The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Sunday issued a formal clarification stating that the central government has no intention of altering the governance or administrative structure of the Union Territory of Chandigarh. The statement comes amid political uproar over reports that the Centre was considering bringing Chandigarh under Article 240 of the Constitution — a move that would allow the President to frame regulations for the UT and appoint an independent administrator.
In its statement, the MHA said that a proposal is under examination to simplify the law-making process for Chandigarh, enabling the Central Government to legislate directly for the Union Territory. However, no final decision has been taken.
The ministry emphasized that the proposal does not seek to modify Chandigarh’s existing governance setup or its traditional relationship with Punjab and Haryana. It assured that any decision will be taken only after full consultations with all stakeholders. The Centre also clarified that it has no plan to introduce any such Bill in the upcoming Winter Session of Parliament.
A PTI report earlier claimed that the Centre was considering realigning Chandigarh with Union Territories such as Lakshadweep, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and Daman & Diu — all of which fall under Article 240 and do not have their own legislatures.
Chandigarh is currently administered by the Punjab Governor, although historically it has had independent administrators. The last attempt to restore the old system in 2016 was withdrawn after opposition from Punjab political leaders, including the then-Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.
🔥 Political Reactions in Punjab
The reported proposal triggered strong reactions from political parties in Punjab:
- Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann called the move an attempt to “snatch” Punjab’s capital, asserting that Chandigarh “was, is, and will always remain” part of Punjab.
- Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring termed the move “uncalled for” and warned against any attempt to “take away” Chandigarh.
- Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal called the proposal a “betrayal” and an “assault on Punjab’s rights.”
- AAP MP Vikramjit Singh Sahney urged all MPs to seek a meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah, citing Chandigarh’s historical significance to Punjab.
While the political storm continues in Punjab, the Centre has reiterated that concerns are unfounded and that no legislation is planned at present.
