Chandigarh was not conceived as UT to begin with, says Tewari

Chandigarh MP and former Union Minister Manish Tewari has underscored that the city was conceived, planned and built as the capital of Punjab after the Partition deprived the erstwhile state of its historical capital, Lahore, and warned that attempts to alter its governance through the now-shelved 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill carries both deep political and attendant constitutional implications.

Speaking to The Tribune, Tewari said the city’s designation as a Union Territory in 1966, following the trifurcation of Punjab and the concurrent creation of Haryana, was always intended as an interim administrative measure.

“Chandigarh was inaugurated on October 7, 1953, as Punjab’s capital. When PEPSU merged into Punjab in 1956, the city became the capital of the undivided Punjab state. Both successor states —Punjab and Haryana — lay claim to it now, but it is historically unambiguous that Chandigarh was conceived as Punjab’s capital way back in 1949-1952,” he said.

Tewari criticised the NDA-led Centre for listing the 131st Amendment Bill (now deferred) in the tentative Winter Session business without circulating the text.

He noted that since the Bill was not circulated but only marked in the list of legislative business for introduction and passing the purpose, its scope and intent still remains unclear, and that Article 368 requires a two-thirds majority in both Houses — a majority the government currently lacks.

“It would have been interesting if the Bill was circulated; only then could we have been able to discern the government’s true intention regarding the political question of Chandigarh,” the senior Congress leader said.

Tracing the city’s political history, Tewari highlighted repeated attempts between 1966 and 1986 to settle Chandigarh’s status, including the Indira Gandhi Award (1970), the Rajiv-Longowal Accord (1985), and three Commissions — the Mathew, Venkatramayya and Desai Commissions — yet the political question remains unresolved for over 60 years now.

He dismissed claims of states like Himachal Pradesh, which recently asserted a fractional stake in Chandigarh, calling them “bereft of any historical or legal basis in the first place”.

The MP also noted that Chandigarh’s population historically was Punjabi speaking even at a point in time when it was designated as an Union Territory and that is why the recommendation of the Justice Shah Commission was not accepted way back in 1966, and notwithstanding it’s multi ethnic syncretism today, its civic identity still remains inseparable from Punjab’s history, culture and heritage namely Punjab, Punjabi and Punjabiyat.

The former minister’s remarks come against the backdrop of back-to-back controversies over Central interventions in Punjab affairs: the Centre’s now-withdrawn Panjab University overhaul and the proposed Chandigarh restructuring Bill under Article 240, both of which triggered fierce political firestorms forcing the government to defer action.

Tewari concluded emphasising that the aspirations of Chandigarh’s residents must be central to any constitutional amendments that have a bearing on its governance structure. While Punjab and Haryana have conflicting claims, the historical, demographic and constitutional context, as it stands today, makes the current governance model of Chandigarh unviable. It is unable to resolve both outstanding legacy issues pending for now over two-and-a-half decades and even look at the future of the city in a 50-year time span in terms of it’s necessary developmental imperatives, he reiterated.

“Ultimately, the ‘political question’ of Chandigarh needs to be settled by being mindful of its historical evolution and intrinsic cultural mores,” the MP advocated, while cautioning that anyone who chooses to ignore these fundamental realities does so at his or her own peril.

GOVERNANCE HISTORY

1952-1966: Chandigarh functions as the capital of undivided Punjab.

1966: After Punjab’s reorganisation and creation of Haryana, the city becomes a UT and joint capital.

1966-1984: City governed by Chief Commissioners, beginning with ICS officer MS Randhawa.

June 2, 1984: Amid Punjab militancy, post of Chief Commissioner abolished; redesignated as Adviser to Administrator.

1984 onwards: Punjab Governor becomes ex-officio Administrator under Article 239(2) — a unique arrangement in the country.

2016: Centre attempts to appoint independent Administrator KJ Alphons; reverses decision within 24 hours under political pressure.

2025: Centre proposes and disposes placing Chandigarh under Article 240, potentially ending the Punjab Governor’s administrative role.

WHAT THE MOVE MEANS

Punjab’s claim over Chandigarh weakened; transfer demand may lose practical relevance.

Administrative control shifts squarely to the Centre, reducing any state-linked influence.

Opposition parties likely to weaponise issue in run-up to 2027 Punjab polls.

Chandigarh’s special status — shaped by history, politics and federal arrangements — faces its most significant constitutional shift in decades.