CHANDIGARH, May 7 — The Central Government has officially extended the provisions of five state statutes to the Union Territory of Chandigarh to modernize administrative frameworks and enhance the ease of doing business. The move, executed via a notification under Section 87 of the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966, addresses the legislative requirements of the city, which does not maintain its own Legislative Assembly.
The new regulations, which became effective on May 6, include the Indian Stamp (Punjab Amendment) Acts of 2001 and 2003. These statutes are intended to bring greater transparency to property valuations and the collection of stamp duty. Furthermore, the implementation of the Punjab Population Body (Record of Rights) Act, 2021, will facilitate the creation of official ownership records for areas that were previously excluded from formal land documentation.
Authorities stated that the extension also includes the Punjab Prevention of Human Trafficking Act to curb fraudulent activities by travel agents targeting students and job seekers. To improve urban safety, the Haryana Fire and Emergency Services Act, 2022, has been adopted to simplify and modernize fire safety protocols. Additionally, the Assam Tenancy Act, 2021—modelled after the Union Government’s Model Tenancy Act—will replace outdated tenancy laws to provide a time-bound dispute resolution mechanism for landlords and tenants.
“This decision has been taken with the objective of promoting administrative reforms, increasing transparency and ease of doing business,” a government representative affirmed. He stated that the new legal framework would significantly clarify property rights and improve the availability of rental housing across the territory.
