New Delhi — The Centre on Sunday clarified that no final decision has been taken on the proposal to bring Chandigarh under the President’s direct control, assuring that any move in this direction will follow extensive consultations with all stakeholders.
The clarification comes amid a heated political storm in Punjab after indications that the Centre may place Chandigarh under Article 240 of the Constitution, which would empower the President to directly frame regulations for the Union Territory.
In its statement, the Home Ministry emphasised that the proposal will not alter Chandigarh’s existing governance structure or its traditional relationship with Punjab and Haryana.
“The proposal to simplify the law-making process exclusively by the Central Government for the Union Territory of Chandigarh is under consideration. No final decision has been taken,” the Ministry said.
Reassuring all parties, it added that there is no reason for concern, and any decision will be taken only after proper consultation, keeping Chandigarh’s interests in mind. The Centre also made it clear that it does not intend to introduce any such bill during the upcoming Winter Session of Parliament.
Chandigarh currently functions as a Union Territory administered by the Punjab Governor and serves as the shared capital of both Punjab and Haryana.
However, a Parliament bulletin recently indicated that the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2025 may be introduced in the Winter Session beginning December 1, sparking protests across Punjab.
Major political parties — including the AAP, Congress, and Shiromani Akali Dal — have strongly opposed the proposal, calling it “anti-Punjab”. They argue that bringing Chandigarh under Article 240 (which covers UTs like Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, and Puducherry) would weaken Punjab’s historical claim to the city.
Chandigarh became a Union Territory in 1966 after Haryana was carved out of Punjab. Since then, it has served as the joint capital, though Punjab’s political leadership has long maintained that Chandigarh rightfully belongs to Punjab and that Haryana should develop its own capital.
With inputs from IANS