No final decision yet: Centre backtracks on Chandigarh Bill amid massive political uproar
The government said that the proposal to simplify the process for central legislation for Chandigarh is merely “under consideration” and that no final decision has been taken.
PTC News Desk: The Union Home Ministry on Sunday issued a clarification over Chandigarh Bill after massive backlash and political uproar in Punjab.
In an official post shared by PIB–Home Ministry on X, the government said that the proposal to simplify the process for central legislation for Chandigarh is merely “under consideration” and that no final decision has been taken.
The Ministry emphasised that the proposal does not seek to change Chandigarh’s existing governance system or alter its “traditional relationship” with Punjab or Haryana. “This proposal is only about simplifying the process of law-making for the Union Territory by the Central Government and is still under consideration at the Central Government level,” the statement read.
The ministry said the proposal does not in any way involve altering the governance and administrative arrangements of Chandigarh or the traditional relations of Chandigarh with Punjab or Haryana.
"An appropriate decision will be taken only after adequate consultation with all stakeholders, keeping in mind the interests of Chandigarh. There is no need for concern on this matter. The Central Government has no intention of presenting any bill to this effect in the upcoming Winter Session of Parliament," the Centre clarified
Earlier, Centre had listed a Bill in the upcoming winter session of the Parliament that proposes to include the Union territory of Chandigarh under the ambit of Article 240 of the Constitution and seeks to bracket Chandigarh with Union Territories (UTs) Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu and Puducherry.
Article 240 of the Constitution grants power to the president to make regulations for the peace, progress and effective governance of the Union territories of Andaman & Nicobar Islands; Lakshadweep; Dadra & Nagar Haveli; and Daman & Diu and Puducherry.
The winter session of Parliament is scheduled from December 1 to 19.