In suggesting that the Centre should take over these islands under its own care I would at once disclaim any idea of casting any reflection on the administration of these islands by the Government of Madras. The fact really is that the islands are far away from the Madras Coast and the provincial government has hardly got the equipment necessary to look after the administration of an area like this, because they have not got any naval vessels or a private mercantile fleet either. What is being done at the present moment is, I understand, that a sub-collector visits these islands once a year along with a medical officer and that is about all the connection that the Government of Madras has with these islands. I have no desire here to emphasise the strategic value of these islands. They may or may not have such a value. But it seems perfectly obvious that the idea was a relic of the past by which the administration of these islands was vested in a provincial government which is a somewhat onerous responsibility for this administration and should no longer continue to be so. I do think that whatever value these islands might have for the future of the Union as such, it is a responsibility that must be taken over by the Centre and the administration of these islands must be looked after by the Centre in the same way as they would be looking after the administration of other areas covered by article 215, which find mention in Part IV of Schedule VII.
