The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) Sunday clarified that the Centre has no intention of introducing any Bills to “alter Chandigarh’s governance or administrative structure” in the upcoming Winter Session of Parliament.
The MHA’s claification came a day after a political row erupted over a proposal to include the Union Territory of Chandigarh undfer Article 240 of the Constitution “in alignment with other Union Territories without legislatures” like Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, and Puducherry, “when its Legislative Assembly is dissolved or suspended”.
According to a Lok Sabha bulletin issued on November 21, the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill 2025 was among 10 new Bills likely to be introduced during the upcoming session, in addition to further proceedings on two other Bills that had been referred to Select Committees earlier.
Seeking to allay concern regarding the matter, the MHA sought to underline that it “only to simplify the Central Government’s law-making process for the Union Territory of Chandigarh” and “in no way seeks to alter Chandigarh’s governance or administrative structure”.
“The proposal only to simplify the Central Government’s law-making process for the Union Territory of Chandigarh is still under consideration with the Central Government. No final decision has been taken on this proposal” the MHA said in a post on X.
The proposal only to simplify the Central Government’s law-making process for the Union Territory of Chandigarh is still under consideration with the Central Government. No final decision has been taken on this proposal. The proposal in no way seeks to alter Chandigarh’s…
— PIB – Ministry of Home Affairs (@PIBHomeAffairs) November 23, 2025
“The proposal in no way seeks to alter Chandigarh’s governance or administrative structure, nor does it aim to change the traditional arrangements between Chandigarh and the States of Punjab or Haryana. A suitable decision will be taken only after adequate consultations with all stakeholders, keeping in mind the interests of Chandigarh.
“There is no need for any concern on this matter. The Central Government has no intention of introducing any Bill to this effect in the upcoming Winter Session of Parliament,” the MHA said.
Political row over proposal
Article 240 pertains to the power of the President to make regulations for certain Union Uerritories. It states: “The President may make regulations for the peace, progress and good government” of these Union territories.”
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It further provides that whenever the body functioning as a Legislature for such a UT “is dissolved, or the functioning of that body…remains suspended…the President may, during the period of such dissolution or suspension, make regulations for the peace, progress and good government of that Union territory”.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann strongly opposed the proposed Bill, terming it a move which was “against the interests of Punjab.” Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring had alleged that the proposed 131st amendment to the Constitution “envisaging to separate Chandigarh from Punjab” was “quite worrying” and, if legislated, will “have a serious fallout in Punjab.”
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal said his party “strongly opposes” the proposed Bill, alleging that it is “against the interest of Punjab and would amount to the GOI going back on all commitments made to Punjab regarding the transfer of Chandigarh to the state”.
