Centre says no plan to table Chandigarh Bill, denies move to alter UT setup

Amit Shah

The Union Home Ministry Sunday said that it has no intention to bring the proposed Bill on Chandigarh that intends to "simplify the law-making" process for the Centre in the upcoming Winter session of Parliament and asserted that the proposal doesn't aim to change traditional arrangements between Chandigarh and Punjab and Haryana.

This comes a day after the Union Home Ministry proposed to include the Union Territory of Chandigarh under the ambit of Article 240 of the Constitution, which empowers the president to make regulations for the UT and legislate directly. This opens the door to an independent administrator in the UT of Chandigarh, like when it had an independent chief secretary in the past.

"The proposal only to simplify the central government's law-making process for the Union Territory of Chandigarh is still under consideration with the central government. No final decision has been taken on this proposal," a spokesperson of the ministry said, allaying concerns raised on the matter.

The ministry said the proposal in no way seeks to alter Chandigarh's governance or administrative structure, nor does it aim to change "traditional arrangements between Chandigarh and the states of Punjab or Haryana". Chandigarh is the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana. Currently, the Punjab governor serves as the Administrator of the UT of Chandigarh.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal vehemently opposed the Centre's proposed move, calling it a "direct attack" on Punjab's identity and constitutional rights. Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) MP and former Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal said that with this move, Punjab will lose its rights over Chandigarh.

"The Shiromani Akali Dal strongly opposes the proposed Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill. With this amendment, Chandigarh will be converted into a state, and Punjab will completely lose its right over Chandigarh," she said. Reacting to the development, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said it is a grave injustice that the BJP government is "conspiring to snatch" Punjab's capital.

Chandigarh was, is and will always remain an integral part of the state, Mann said in a statement. Congress MLA Pargat Singh said that the Centre's latest endeavour aims to "completely snatch" Chandigarh from Punjab and transform it into a separate UT.

What is Article 240?

Article 240 of the Constitution grants power to the president to make regulations for the peace, progress and effective governance of the Union Territories of Andaman & Nicobar Islands; Lakshadweep; Dadra & Nagar Haveli; and Daman & Diu and Puducherry.

It also states that any regulation so made may repeal or amend any Act made by Parliament or any other law, which is for the time being applicable to the Union territory, and, when promulgated by the president, shall have the same force and effect as an Act of Parliament which applies to that territory.

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