Andaman & Nicobar Island Grievance Guide

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands is a Union Territory administered by a Lieutenant Governor appointed by the President of India. It does not have an elected Chief Minister. The current Lieutenant Governor is Admiral D. K. Joshi (Retd.), and the Chief Secretary is Dr. Chandra Bhushan Kumar, IAS. The administration’s grievance system therefore works through the Lieutenant Governor’s Office, the Andaman and Nicobar Administration, department-level grievance officers, and the Central Government’s CPGRAMS platform.

For complaints relating to services provided by the Andaman and Nicobar Administration, citizens can use the official LG Helpdesk at db.and.nic.in/lghelpdesk/LG. The portal is an initiative of the Lieutenant Governor and the Andaman and Nicobar Administration and is designed to receive citizen grievances, forward them to the concerned administrative office, monitor the action taken, and allow citizens to track the status of their grievance. The system also supports receipt of grievances in paper form at the LG Office. It is designed, developed, hosted and maintained by the NIC, Andaman State Unit.

Citizens can also use CPGRAMS, the Government of India’s Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System. CPGRAMS is connected with Central Government Ministries and Departments as well as States and Union Territories, and provides facilities to lodge a grievance, track its status, send a reminder, provide feedback and appeal against an unsatisfactory resolution.

For residents who need to approach the administration directly, the Public Grievance Cell of the Andaman and Nicobar Administration is also part of the official grievance machinery. The current CPGRAMS directory lists Smti. B Ganga Ratnam, Assistant Secretary, A.R. Wing and Public Grievances as the UT’s nodal public grievance officer. The Public Grievance Cell is located at the Secretariat, Sri Vijaya Puram, and the listed contact number is 03192-232803.

The geography of the Union Territory makes online grievance filing particularly useful. The islands are spread across a large area, and citizens living outside the main administrative centre may not always be able to visit a government office personally. The online LG Helpdesk and CPGRAMS therefore provide convenient alternatives to physical submission.

For grievance portals across India, read our CM Helpline India guide. For RTI services, read our Andaman and Nicobar RTI Card guide.

What You Can Complain About

The LG Helpdesk is intended for grievances concerning services and matters handled by the Andaman and Nicobar Administration. The appropriate department or office is selected while submitting the grievance, allowing the complaint to be routed to the authority responsible for the subject.

• Ration card and food supply-related problems
• Revenue, land and property-related administrative issues
• Electricity and power supply complaints
• Water supply and public works issues
• Health services, government hospitals and public health facilities
• Education and government school-related matters
• Shipping and inter-island transport services
• Pension and welfare-related service grievances
• Agriculture and fisheries-related government services
• Forest, environment and other administration-related matters
• Delay or non-delivery of a government service
• Complaints regarding the conduct or response of a government office or official

When filing a grievance, select the department that is most closely connected with the problem and provide specific facts, dates, locations and supporting documents wherever available. This helps the concerned office understand the issue and take appropriate action.

How to File a Grievance on the A&N LG Helpdesk

The LG Helpdesk is the most direct online grievance facility for complaints relating to the Andaman and Nicobar Administration. You can use it to submit a new grievance, check the status of an existing grievance, and send a clarification if you are not satisfied with the action taken or if no action has been taken. The official portal specifically says that a new grievance should not be filed when you only want clarification on an already filed complaint. Instead, use the clarification facility with your existing Grievance ID. Open the official A&N LG Helpdesk.

Step 1: Open the official LG Helpdesk.
Go to db.and.nic.in/lghelpdesk/LG. On the portal homepage, select “Lodge a Grievance”. You can also open the direct grievance form at db.and.nic.in/lghelpdesk/index.php/welcome/lodge.

Step 2: Fill in your name and address.
The new grievance form asks for your name and address. The portal marks all fields in the grievance form as compulsory, so enter the information carefully. Select the applicable location details when asked.

Step 3: Enter your mobile number and email address.
Enter an active mobile number and email ID. The portal notes that if you do not have your own mobile number, you may provide the number of a relative or friend. Make sure the number and email address are correct so that you can be contacted regarding your grievance.

Step 4: Select the grievance category.
Choose the Grievance Category that best matches your problem. After selecting the category, choose the appropriate Grievance Sub-Category. Read the available options carefully and select the one closest to your actual problem.

Step 5: Select the concerned department.
Choose the Department to which the grievance pertains. For example, if your complaint concerns a service provided by a particular department, select that department from the available list. Choosing the correct department helps the complaint reach the appropriate administrative office.

Step 6: Write your grievance clearly.
Describe the problem in simple and specific language. Mention what happened, when it happened, where the problem occurred, which government service or office is involved, and what action you want the department to take. The official form allows a grievance description of up to 4,000 characters. Avoid unnecessary details and focus on facts that can help the department understand and examine the complaint.

Step 7: Check your declaration and submit the complaint.
Before submission, read the information you have entered carefully. The form includes a declaration stating that the facts provided are true to the best of your knowledge and belief. Submit the grievance only after checking your name, contact details, department, category and complaint description.

Step 8: Save your Grievance ID.
After successful submission, keep the Grievance ID generated for your complaint. This number is important because you need it to check the status of your grievance and to submit a clarification later if the action taken is not satisfactory.

How to Check A&N LG Helpdesk Grievance Status

You do not need to submit another complaint just to find out what happened to your existing grievance. The LG Helpdesk has a separate “View Status” facility.

Step 1: Open the official A&N LG Helpdesk grievance status page.

Step 2: Enter the Grievance ID that you received when the complaint was filed.

Step 3: Submit the details to view the available status and action taken on your grievance.

Keep your Grievance ID safely until the matter is finally resolved. The official portal provides a separate status facility specifically for this purpose.

What to Do If Your Grievance Is Not Resolved

If you are not satisfied with the action taken on your grievance, or if no action has been taken so far, do not file the same complaint again as a new grievance. The A&N LG Helpdesk provides a dedicated clarification facility for this situation.

Step 1: Open the official “Clarification on Grievance Filed” page.

Step 2: Enter the Grievance ID of your already filed complaint.

Step 3: Explain what is still pending or why you are not satisfied with the action taken. If the department has not acted on the complaint, clearly mention that fact and explain what action is still required.

Step 4: Submit the clarification. The portal uses your existing Grievance ID to connect the clarification with the original complaint.

This is an important feature of the LG Helpdesk because citizens do not have to start the grievance process again when they simply want to respond to the action taken on an existing complaint.

How to File a Grievance on CPGRAMS for Andaman and Nicobar

CPGRAMS is another official online grievance platform connected with Government of India Ministries and Departments as well as States and Union Territories. It provides facilities to lodge a grievance, track its status, send a reminder or clarification, provide feedback and, where applicable, appeal against an unsatisfactory disposal.

If your grievance concerns an Andaman and Nicobar Administration department, select the appropriate Andaman and Nicobar organisation while filing the complaint. If the problem concerns a Central Government department operating in the islands, select the relevant Central Ministry or Department instead.

Step 1: Open CPGRAMS.
Go to pgportal.gov.in and select “Lodge Public Grievance”.

Step 2: Register or sign in.
If you are a new user, complete the CPGRAMS registration form with the required personal and contact details. The current registration form asks for information such as name, address, State, District, mobile number and email address. Existing users can sign in to their account.

Step 3: Select the correct organisation.
After entering the grievance section, choose the organisation or department responsible for your issue. For an Andaman and Nicobar Administration matter, select the relevant A&N organisation rather than choosing an unrelated Central Government department.

Step 4: Explain the problem.
Write a clear description of the grievance. Mention the service involved, the department or office concerned, important dates, previous representations if any, and the action you want from the authority.

Step 5: Upload supporting documents.
If you have documents that support your complaint, attach the relevant files through the portal. Examples include previous applications, acknowledgement receipts, official letters, photographs or other records directly connected with the grievance.

Step 6: Submit the grievance.
Check all the information before submitting the complaint. Once successfully registered, CPGRAMS provides a unique Registration ID. Save this number because it is required for tracking and future correspondence.

Step 7: Track the complaint.
Use the CPGRAMS “View Status” facility and enter your Registration ID to check the progress of the grievance. The portal also provides facilities for reminders and clarification.

Step 8: Give feedback after disposal.
After the grievance is closed, you can provide feedback about the disposal. If the grievance is rated “Poor”, CPGRAMS enables an appeal option for eligible grievances. The official FAQ states that an appeal should be filed within 30 days.

How Long Does a CPGRAMS Grievance Take?

The current CPGRAMS FAQ states that the normal time limit for redress of a grievance is 21 days. If a grievance cannot be resolved within that period, an interim reply explaining the reason for the delay is required. The 2024 comprehensive CPGRAMS guidelines also provide for prompt handling of priority grievances and require an interim Action Taken Report when additional time is needed.

Therefore, do not publish the earlier claim that every A&N CPGRAMS complaint is required to be resolved within seven days as a general current rule. The safer and currently verifiable statement is the 21-day CPGRAMS framework. Any separate internal target issued by the Andaman and Nicobar Administration can be mentioned only when the latest official directive confirming it is available.

Which Grievance Portal Should You Use?

For a complaint specifically concerning an Andaman and Nicobar Administration service or department, the LG Helpdesk is a useful direct route because it is operated for the Lieutenant Governor’s Office and provides its own grievance, status and clarification facilities. CPGRAMS is the broader Government of India platform and is particularly useful when the concerned organisation is part of the Central Government or when you want to use the centralised grievance monitoring and appeal mechanism.

Important: Avoid filing the same complaint repeatedly on different portals without a reason. Keep the original Grievance ID or CPGRAMS Registration ID and use the available status, reminder, clarification or appeal mechanism for follow-up.

Contacting the Lieutenant Governor’s Secretariat

If your grievance requires attention at the Lieutenant Governor’s level, or you need to make a representation about a serious unresolved administrative matter, you can approach the Lieutenant Governor’s Secretariat separately. Before sending a representation, keep the details of your earlier grievance, Grievance ID or Registration ID, department concerned and copies of relevant documents ready.

In your representation, clearly mention your name, address, island or district, mobile number, department concerned, details of the problem, previous complaint reference number and the action already taken. Explain what remains unresolved and what action you are requesting. Attach copies of important supporting documents rather than sending unrelated papers.

For the latest contact details of the Lieutenant Governor’s Secretariat, use the official Andaman and Nicobar Administration portal. Contact details can change, so they should be verified from the official administration website before sending a physical representation.

Visiting the Andaman and Nicobar Administration Secretariat

If your matter requires an in-person representation, you can approach the concerned department or office of the Andaman and Nicobar Administration. Before visiting, identify the department responsible for your issue and carry a written complaint along with copies of relevant documents.

For a grievance that has already been submitted through the LG Helpdesk or another official system, carry the Grievance ID or Registration ID. This allows the concerned office to locate the previous complaint and understand what action has already been taken.

The official Andaman and Nicobar Administration portal provides links to departments and administrative offices. Use the relevant department’s contact details rather than sending every type of complaint to the Secretariat.

Complaints About Online Government Services

If your problem relates to an online government service, first identify the portal through which you submitted the application. For example, if an application for a certificate, licence or another government service is pending, keep the application number or acknowledgement number ready.

The Andaman and Nicobar e-District portal provides access to various citizen services. If a service-related issue cannot be resolved through the concerned department or the service portal, you can use the LG Helpdesk and mention your application number in the grievance description.

For other online government services, the official A&N Administration portal provides links to departmental websites and services. Always use the grievance mechanism of the department concerned where one is available.

Filing a Municipal Complaint in Sri Vijaya Puram

For civic complaints falling under the municipal jurisdiction of Sri Vijaya Puram Municipal Council (formerly Port Blair Municipal Council), citizens can use the Council’s official e-NagarSewa portal. The portal provides a dedicated Grievance Register and a separate Track Grievance Status facility.

Municipal issues may include problems relating to civic services, sanitation, drainage, water-related municipal services, roads and other services handled by the municipal council.

Step 1: Open the official Sri Vijaya Puram Municipal Council website.

Step 2: From the citizen services section, select “Grievance Register”.

Step 3: Enter the required mobile number and complete the captcha shown on the grievance form.

Step 4: Submit the grievance through the municipal portal and keep the grievance reference generated by the system.

Step 5: To check the progress later, use the “Track Grievance Status” option and enter your Grievance ID. The official tracking page specifically asks for the Grievance ID and captcha.

The Sri Vijaya Puram Municipal Council website also lists municipal contact numbers and identifies the Secretary’s office at the Council’s address.

Filing a Police Complaint

Police-related complaints should normally be taken to Andaman and Nicobar Police rather than being treated as an ordinary administrative grievance. For an immediate emergency, use the appropriate emergency number. For a non-emergency complaint or service-related police matter, use the police department’s citizen services or approach the concerned police station.

Visit the official Andaman and Nicobar Police website for the current citizen services, police contacts and complaint-related facilities. If you have already approached the police, keep the complaint number, station name and date of complaint when pursuing the matter further.

For an emergency: Call 112 where the emergency response system is applicable. The official Sri Vijaya Puram Municipal Council website also lists 100 for the Police Department.

For a police complaint that remains unresolved, you can approach the appropriate senior police authority through the established police hierarchy. Do not use the LG Helpdesk as a substitute for an emergency police response.

Shipping and Inter-Island Transport Complaints

Shipping is particularly important in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands because government-operated vessels provide essential inter-island connectivity. The Directorate of Shipping Services (DSS) has its own grievance mechanism for complaints relating to its services.

Step 1: For a shipping-related complaint, first note the vessel name, voyage or ticket details, date of travel, boarding or disembarkation point and the exact problem.

Step 2: You can submit the grievance to the Designated Public Grievance Officer, Directorate of Shipping Services, by post or email.

Step 3: The official DSS grievance page lists the Designated Public Grievance Officer as the Assistant Director (Commercial Wing), Directorate of Shipping Services, DSS Administration Building, Phoenix Bay, Sri Vijaya Puram, Port Blair – 744101.

Step 4: The DSS grievance page currently specifies a 10-day disposal timeframe for grievances submitted through this departmental mechanism.

Step 5: DSS also directs citizens to CPGRAMS for online grievance registration.

For immediate assistance relating to shipping services, the DSS Information Centre lists 1800-345-2714 as its toll-free support number and 03192-245555 as the help desk number. The listed working hours are 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM every day.

Escalation Path for Andaman and Nicobar Grievances

Choose the escalation route according to the nature of your complaint. You do not need to use every channel for every problem.

1. LG Helpdesk: For general grievances relating to the Andaman and Nicobar Administration, file the complaint through the official LG Helpdesk and save the Grievance ID.
2. Clarification on Existing Grievance: If the action taken is unsatisfactory or no action has been taken, use the LG Helpdesk’s Clarification on Grievance Filed facility instead of submitting the same complaint again.
3. Department-Level Grievance Officer: For departments having a designated Public Grievance Officer, you can approach that officer using the department’s official grievance mechanism.
4. CPGRAMS: For grievances falling within CPGRAMS’ jurisdiction, use the Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System. It provides tracking, reminders, feedback and an appeal mechanism for eligible grievances.
5. Department-Specific Route: If a department has its own grievance mechanism, such as the Directorate of Shipping Services, use that mechanism for faster and more specialised handling.
6. Municipal Complaints: For civic matters under Sri Vijaya Puram Municipal Council, use the Council’s Grievance Register and its Grievance Status facility.
7. Police Matters: For crime, law-and-order or police complaints, approach Andaman and Nicobar Police. For emergencies, use the appropriate emergency response number.

Emergency and Important Helplines

Emergency numbers should be used only for situations requiring immediate assistance. For normal government service complaints, use the appropriate grievance portal instead.

• Emergency Response Support System: 112
• Police Department: 100
• Fire: 101
• Child Helpline: 1098
• Coastal Security: 1093
• National Cyber Crime Helpline: 1930
• Shipping Services Toll-Free Support: 1800-345-2714
• Shipping Services Help Desk: 03192-245555

The Sri Vijaya Puram Municipal Council currently lists 112, 100 and 101 among its emergency contacts and also provides municipal, ambulance, shipping and disaster-management contacts on its official website.

Quick Reference

Service / Purpose	Official Link / Contact	When to Use It
LG Helpdesk	Open LG Helpdesk	General grievances relating to the Andaman and Nicobar Administration
Lodge LG Helpdesk Grievance	Lodge Grievance	Submit a new online grievance
LG Helpdesk Status	View Status	Check an existing Grievance ID
LG Helpdesk Clarification	Clarification on Grievance	Follow up when action is unsatisfactory or pending
CPGRAMS	pgportal.gov.in	Central/UT government grievances covered by CPGRAMS
A&N Administration	andaman.gov.in	Government departments, offices and official information
e-District A&N	edistrict.andaman.gov.in	Online government services and application-related issues
Sri Vijaya Puram Municipal Council	pbmc.gov.in	Municipal and civic complaints
Municipal Grievance Registration	Register Grievance	Submit a municipal complaint
Municipal Grievance Status	Track Grievance	Check municipal Grievance ID status
Andaman & Nicobar Police	police.andaman.gov.in	Police and law-and-order matters
Emergency	112	Immediate emergency assistance
Police	100	Police assistance; use 112 for emergencies
Fire	101	Fire emergency
Child Helpline	1098	Child-related emergency or assistance
Cyber Crime	1930	Report cybercrime or financial cyber fraud
Shipping Services	1800-345-2714	Shipping service assistance
Shipping Help Desk	03192-245555	Directorate of Shipping Services assistance

Important: Contact numbers, department officers and grievance procedures can change. Before visiting an office or sending a physical complaint, verify the latest contact information on the relevant official Andaman and Nicobar Administration, department, police or municipal website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Does the Andaman and Nicobar Islands have a Chief Minister or CM Helpline?
Ans. No. Andaman and Nicobar Islands is a Union Territory administered by a Lieutenant Governor and does not have an elected Chief Minister. The current Lieutenant Governor is Admiral D. K. Joshi (Retd.). For public grievances, citizens can use the official LG Helpdesk of the Andaman and Nicobar Administration or CPGRAMS, depending on the nature of the complaint.

Q. What is the A&N LG Helpdesk?
Ans. The LG Helpdesk is the official online Citizen Grievance Filing and Redressal System of the Lieutenant Governor’s Office and Andaman and Nicobar Administration. Citizens can lodge a grievance, check its status and submit a clarification on an already filed grievance. The portal routes complaints to the concerned offices of the Administration and monitors the action taken on them. It also accepts grievances in electronic and paper form.

Q. How do I check the status of an LG Helpdesk complaint?
Ans. Open the official LG Helpdesk grievance status page and enter your Grievance ID. The portal provides a separate facility for checking the status of an existing grievance. Keep your Grievance ID safely until the complaint has been completely resolved.

Q. What should I do if I am not satisfied with the action taken on my LG Helpdesk grievance?
Ans. Do not file the same complaint again as a new grievance. The LG Helpdesk provides a “Clarification on Grievance Filed” facility for this situation. Open the clarification page, enter the Grievance ID of your existing complaint and explain what remains unresolved or why you are not satisfied with the action taken.

Q. Is there a seven-day compulsory resolution period for every A&N CPGRAMS complaint?
Ans. Do not assume that every CPGRAMS complaint has a seven-day deadline. The current CPGRAMS framework provides a general grievance redressal timeline of 21 days. Where additional time is required, the concerned authority is expected to provide an interim response explaining the position. If an older Andaman and Nicobar Administration directive is being referred to, its date and exact scope should be checked before treating seven days as a current universal deadline.

Q. How can I file a grievance from a remote island?
Ans. You can submit a grievance online through the LG Helpdesk or CPGRAMS without travelling to Port Blair. The LG Helpdesk also states that grievances can be received in paper form at the LG Office. This can be useful for residents who have difficulty travelling between islands. For a paper complaint, clearly mention your name, address, contact details, department concerned, nature of the problem and any previous complaint reference number.

Q. What information is required to file a grievance on the LG Helpdesk?
Ans. The current LG Helpdesk grievance form requires details including your name, address, mobile number, email ID, grievance category, sub-category, concerned department and grievance description. The grievance description can contain up to 4,000 characters. The portal also allows a relative’s or friend’s mobile number to be provided if you do not have your own mobile number.

Q. Can I file a second LG Helpdesk complaint if my first complaint is still pending?
Ans. If the second submission concerns the same grievance, you should not simply file a duplicate complaint. The LG Helpdesk specifically instructs citizens to use the “Clarification on Grievance Filed” option when they have a query about the action taken or when no action has been taken. Enter the existing Grievance ID while submitting the clarification.

Q. What complaints can be made through the LG Helpdesk?
Ans. The LG Helpdesk is intended for grievances concerning offices and services of the Andaman and Nicobar Administration. Depending on the department selected in the form, complaints may relate to government services, administrative delays, public utilities, welfare services, revenue matters, education, health, shipping and other matters handled by the Administration. Select the department and grievance category that most closely match your problem.

Q. What is CPGRAMS and can residents of Andaman and Nicobar use it?
Ans. Yes. CPGRAMS, or the Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System, is the Government of India’s online grievance platform. It covers Central Government organisations as well as States and Union Territories. Residents of Andaman and Nicobar can use it for grievances falling within CPGRAMS’ jurisdiction and can track the complaint using the Registration ID generated after filing.

Q. What is the CPGRAMS resolution timeline?
Ans. The current CPGRAMS framework provides a normal redressal period of 21 days. If the grievance cannot be resolved within that period, the concerned authority is expected to provide an interim reply explaining the reason for the delay and the action being taken.

Q. Can I appeal against an unsatisfactory CPGRAMS disposal?
Ans. Yes, an appeal mechanism is available for eligible CPGRAMS grievances. After disposal, citizens can provide feedback on the quality of the resolution. Where the grievance is eligible for appeal, the portal provides the appeal facility. The current CPGRAMS FAQ states that an appeal should generally be filed within 30 days of the disposal.

Q. What complaints should be taken directly to the police?
Ans. Matters involving crime, immediate threats to life or property, law-and-order situations and other police-related issues should be taken to Andaman and Nicobar Police rather than treated as an ordinary administrative grievance. For emergencies, use 112 or the appropriate police emergency channel. For non-emergency police matters, use the current citizen services provided through the official Andaman and Nicobar Police website.

Q. Where should I complain about municipal services in Sri Vijaya Puram?
Ans. For municipal services within the jurisdiction of the Sri Vijaya Puram Municipal Council, use the Council’s official website. It provides facilities including a Grievance Register and Track Grievance Status. Municipal functions include services such as sanitation, drinking water distribution, roads, drains, street lighting and other civic amenities.

Q. Where should I complain about a shipping service?
Ans. For complaints relating specifically to services of the Directorate of Shipping Services, you can use its departmental grievance mechanism or CPGRAMS. Keep your ticket number, vessel name, voyage details, date of travel and other relevant information ready when submitting the complaint. The Directorate of Shipping Services also provides its own passenger assistance and grievance contacts.

Q. Can I file a grievance offline?
Ans. Yes. The LG Helpdesk officially states that grievances can be received in electronic and paper form at the LG Office. If you submit a written complaint, clearly provide your contact details, the department concerned, a complete description of the issue, and copies of relevant documents. If you are following up on an earlier online complaint, mention the existing Grievance ID.

Q. Which portal should I use for an Andaman and Nicobar government service complaint?
Ans. For a general grievance concerning the Andaman and Nicobar Administration, the LG Helpdesk is the dedicated UT grievance platform. You can also use CPGRAMS where the concerned organisation falls within its jurisdiction. For specialised matters, such as municipal, police or shipping services, use the relevant department’s official grievance mechanism where available.

Q. What should I keep after filing a complaint?
Ans. Keep the LG Helpdesk Grievance ID or the CPGRAMS Registration ID until the matter is finally resolved. Also save screenshots, acknowledgement messages, submitted documents and important correspondence. These details make follow-up much easier if the complaint remains pending or the action taken is unsatisfactory.