- By Shubham Bajpai
- Sun, 23 Nov 2025 04:23 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Chandigarh is yet again at the centre of a political tug-of-war between the Central government and Punjab as the reports of New Delhi moving the 131st Constitutional Amendment to bring the UT under Article 240 ignited a strong reaction from the ruling AAP, SAD and Congress.
After the massive outcry, the Ministry of Home Affairs, however, clarified that the government has no intention of presenting any bill in the upcoming Winter Session. The MHA added that the proposal is to simplify the Centre's law-making process for Chandigarh and was still 'under consideration'.
What is the matter?
The Centre's proposal to bring the UT under Article 240 will give power to the President to frame regulations and appoint the LG, like in Andaman and Nicobar, Lakshadweep, Puducherry, etc.
At present, the Governor of Punjab exercises power as the administrative head of the UT.
How did Chandigarh come to its current status?
Despite Chandigarh being a UT, it does not have an LG. It got its current status under the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966, when Haryana and the UT of Himachal Pradesh were carved out from Punjab.
Before that, Chandigarh was Punjab's capital, but the act established it as a UT and joint capital of Haryana and Punjab, with state assets divided between them in the ratio of 40:6,0, respectively.
The lack of full rights to its capital has triggered several protests and prompted resolutions in Punjab. The 1966 indicated that UT status to Chandigarh was temporary and it would ultimately be transferred to Punjab.
The 1985 Rajiv-Longowal Accord mandated the handover of Chandigarh to Punjab on January 26, 1986. But the long period of militancy pushed it further with no clear deadline.
Therefore, the recent bill is likely to alter the Centre's longstanding stance on the UT.
Haryana's stand
Haryana, like Punjab, has maintained a claim over the UT and objected to any move that dissociates it with Chandigarh or associates it with Punjab only.
It was seen in the controversy around the inauguration of the airport in Chandigarh, which is built on the territories of both Mohali and the UT. Haryana objected to its naming after Mohali, claiming that it has a 50 per cent stake.