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What will it mean for Chandigarh if it is brought under Article 240?

Currently, the city is a Union Territory (UT) and the Governor of Punjab holds additional charge as the Administrator of Chandigarh. Also, it is the shared capital of Punjab and Haryana, due to which key Acts and laws of both states extend to the city

Gandhi Bhawan at the Panjab University in Chandigarh. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

The implications of bringing Chandigarh under Article 240 of the Constitution are far-reaching. They will not only pave the way for the city to get an independent administrator, like the Lieutenant Governor (L-G) in many other UTs, but also dilute the adjoining state’s “control and interference” over Chandigarh.

Currently, the city is a Union Territory (UT) and the Governor of Punjab holds additional charge as the Administrator of Chandigarh. Also, it is the shared capital of Punjab and Haryana, due to which key Acts and laws of both states extend to the city.

Consequences of bringing Chandigarh under Article 240

Speaking to The Indian Express, Pawan Bansal, a three-time Member of Parliament, said that bringing Chandigarh under Article 240 would have grave consequences for the city. For instance, he said, the Centre would get sweeping powers over the UT.

“The sweeping power that the Centre will acquire by including Chandigarh under Article 240 is that any Act made by Parliament or any other law applicable to the UT of Chandigarh could be repealed or amended merely by framing a regulation to that effect, bypassing Parliament, which alone, at present, is competent to enact any law for the UT of Chandigarh,” he said.

For example, if the Chandigarh mayor’s tenure has to be altered, the proposal does not need to be presented in Parliament. “The Joint Secretary of the Union government has to just sign a note saying that the President is pleased to make the amendment, and the change will be implemented immediately,” Bansal said.

Note that Article 240 lays down the power of the President of India to make regulations for certain Union territories. It says the “President may make regulations for the peace, progress and good government” of the Union territory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, and Puducherry, when its Legislative Assembly is dissolved or suspended.

Bansal also said that there would be ramifications for the long bureaucratic claim of Punjab and Haryana over Chandigarh, in case the UT is brought under Article 240.

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“The present system of governance of Chandigarh has worked well for over 40 years. A reform is only needed for creating an empowered Mayor-in-Council system for the Municipal Corporation with transfer of necessary functions, funds and functionaries,” he said.

Also in Explained | Governor’s powers: Apex court draws red line for itself, but keeps option to push it

However, BJP leader and lawyer Arun Sood told The Indian Express that the move would benefit Chandigarh.

“It won’t just bring in additional budgetary provisions due to central oversight, but also may pave the way for a Legislative Assembly of its own in future,” he said.

Previous attempts to bring Chandigarh under Article 240

In 2016, attempts were made to appoint an independent Chandigarh Administrator and end the practice of the Punjab Governor holding the charge of the city. The Centre tried to appoint K J Alphons as the administrator. However, after uproar by the then Shiromani Akali Dal government, the move was put on hold.

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It was in 1984 when the practice of the Punjab governor to hold the charge of the Chandigarh administrator was put in force. It was done to facilitate smooth coordination on security issues when terrorism in the border state was at its peak. At that time, Punjab was under the President’s rule. Before that, Chandigarh was administered by a chief commissioner, a serving bureaucrat, who reported to the Union government.

Hina Rohtaki

Hina Rohtaki is a Special Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in Chandigarh. She is one of the most prominent journalists covering the Chandigarh Administration, civic issues, and the unique political status of the Union Territory. Professional Background Experience: She has been in the field for over a decade and is known for her investigative reporting on administrative waste and urban governance. Awards: She is a recipient of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award, which was presented to her by the President of India in January 2020. She was also awarded the Jethmalani prize (The Will of Steel Awards) in 2025 in the Empowerment category for a series of articles that highlighted the struggles of Covid widows. Core Beat: Her primary focus is the Chandigarh administrative structure, the Union Territory's financial management, and urban development projects. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent work highlights a focus on government accountability, administrative expenditures, and civic trends: 1. Investigative & Financial Reporting "Fuelling power: Senior UT IAS officers guzzled petrol worth Rs 30 lakh in 2 yrs" (Dec 14, 2025): An investigative report detailing the high fuel bills of top bureaucrats, including the Finance Secretary and Chief Secretary’s staff. "Admn spends Rs 1.5 crore on dismantling road railings and fixing again after increasing height" (Dec 8, 2025): Highlighting administrative waste on "non-viable" solutions for pedestrian control. "Chandigarh’s finances under ministry’s watch now" (Nov 27, 2025): Reporting on the new requirement for MHA approval for all new projects in the UT. 2. Governance & Constitutional Status "What will it mean for Chandigarh if it is brought under Article 240?" (Nov 24, 2025): An "Explained" piece on the potential constitutional shift that would grant the President more power over the UT's governance. "MP Manish Tewari moves Bill seeking directly elected Mayor with 5-year tenure" (Dec 6, 2025): Covering the legislative push to reform Chandigarh's municipal leadership structure. "No proposal to increase Mayor's term in Chandigarh by 5 years: Centre" (Dec 10, 2025): Reporting on the Union government's response to demands for a longer mayoral term. 3. Urban Infrastructure & Environment "Chandigarh admn cuts power to India's tallest air purifier, asks firm to dismantle it" (Nov 17, 2025): A critical report on the failure of a high-cost environmental project deemed "of no use" by experts. "UT rethinks 24/7 water supply project as costs soar" (Nov 26, 2025): Detailing the financial challenges and delays in modernizing the city's water network. "Centre 'obfuscating, covering up' MC's shifting deadlines for clearing Dadu Majra dump" (Dec 12, 2025): Reporting on the ongoing controversy surrounding the city's major waste dump. 4. Lifestyle & Local Trends "Chandigarh turns into a Thar city as women fuel the surge" (Dec 2, 2025): A feature on a unique automotive trend in the city, with a record 600 registrations by women drivers this year. "After fivefold spike in 2023, EV sales struggle to pick pace in Chandigarh" (Dec 2, 2025): Analyzing the slowdown in electric vehicle adoption despite previous surges. Signature Beat Hina is known for her meticulous tracking of RTI (Right to Information) data to expose administrative inefficiency. Her "Ground Zero" reporting on the Dadu Majra garbage dump and her scrutiny of the Chandigarh Smart City projects have made her a key figure in the city’s civil society discourse. X (Twitter): @HinaRohtaki ... Read More