Background: As per Memorandum of Agreement signed between Government of India, Government of West Bengal and Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, Gorkha Territorial Act XX of 2011, having been assented to by the President of India was first published in Kolkata Gazette, Extraordinary of the 12th March 2012. Provisions of the said Act came into force with effect from the 14th day of March 2012 except the provision of section 74. The Act has provided for the establishment of Gorkhaland Territorial Administration for the region comprising the three subdivisions Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Kurseong and some Mouzas of Siliguri subdivision in the District of Darjeeling. The objective is to establish an autonomous self-governing body to administer the region so that the socio-economic, infrastructural, educational, cultural and linguistic development is expedited and the ethnic identity of Gorkhas established, thereby achieving all-round development of the people of the region.
Accordingly, GTA Sabha was constituted on 02.08.2012 with forty-five elected members and five members nominated by the Governor. Hill Affairs Branch of the Home and Hill Affairs Department, Government of West Bengal, is the nodal branch to look after the matters of Gorkhaland Territorial Administration.
N.B. The limits of the existing Darjeeling District have been altered by way of bifurcating it into two separate districts, namely Darjeeling with its headquarters at Darjeeling and Kalimpong with its headquarters at Kalimpong vide Notification No 36-PAR (AR)/0/2R-2/16 dated 07/02/2017 of the Department of Personnel & Administrative Reforms and e-Governance.