Municipalité de Karikal (Karaikal Municipality) was created by a French Metropolitan Decree dated 12 March 1880.
In the absence of elected local body, the Special Officer (Regional Administrator) was appointed by the Government to exercise all the powers and functions of the Municipal Council.
He is also functioning as the Chief Registrar of the Births and Deaths in the Union Territory of Pondicherry.
The Municipality is a separate entity of self Government institution with constitutional status.
As noted in 2011 census of India, along with the census town Thirumalairayanpattinam, the Karaikal municipality has formed a new urban agglomeration, Karaikal Urban Agglomeration.