At Constitution Watchdog, we are closely monitoring the constitutional and federal implications of the legislative developments surrounding the Union Territory of Chandigarh. The proposed Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2025, initially listed in the Rajya Sabha bulletin for the Parliament’s Winter Session commencing December 1, 2025, represents a significant potential shift in the administrative jurisprudence of the region. The Bill seeks to amend the constitutional schedule to bring Chandigarh under the ambit of Article 240 of the Constitution of India. Currently, Article 240 empowers the President to frame regulations for certain Union Territories, specifically the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, and Puducherry. The inclusion of Chandigarh in this provision would legally align it with territories that lack their own legislatures, effectively empowering the President—and by extension, the Union executive—to directly govern the territory’s affairs through regulation, potentially bypassing the existing administrative framework.
From a legal standpoint, this amendment would mark a departure from the longstanding administrative convention wherein the Governor of Punjab holds the ex-officio charge as the Administrator of Chandigarh. The proposed statutory realignment suggests the potential appointment of a Lieutenant Governor, thereby severing the unique administrative link between the state of Punjab and its joint capital. This prospect has precipitated acute constitutional friction, with stakeholders in Punjab, including the current state leadership and opposition parties, interpreting the move as an encroachment on federal principles. Their objection rests on the historical and political understanding that Chandigarh’s status is inextricably linked to Punjab’s territorial claims, arguing that a shift to Article 240 would permanently extinguish the state’s claim over the city and centralize executive control.
However, the situation remains fluid and demonstrates the responsiveness of the legislative process to federal contestation. Following significant opposition from the Punjab government and various political entities, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs has issued a clarification regarding the Bill’s status. The central government has effectively placed the proposal in abeyance, stating that there is currently “no intention” to alter the administrative structure of Chandigarh during the upcoming session. Official communications indicate that the Bill will not be introduced in the Winter Session as originally bulletined, with future decisions contingent upon broader consultation with relevant stakeholders. This development underscores the delicate balance of India’s federal asymmetry, where statutory amendments concerning Union Territories often necessitate a consensus-based approach to preserve regional stability. We continue to watch these developments as they touch upon the core of Article 240 and the broader federal structure.
