New Delhi, Nov. 23 (LatestNewsX) – This Sunday the central government said that “no final decision” has been reached about subjecting Chandigarh to the President’s direct authority. They added that any move would be made only after “consultations with all stakeholders.”
The remarks came amid a heated political backlash in Punjab. The government hinted at placing Chandigarh under Article 240 of the Constitution, a status that would give the President the power to enact laws for the Union Territory on its own.
The Home Minister assured that the “proposal does not in any way involve altering the governance and administrative arrangements of Chandigarh or the traditional relations of Chandigarh with Punjab or Haryana.”
Further, the ministry clarified: “The proposal to simplify the process of law‑making exclusively by the Central Government for the Union Territory of Chandigarh is currently under consideration at the level of the Central Government. No final decision has been taken on this proposal.”
Stating there is “no need for concern” on the matter, the Home Ministry added, “An appropriate decision will be taken only after adequate consultation with all stakeholders, keeping in mind the interests of Chandigarh… The Central Government has no intention of presenting any bill to this effect in the upcoming Winter Session of Parliament.”
Presently, Chandigarh is managed by the Punjab Governor and serves as the joint capital for Punjab and Haryana.
However, a parliamentary bulletin suggests that the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2025, could be introduced in the Winter Session starting December 1, sparking protests across Punjab’s political landscape.
Parties such as the AAP, Congress, and the Shiromani Akali Dal have sharply criticized the proposal, labeling it “anti‑Punjab”. They contend that placing Chandigarh under Article 240, which presently covers the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, and Puducherry, would erode Punjab’s long‑standing claim to the city.
Chandigarh became a Union Territory in 1966 when Haryana was carved out of Punjab, thereafter functioning as a shared capital. Although the Punjab Governor also administers Chandigarh, state leaders have consistently maintained that the city belongs to Punjab and that Haryana should have its own separate capital.
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