Source: IE
Context:
The Parliament is up for a heated winter session as the Union Government plans to introduce the contentious Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2025 in the upcoming session set to start from December 1, 2025.
About the Bill
- The Bill aims to include Chandigarh under Article 240 of the Indian Constitution.
- Article 240 gives the President the power to make regulations for Union Territories (UTs) — enabling direct governance via presidential regulations and potentially appointing a full-time Administrator or Lieutenant Governor (LG) for Chandigarh.
- The government says the goal is to “simplify the process for law-making” for the UT of Chandigarh, aligning it with other UTs that do not have a legislative assembly.
Why the Bill Matters (Broader Implications)
- Governance Shift
- Moving Chandigarh under Article 240 gives the President/Government of India more direct control via regulations, rather than relying on state-based administration.
- Political Symbolism
- For Punjab, Chandigarh is not just a UT but a symbol of its political and historical identity.
- Centralizing its control is being viewed as erosion of Punjab’s rights.
- Federalism
- Critics argue this move undermines federal principles because it reduces the role of a key State (Punjab) in administering its capital.
