The Modi government's proposal to bring Chandigarh under central government has triggered a massive row in Punjab. The Centre proposed to include the Union Territory under the ambit of Article 240 of the Constitution.
As per a bulletin of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, the Constitution 131 Amendment Bill 2025 will be introduced in the upcoming Winter session of Parliament.
Article 240
Article 240 of the Constitution grants the power to the President to make regulations for the peace, progress and effective governance of certain Union territories, including the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.
Under the present federal system, the Centre governs Chandigarh through an administrator. In this case, a governor. The Governor of Punjab governs the union territory.
This means that both the Punjab state and the federal government pass laws and frame regulations for Chandigarh, which has no legislative assembly of its own.
But the proposed bill seeks to change this dual system of governance.
The Governor or the Punjab legislature would no longer have a say over the territory’s legal and administrative framework.
Backlash against Modi ogvt
Instead, it gives the Centre sweeping powers to rule Chandigarh. On the surface, the legislation is supposed to simplify the bureaucratic process.
But many view it as an attempt to reduce Punjab’s claim over Chandigarh, and a blow to its cultural identity.
The Aam Aadmi Party, which is currently in power in Punjab, and the opposition Congress have pushed back against the bill listed for the Winter Session of Parliament. Even the BJP’s Punjab unit has opposed the move.
The backlash had prompted the Ministry of Home Affairs to issue a clarification. According to the MHA, the proposal was still under consideration, and there was no intention to introduce any bill for Chandigarh.
But the clarification has done little to assuage the concerns of the Punjab leaders. Especially since Punjab fought tooth and nail with Haryana for the administrative control of the territory.
