{"id":74759,"date":"2025-11-24T13:09:54","date_gmt":"2025-11-24T07:39:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=74759"},"modified":"2025-12-04T13:29:30","modified_gmt":"2025-12-04T07:59:30","slug":"the-constitution-131st-amendment-bill-2025-chandigarh-under-article-240","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/the-constitution-131st-amendment-bill-2025-chandigarh-under-article-240\/","title":{"rendered":"The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill 2025 &#8211; Chandigarh Under Article 240?"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill 2025 Latest News<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Union Home Ministry has clarified that the Central Government has <\/span><b>no intention of introducing<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill 2025 in the Winter Session of Parliament to bring Chandigarh under Article 240.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The proposal triggered sharp political backlash in Punjab, reviving long-standing tensions related to Chandigarh\u2019s status, rooted in the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chandigarh is a Union Territory (<\/span><b>UT<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), but is also the <\/span><b>shared capital <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">of Punjab and Haryana. The Governor of Punjab currently holds <\/span><b>additional charge<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as the Administrator of the UT of Chandigarh.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>Proposed Change<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Parliament bulletin:<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lok Sabha bulletin (Nov 21) listed the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill 2025 for introduction.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Objective<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Include Chandigarh under Article 240, allowing the President to make regulations for the UT.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Effect<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Enable <\/span><b>appointment <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">of an independent Administrator\/Lieutenant Governor.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Article 240:<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Empowers the President to frame regulations for certain UTs &#8211; Andaman &amp; Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Dadra &amp; Nagar Haveli and Daman &amp; Diu, Puducherry (when Assembly is dissolved\/suspended).<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Presidential regulations<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can override Acts of Parliament applicable to that UT.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>If applied to Chandigarh:<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chandigarh would come under direct administrative control of the Centre, similar to other UTs without legislatures.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Punjab Governor would no longer serve as Administrator.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>Centre\u2019s Clarification<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Government\u2019s statement:<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Proposal only aimed at <\/span><b>simplifying <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the Central government\u2019s law-making process for Chandigarh.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, no decision has been finalized yet. No change intended in the current governance structure. No Bill will be introduced in the 2025 Winter Session.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Stakeholder consultation: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Decision will be taken only after adequate consultations with Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh administration, other stakeholders.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>Punjab Opposing the Move<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Historical significance:<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Post-partition: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lahore went to Pakistan in 1947. Chandigarh was envisioned as the modern capital of Punjab.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Planned city: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Designed by <\/span><b>Le Corbusier<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Inaugurated by President Rajendra Prasad in 1953.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Creation of Haryana. Chandigarh made <\/span><b>joint capital<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with property division in 60:40 ratio (Punjab:Haryana). Chandigarh became a <\/span><b>UT <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">under Centre\u2019s control.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>1970<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Centre declared that Chandigarh would go to Punjab. Announcement influenced by Punjabi Suba movement leader Fateh Singh.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Haryana\u2019s temporary arrangement: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Allowed to share secretariat and legislature buildings for five years. Given financial assistance to build new capital (\u20b910 crore grant + \u20b910 crore loan). No separate capital built till date.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Punjab\u2019s current position: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Views Chandigarh as its undisputed rightful capital. Asserts that the city was built by \u201cuprooting Punjabi villages\u201d. CM Bhagwant Mann (AAP) opposed the Bill, calling it a conspiracy to weaken Punjab\u2019s claim.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Political reactions:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Opposition parties criticised the Centre\u2019s move as \u201c<\/span><b>FAST approach<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2014 First Announce, Second Think.\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>Key Constitutional and Administrative Issues<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Sensitive federal question<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Chandigarh\u2019s status is historically linked to state reorganisation and <\/span><b>linguistic federalism<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. High political stakes for both Punjab and Haryana.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Administrative implications<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Changing role of Administrator from Punjab Governor to LG shifts decision-making, Centre\u2013State power dynamics, control over land, policing and administration.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Inter-State power balance<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Haryana continues to operate from Chandigarh without setting up its own capital.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Political symbolism: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chandigarh represents Punjabi identity, legacy of reorganisation, incomplete implementation of 1970 promise.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Historical commitments: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Transfer promises made in 1970 remain unfulfilled, complicating any new move.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Governance stability: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Risk of administrative friction if the governance model is altered abruptly.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Legal and constitutional complexity<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Bringing Chandigarh under Article 240 may require nuanced constitutional interpretation.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>Way Forward<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Stakeholder consultation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Mandatory structured dialogue among Centre, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh UT administration.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Federal consensus: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A political\u2013administrative consensus model on Chandigarh\u2019s status is essential.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Revisit past commitments<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Review the 1970 declaration and explore realistic, time-bound solutions.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Balanced administrative framework<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Any law-making reform must protect local governance, federal balance, and the interests of both states.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Transparent communication<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Avoid ambiguity in legislative bulletins to prevent political escalation.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>Conclusion<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The controversy over including Chandigarh under <\/span><b>Article 240<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> highlights the deep-rooted historical, political and constitutional sensitivities surrounding the city.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The episode reflects the need for careful federal negotiation and respect for long-standing commitments made to Punjab and Haryana.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A balanced, consultative approach remains essential to ensure administrative efficiency without disturbing the delicate<\/span><b> inter-state equilibrium<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>Source: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/proposal-on-chandigarh-doesnt-alter-administrative-structure-no-final-decision-yet-mha\/article70313800.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><b>TH<\/b><\/a><b>\u00a0| <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/explained\/explained-politics\/constitution-131-amendment-bill-2025-row-chandigarh-punjab-status-10381863\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><b>IE<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Union Home Ministry has clarified that the Central Government has no intention of introducing the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill 2025 to bring Chandigarh under Article 240.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":74763,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[3852],"class_list":{"0":"post-74759","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-upsc-mains-current-affairs","8":"tag-the-constitution-131st-amendment-bill-2025","9":"no-featured-image-padding"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/74759","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/19"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=74759"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/74759\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/74763"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=74759"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=74759"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=74759"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}