Chief Commissioner had the powers of the former French commissioner, but was under the direct control of the Union Government.
The list of Chief Commissioners is given below
Chief Commissioner (1954 – 1963)
After the de facto transfer of French settlements in India, on November 1, 1954, a Chief Commissioner, appointed by Government of India, replaced the last Commissioner of French India, Georges Escargueil. The first High Commissioner, Kewal Singh was appointed immediately after the Kizhoor referendum, on 21 October 1954, as per Foreign Jurisdiction Act, 1947. The Chief Commissioner had the powers of the former French commissioner, but was under the direct control of the Union Government.
The list of Chief Commissioners is given below.
List of Lieutenant Governors (1963-present)
The Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry resides at the Raj Nivas (French: Le Palais du Gouverneur) at the Nehru Park, the former palace of the Governor General of French India. The Central government is more directly involved in the financial well-being of the territory.
Only five Lt. Governors managed to serve more than four years. They are S.L. Silam, B.D.Jatti, B.T. Kulkarni, Rajani Rai and Kiran Bedi. Only S.L. Silam completed his 5-year term. Kiran Bedi is second longest serving Lt. Governor till date. The list of Lt. Governors of Puducherry is given below.
Puducherry Legislative Assembly
List of chief ministers of Puducherry
List of consuls general of India in the French India
List of speakers of the Puducherry Legislative Assembly