Chandigarh/New Delhi, Nov 23: Amid growing political backlash over a proposal to align Chandigarh with other Union Territories, the Centre on Sunday announced that it will not introduce the draft legislation in the coming winter session of Parliament. The U-turn comes days after the Constitution (Amendment) Bill was listed in the Parliament bulletin, triggering protests across Punjab and demands from several political quarters to withdraw the move immediately.
Officials said the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, which sought to bring Chandigarh under a uniform law-making framework alongside Union Territories such as Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Puducherry, Lakshadweep, Daman and Diu, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli, will not be tabled when Parliament reconvenes on December 1.
In a statement posted on X, the Union Home Ministry said discussions were still underway within government circles. “The proposal to simplify the process of law-making exclusively by the Central Government for the Union Territory of Chandigarh is currently under consideration at the level of the Central Government. No final decision has been taken on this proposal,” the ministry said.
The Home Ministry clarified that the proposed change does not alter Chandigarh’s governance system or its relationship with Punjab and Haryana. It added that any final stance would be taken only after a wider consultative process. “An appropriate decision will be taken only after adequate consultation with all stakeholders, keeping in mind the interests of Chandigarh,” the ministry said, adding that there was “no need for concern.”
The Centre insisted that it had “no intention of presenting any bill to this effect in the upcoming Winter Session of Parliament.” The clarification came shortly after the Punjab BJP publicly stated that it would urge the Centre to withdraw the proposal, describing it as one that hurts the sentiments of Punjab.
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