Chief Commissioner of Chandrabans
| Chief Commissioner of Chandrabans चन्द्रबन के मुख्य आयुक्त | |
|---|---|
 Flag of Chandrabans | |
| Style | Her Serene Highness |
| Reports to | Rashtradhyaksh Government of Vishwamitra |
| Appointer | Rashtradhyaksh on the advice of the Minister of Federal Affairs and Administration |
| Term length | At His Illustrious and Royal Majesty's pleasure |
| Formation | 22 December 2020 (as Crown Representative of Chandrabans) 4 November 2021 (as Chief Commissioner of Chandrabans) |
| First holder | Princess Bishakha of Purvanchal |
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The Chief Commissioner of Chandrabans (Hindi: चन्द्रबन के मुख्य आयुक्त), formerly known as the Crown Representative of Chandrabans is the head of the local government and the chief executive of the federal territory of Chandrabans. The chief commissioner is an appointed official and representative of the Rashtradhyaksh and the government of Vishwamitra in the federal territory.
Upon the annexation of Chandrabans as the first territory outside the National Territorial Region, the head of the administration was titled as "Crown Representative of Chandrabans" and derived their powers and authority from the crown of Vishwamitra which formed the real executive in the nation. The crown representative was appointed by the Rashtradhyaksh and remained in office at their pleasure and was responsible to report to the crown for the affairs of the dependency. In 2023, upon the adoption of the "Federal Territories Act 2023" by the Lok Sabha and its subsequent implementation, Chandrabans along with Rajagriha and the overseas territories were designated as federal territories and placed under the administration of a chief commissioner appointed by the Rashtradhyaksh with advice from the Minister of Federal Affairs and Administration.
The first and till-date the only individual to serve as chief commissioner is Princess Bishakha of Purvanchal who has been in office since 22 December 2020.
History
Chandrabans was annexed as a crown dependency on 22 December 2020 and the head of the dependency was designated as "crown representative" and was appointed by the Rashtradhyaksh to represent them in the territory. Princess Bishakha of Purvanchal was appointed as the crown representative for Chandrabans the same day and also represented the sole territorial seat in the Lok Sabha until the deprivation of such status in 2023.
In August 2023, the Lok Sabha passed the "Federal Territories Act of 2023" which designated Chandrabans, Rajagriha and the other overseas territories as federal territories and placed them under the administration of the chief commissioner. The commissioner discharged the duties as the real executive in the territory. Princess Bishakha continued to serve as the chief commissioner.
Duties and functions
The chief commissioner is responsible for the defence, internal affairs, finance, expenditure, emergency, disaster management, transport, business, commerce and other affairs related to the day-to-day administration of the federal territory. In consultation with the Rashtradhyaksh (as head of the federal territories) and Minister of Federal Affairs and Administration, the chief commissioner to appoint a deputy commissioner, and if needed, other officials including a local cabinet for the effective functioning of the administration.
The chief commissioner is also responsible for the following basic administrative mechanism of the territory:
- Security and defence
- Internal affairs
- Finance and expenditure
- Business and commerce
- Culture and tourism, media, sports
- Disaster management and emergency services
The chief commissioner is ex-officio member of the Council of the Federal Territories and a Grand Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of the Territorial Crown which is conferred upon them immediately after their appointment.
List
| No. | Portrait | Name (born – died) |
Tenure in office | Appointed by | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| From | To | Time in office | |||||
| Crown Representative of Chandrabans | |||||||
| 1 | File:Portrait of Princess Bishakha (2022).jpg | Her Serene Highness Datuk Sri Princess Bishakha of Purvanchal |
22 December 2020 | 4 November 2023 | 2 years, 317 days | Varuna Sriraya (Rashtradhyaksh) | |
| Chief Commissioner of Chandrabans | |||||||
| (1) | File:Portrait of Princess Bishakha (2022).jpg | Her Serene Highness Datuk Sri Princess Bishakha of Purvanchal |
4 November 2023 | Incumbent | 175 days | Varuna Sriraya (Rashtradhyaksh) | |