The Punjab Legislative Assembly passed a resolution to transfer the Union Territory (UT) of Chandigarh to the state of Punjab, after Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday, 1 April, moved a resolution in this regard in the Assembly.
The resolution was against the Centre's decision to extend central service rules to the Union Territory (UT) of Chandigarh.
Moving the resolution during the Assembly session, CM Mann said that on basis of the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966, Punjab was reorganised into the state of Haryana and the UT of Chandigarh, and that some parts of the state were handed over to Himachal Pradesh.
The resolution also asked the Centre to uphold the principles of federalism enshrined in the Indian Constitution, and to not take decisions which might upset the balance in the administrative matters of Chandigarh.
This comes after Home Minister Amit Shah announced on 27 March that government employees in Chandigarh will get the same benefits as those of the central civil services, drawing condemnation from the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).
'Central Govt Trying To Upset Balance Between Punjab, Haryana': Mann
"Since then (reorganisation in 1966), a balance was mentioned in the administration of common assets like Bhakra Beas Management Board by way of giving management positions in some proportion to the nominees of State of Punjab and State of Haryana. Through many of its recent actions, the central government is trying to upset this balance," Mann stated in his notice in the Punjab Assembly.
He further mentioned that the central government has advertised posts of members belonging to the Bhakra Beas Management Board, initially filled by Punjab and Haryana officers, to all state and central officials.
"Similarly, Chandigarh administration has always been managed by the officers of Punjab and Haryana in the ratio of 60:40. However, recently central government has posted outside officers to Chandigarh and has introduced Central Civil Service Rules for the employees of Chandigarh Administration, which goes completely against the understanding in the past," the notice read.
Late on Friday evening, Mann said:
"Resolution for transferring Chandigarh to Punjab was passed unanimously. Now for Punjab's issues and rights, we will approach the Central government, and seek time from the president, prime minister, home minister. Wherever needed we will go for Punjab's rights," he was quoted as saying by ANI.
At the time of Punjab's reorganisation in 1966, Chandigarh had the unique distinction of being the capital of Punjab as well as Haryana, even though it was a UT and was under the Centre's control.
What Had the Home Minister Announced for Chandigarh Govt Employees?
"I want to give some good news to the employees of the Chandigarh administration. From today, service conditions of employees of the Chandigarh administration will be aligned with the central civil services," Shah had said at an event in Chandigarh.
Shah added that due to the new policy, the retirement age of employees in the UT will now go up from 58 to 60 years, and that women employees will get child-care leave of two years from the current one year.
(With inputs from IANS and NDTV.)
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