Government Proposes Bill to Centralize Chandigarh Administration

The Indian central government plans to introduce the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2025, in the Parliament’s winter session starting December 1. This bill proposes to bring the Union Territory of Chandigarh under the ambit of Article 240 of the Indian Constitution. Article 240 empowers the President of India to issue regulations and legislate directly for Union Territories without legislatures, similar to how Andaman and Nicobar Islands or Lakshadweep are governed.

Key Features of the Bill

• The bill would allow the President to make regulations for Chandigarh, effectively centralizing administrative control.

• It proposes appointing an independent Administrator or Lieutenant Governor (Lt Governor) for Chandigarh, replacing the current system wherein the Punjab Governor also holds charge of Chandigarh’s administration.

• The change would align Chandigarh’s administration with other Union Territories that do not have legislative assemblies, such as Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, and Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu.

Background and Current Administrative Setup

• Since the reorganization of Punjab in 1966, Chandigarh has been a joint capital shared by Punjab and Haryana.

• Initially, Chandigarh was administered independently by the Chief Secretary until 1984 when the administration was shifted under the Punjab Governor.

• The Punjab Governor has since been the Administrator of Chandigarh, a role currently held alongside their gubernatorial duties.

• The amendment would end this arrangement and place Chandigarh directly under a central appointee, weakening Punjab’s traditional administrative control.

Opposition and Political Reaction

• Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and other leaders across political parties have strongly opposed this move, calling it an attack on state rights.

• Punjab’s leaders argue that Chandigarh historically and politically belongs to Punjab, which had been promised exclusive rights after the 1966 reorganization.

• The opposition fears that centralizing control under a central appointee dilutes Punjab’s claim and amounts to an erosion of federal balance.

• There are vows of protests and unity in Punjab to protect the state's historical and political claim to Chandigarh.

• Opposition parties including Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Congress, and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) have come together against the bill, denouncing it as unconstitutional and damaging to Punjab’s autonomy.

Significance

• Chandigarh is not just an administrative capital but a symbol of Punjab's identity post-partition when Lahore became part of Pakistan.

• The bill could become a major flashpoint in India’s federal-state relations and political landscape during the winter parliamentary session.

• It aligns Chandigarh’s administration with other Union Territories governed directly by the Centre, but due to Chandigarh’s unique position as a shared capital, the move has intensified regional political tensions.

In summary, the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2025, aims to centralize Chandigarh’s administration by allowing the President to appoint an independent Administrator under Article 240, shifting control from Punjab Governor to a centrally appointed official. This proposal has ignited political uproar in Punjab, with widespread opposition viewing it as an assault on the state’s rights and historical claim to Chandigarh, leading to promises of political resistance and protests during the upcoming parliamentary session. To keep it simple The Indian central government is planning to introduce a new law called the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2025, in the winter session of Parliament starting December 1. This bill aims to change how Chandigarh, a Union Territory and shared capital of Punjab and Haryana, is governed.

Currently, Chandigarh is administered by the Governor of Punjab, who also acts as the Administrator of Chandigarh. The proposed bill would bring Chandigarh under Article 240 of the Indian Constitution. This means the President of India would have the power to issue regulations directly for Chandigarh and appoint an independent Administrator or Lieutenant Governor (Lt Governor) to manage the city’s affairs, just like the Andaman & Nicobar Islands or Lakshadweep.

This move is seen as centralizing control of Chandigarh, shifting power from the Punjab Governor to a centrally appointed official. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and leaders from various political parties strongly oppose this bill. They argue that Chandigarh historically belongs to Punjab, having been its capital since Punjab was reorganized in 1966 after Haryana was carved out. They view the bill as an attack on the rights of Punjab and a threat to its claim over the city.

The opposition groups fear that giving the Centre full control over Chandigarh will weaken Punjab's hold on the city. They have called for unity and protests to protect Punjab’s interests. This issue has sparked significant political tension, as Chandigarh is not just a city but also a symbol of Punjab's identity and pride.

In simple terms:

• The bill wants to let the President and a central appointee directly run Chandigarh.

• Right now, Chandigarh is run by the Punjab Governor, shared with Haryana as a capital for both.

• Punjab leaders say this bill tries to take away their rights to the city.

• They are planning to protest and fight against the bill to keep Chandigarh linked closely to Punjab.

This is a major political and administrative change that could affect the delicate balance of power between the central government and Punjab state regarding Chandigarh’s governance.