The Union government said last week that the proposal to include Chandigarh under Article 240 of the Constitution is “still under consideration”. She also clarified that she has “no intention” of introducing any such bill in the upcoming winter session of Parliament.
The clarification came after strong protests — especially from political parties in Punjab — against entries in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha bulletins that suggested the Center planned to introduce the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2025 during the session beginning December 1.
Read also | Explained | What would inclusion in Article 240 mean for Chandigarh?
Currently, Chandigarh is a Union Territory (UT) and shares its capital with the states of Punjab and Haryana. The Governor of Punjab has an additional charge as the Administrator of Chandigarh.
By bringing Chandigarh under Article 240 of the Constitution, the government has learned to pave the way for the city to get an independent administrator like the Lieutenant Governor (LG) in many other UTs.
Political parties in Punjab including Aam Aadmi PartyThe Congress and the SAD viewed the proposal as clearing the way for the appointment of an independent administrator or lieutenant governor (LG). Since 1984, the Governor of Punjab has been the Administrator of Chandigarh.
The BJP in Punjab was also opposed
In fact, even the Punjab unit of the BJP had reservations about the proposal
Punjab BJP President Sunil Jakhar spoke to Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday, a day ahead of the Union Cabinet clarification, and expressed reservations about the proposed bill
But why is Chandigarh an emotional issue for Punjab? LiveMint explains
Chandigarh is not only the capital of Punjab but also the joint capital of Haryana. Chandigarh is tied to the history, identity, land and political aspirations of Punjab. Any perceived attempt to change its status – especially without Punjab’s approval – becomes a sensitive and emotional flare-up.
Built for Punjab after losing to Lahore
Chandigarh, a planned city developed after independence in 1947, has special significance for Punjab. It was conceived as a replacement for Lahore, the capital of undivided Punjab.
After partition in 1947, Punjab lost Lahore to Pakistan. The Sikhs, especially the Akalis, were said to have been hurt by the loss of Punjab’s cultural and economic heart, Lahore, which symbolized Sikh political power.
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Shimla briefly served as the temporary capital of the Indian state of Punjab. However, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru planned what he called a modern, forward-thinking city for the state, which eventually led to the creation of Chandigarh. In March 1948, the center and the Punjab government selected a site in the foothills of the Himalayas and acquired 22 villages in Kharar for the construction of Chandigarh.
“Everything for a blow from the divide”
Chandigarh was to be built specifically as the new capital of Punjab, giving it a deep emotional and historical significance for Punjab.
Le Corbusier, a Swiss-born French urban planner, drew up the master plan for Chandigarh, which officially became the capital of Punjab on 21 September 1953. The then president Rajendra Prasad inaugurated the new capital soon after on 7 October 1953.
About four years later, during a visit to Chandigarh, Prime Minister Nehru famously said that Punjab had gone through a traumatic experience because of Partition.
“It was a wounded state… It suffered physical and emotional injuries. The blows inflicted by one’s own brother run very deep and are difficult to heal. It was imperative that something be done to heal the wound. The wounded spirit needed a soothing balm. Taking all this into consideration, one felt that the people of Punjab should have looked forward with their hearts and minds.
Nehru said that Chandigarh was more than “a panacea for the wound that was inflicted on Punjab”.
Common equity
Reorganization of the states along linguistic lines took place in 1956. However, Punjab was not given its own linguistic status. This gave rise to the Punjabi Suba movement for a new, further truncated Punjab.
In 1966, the Hindi-speaking region of Haryana was carved out under the Punjab Reorganization Act of 1966, resulting in the division of Punjab into two separate entities. Located on the border of the two states, Chandigarh has become their joint capital of Punjab and Haryana with real estate split 60:40. Chandigarh became a union territory, which meant that the city would be under the direct control of the Centre.
Indira Gandhi’s 6 year old promise
Prime Minister Indira Gandhi announced that Haryana would get equity capital. However, the Center did not transfer sole control of the city to Punjab, which created a long-standing sense of grievance.
And on January 29, 1970, the Union Government announced that “the Chandigarh Capital Region as a whole should go to Punjab”. Fateh Singh, leader of the Punjabi Suba movement, threatened to self-immolate if Chandigarh was not transferred to Punjab.
However, Haryana was allowed to use office space in the Punjab Civil Secretariat and was allotted seats in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha. The Center also offered Haryana a ₹A grant of 10 million crowns together with an equivalent loan to support the development of new capital.
Over the years, key administrative powers over Chandigarh have been shifted to the Centre, reducing Punjab’s stake in its own capital. Decisions like making UT employees part of central services and proposals related to Article 239AA/240 are often seen by Punjabi parties as diluting Punjab’s historical claim.
What did the 131st Amendment propose?
The Centre’s proposed Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2025 aims to include the Union Territory of Chandigarh under Article 240 of the Constitution.
This would put Chandigarh in the same category as other Union Territories, which lack their own legislatures and have the power of the President to make regulations for them.
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By bringing Chandigarh under Article 240 of the Constitution, the government has learned to pave the way for the city to get an independent administrator like the Lieutenant Governor (LG) in many other UTs.
“We will not allow the conspiracy to succeed. Chandigarh, built by uprooting villages of Punjab, belongs exclusively to Punjab. We will not allow our right to escape… We will take any necessary steps,” Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann said on November 22.
Built by uprooting the villages of Punjab, Chandigarh belongs exclusively to Punjab. We will not let our right slip away.
Whenever the bill is passed, Chandigarh will no longer be under the jurisdiction of the Governor of Punjab as it is now. The move may lead to the appointment of a lieutenant governor to run the city. It would allow the President of India to make regulations for Chandigarh, as well as for other Union Territories, under Article 240 of the Constitution.
Built by uprooting the villages of Punjab, Chandigarh belongs exclusively to Punjab. We will not let go of our right…
As things stand today, for many Sikhs and Punjabis, Chandigarh embodies both the modern aspirations of Punjabi culture and the community’s post-Partition reconstruction memories. Those who know the city say it has become a symbol of Punjabi sub-national pride, which is why any move on its status – even an administrative one – provokes strong reactions across the political spectrum.
