Chandigarh: In a fresh confrontation over Punjab’s rights, the central government has initiated the process to appoint a Lieutenant Governor (LG) for the Union Territory of Chandigarh.
A Bill enabling this change has been listed for introduction during the upcoming Winter Session of Parliament, raising concerns over its implications for Punjab’s long-standing claim on Chandigarh.
The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2025, published in a bulletin on the Rajya Sabha website, seeks to bring Chandigarh under Article 240 of the Constitution. This Article currently covers Union Territories such as Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu and Puducherry, all administered by Lieutenant Governors appointed by the President. These Union Territories do not have legislative assemblies.
Once amended, the Bill will allow the President to frame rules for Chandigarh and appoint its Lieutenant Governor. Chandigarh is presently administered by the Governor of Punjab, who serves as the Union Territory’s Administrator.
Article 240 empowers the President to make rules for the peace, progress and good governance of certain Union Territories, with such rules carrying the same weight as laws passed by Parliament.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann strongly criticised the proposed amendment. He said, “We strongly oppose the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill being introduced by the central government in the upcoming winter session of Parliament. This amendment is against the interest of Punjab. We will not allow the conspiracy being hatched by the central government against Punjab to succeed at all.”
He added that Chandigarh was built on land belonging to Punjab and that the state’s rights must be protected. “Only Punjab has the right to Chandigarh, which was built by desolating the villages of our Punjab. We will not allow our rights to be wasted. So we will take whatever steps we have to take,” he said.
