Chandigarh/New Delhi: The Central Government has proposed bringing Chandigarh under the ambit of Article 240 of the Constitution, paving the way for the appointment of a Lieutenant Governor to govern the Union Territory. According to Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha bulletins, the Central Government will introduce the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2025, in the upcoming winter session of Parliament, beginning December 1, 2025. It is being claimed that this move by the Central Government could weaken Punjab’s claim to the capital city. Chandigarh is currently the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana.
Through the Constitution Amendment Bill, the Central Government plans to include Chandigarh under Article 240 of the Constitution. This amendment will include Chandigarh among those Union Territories that do not have a Legislative Assembly.
What is Article 240?
Article 240 of the Indian Constitution empowers the President of India to make rules and laws for Union Territories (UTs). It applies to Union Territories that do not have their own legislative assemblies. Through this, the central government will have direct legislative powers. The President can directly make rules regarding Chandigarh’s administration, police, land, education, municipal corporations, etc.
Union Territories covered under Article 240 will be able to appoint an independent administrator, i.e., a Lieutenant Governor. Under Article 240, the President of India can repeal any existing law or law enacted by Parliament in the respective Union Territory.
Currently, Chandigarh is the capital of Punjab and Haryana. SSPs are appointed from the Punjab cadre, and DCs from the Haryana cadre. Once the new bill becomes law, these appointments will be made directly by the central government.
Protests against this bill have also begun in Punjab. The ruling Aam Aadmi Party, the opposition Congress, and the Shiromani Akali Dal have strongly opposed this move. Both parties allege that the BJP-led central government is trying to weaken Punjab’s claim to Chandigarh.
Home Ministry Statement
Amidst protests against the new bill, the Union Home Ministry on Sunday stated that no final decision has been taken on the proposal to “simplify lawmaking” in Chandigarh. The ministry stated that the bill is not intended to alter the traditional arrangements between the Union Territory and Punjab and Haryana. A Home Ministry spokesperson said in a statement, “The proposal to simplify the process of lawmaking by the Central Government only for the Union Territory of Chandigarh is still under consideration of the Central Government. No final decision has been taken on this proposal.”
Regarding the concerns of Punjab leaders regarding the proposal, the Home Ministry stated that the proposal does not in any way seek to alter the governance or administrative structure of Chandigarh, nor does it intend to alter the “traditional arrangements between Chandigarh and the States of Punjab or Haryana.”
The statement said, “Keeping Chandigarh’s interests in mind, a fair decision will be taken only after thorough consultation with all stakeholders. There is no need for any concern in this matter. The Central Government has no intention of introducing any bill in this regard in the upcoming winter session of Parliament.”
Meanwhile, Punjab leaders say that this will end Punjab’s administrative and political control over Chandigarh and pave the way for the transfer of Chandigarh to Haryana.
Conspiracy against Punjab!
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann wrote in an X-post, “We strongly oppose the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill being proposed by the Central Government in the upcoming winter session of Parliament. This amendment is against the interests of Punjab. We will not allow the Central Government’s conspiracy against Punjab to succeed. Only Punjab has the right to Chandigarh, which was built by destroying our villages in Punjab. We will not allow our rights to be wasted. Therefore, we will take whatever steps are necessary.”
Against Punjab’s Interests
Meanwhile, Shiromani Akali Dal President Sukhbir Singh Badal, opposing the bill, wrote in an X-post, “The Shiromani Akali Dal strongly opposes the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill being proposed by the Central Government in the upcoming winter session of Parliament. This amendment is against Punjab’s interests and represents the Government of India’s reneging on all promises made to Punjab regarding the conversion of Chandigarh into a state.”
Violation of Basic Principles of Federalism
Sukhbir Singh Badal further wrote, “Previous Congress governments in Delhi have discriminated against Punjab and kept us away from our capital. This bill seeks to eliminate whatever little administrative and political control Punjab has over Chandigarh and will permanently end Punjab’s claim to Chandigarh. This bill is a direct attack on Punjab’s rights and violates the basic principles of federalism. We will never accept it and will oppose this move.”
Congress opposes bill
Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring also opposed the bill. He wrote in an X-post, “The proposed 131st Amendment to the Constitution of India, which seeks to separate Chandigarh from Punjab, is deeply concerning. If enacted, it will have serious consequences for Punjab. I urge the Government of India to clarify this matter as it has caused great concern throughout Punjab. Chandigarh belongs to Punjab. Any attempt to change its status will be met with strong opposition.”
Former Punjab minister and Congress leader Pargat Singh also opposed it. He wrote, “The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill exposes the BJP’s true agenda – a full-blown attempt to snatch Chandigarh from Punjab. This attack has been ongoing for years, including the attempt to create a separate Haryana Legislative Assembly within Chandigarh, the conspiracy to make Punjab University a Central University, the lack of Punjab-cadre officers in the Chandigarh administration, the dissolution of Punjab University’s elected Senate, and now – turning Chandigarh into a Union Territory by invoking Article 240.”
