Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann on Friday moved a resolution in the assembly seeking immediately transfer Chandigarh to Punjab.
The big move by Mr Mann two weeks after he took over as Chief Minister comes amid the ongoing tussle between the centre and Punjab to control the Union Territory which serves as the capital of Punjab and neighbouring Haryana.
“Punjab was reorganised through the Punjab Reorganization Act, 1966, wherein, the state of Punjab was reorganised into the state of Haryana, Union Territory of Chandigarh and some parts of Punjab were given to the then Union Territory of Himachal Pradesh. Since then, a balance was maintained in the administration of common assets like the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), by way of giving management positions in some proportion to the nominees of the state of Punjab and state of Haryana,” said Mann in the assembly.
“The Chandigarh administration has always been managed by the officers of Punjab and Haryana in the ratio of 60:40. However, recently, the Centre has posted officers from outside in Chandigarh and has introduced the Central Civil Service Rules for the employees of the Chandigarh administration, which goes completely against the understanding in the past,” added Mann.
For your information, Chandigarh has the status of a Union Territory. Chandigarh was earlier the capital of Punjab only. But in 1966, when Haryana was given the status of a separate state, Chandigarh was made the joint capital of Haryana and Punjab.