Overview
- The Home Ministry clarified there is no intention to introduce a bill in the Winter Session to bring Chandigarh under Article 240 and said no final decision has been taken.
- Parliament’s bulletin had listed the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2025 to place Chandigarh under Article 240, prompting a cross‑party backlash in Punjab.
- Article 240 empowers the President to issue regulations for certain Union territories; analysts say applying it to Chandigarh is seen by many as a step toward an independent administrator, though some call the change largely technical.
- Punjab’s AAP, Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal denounced the move and urged united resistance, while Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar said the state’s interests must be protected.
- The Centre pledged consultations and insisted traditional arrangements with Punjab and Haryana would not be altered, keeping Chandigarh’s current UT status and shared-capital role unchanged for now.