Centre Lists Constitutional Amendment Bill to Bring Chandigarh Under Article 240 Powers

Chandigarh (Naval Kishore)— The Union Government has proposed a significant constitutional change that would place Chandigarh under the direct rule-making powers of the President, bringing it in line with other Union Territories that function without their own legislatures. The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2025, has been listed for introduction in the upcoming winter session of Parliament, starting December 1.

The Bill seeks to include Chandigarh under Article 240, which allows the President to frame regulations for the administration, governance, and development of specific Union Territories such as Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, and Puducherry (during periods when its Assembly is dissolved).

Under Article 240, regulations issued by the President carry the same legal authority as Acts of Parliament. This provision is typically invoked for UTs without legislatures, enabling the Centre to exercise direct administrative control through a Lieutenant Governor appointed by the President.

If enacted, the amendment would alter Chandigarh’s current administrative structure. At present, the Punjab Governor also serves as Chandigarh’s Administrator—an arrangement that has long been viewed as symbolic of Punjab’s historical claim over the city. Inclusion under Article 240 would likely pave the way for an independent Lieutenant Governor appointed by the President, similar to other UTs governed centrally.

The proposed change has sparked political concern in Punjab, where both the Aam Aadmi Party and the Congress have criticised the move. Leaders argue that the Bill could dilute Punjab’s longstanding claim over Chandigarh. However, the government has not yet clarified its broader intent, as the legislation has only been listed and not introduced.

Rajya Sabha MP Vikramjit Singh Sahney was the first to publicly oppose the proposal, urging all Punjab MPs to collectively meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah to demand its withdrawal. He warned that altering Chandigarh’s administrative model could have implications for Punjab’s historical and political stake in the shared capital.

Sahney noted that Chandigarh was declared Punjab’s capital after Partition because Lahore went to Pakistan. Following the 1966 Punjab Reorganisation Act, it became the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana. Subsequent accords, he said, included commitments from the Centre to transfer Chandigarh fully to Punjab — a promise he believes the new Bill undermines.

The controversy emerges days after the Centre withdrew a contentious notification affecting the governance of Panjab University. It also follows a recent meeting of the Northern Zonal Council, where Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann reiterated Punjab’s demand for Chandigarh’s transfer to the state.