Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, April 1: Accusing the BJP government at the centre of trying to “upset the balance” in administering the Union Territory of Chandigarh, the Punjab Assembly at a special session on Friday unanimously passed a resolution demanding immediate transfer of Chandigarh, the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana, to Punjab.
The big move by Punjab 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, within two weeks of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government led by Bhagwant Mann took reins of Punjab. At the centre of the tussle was the centre tweaking service rules for employees of Chandigarh administration, giving them the same benefits as their counterparts in central govern
The resolution was moved by the chief minister Mann and was passed by a voice vote with the support of all the parties except the two members of the BJP who had walked out of the House before the voting in protest against not been allowed to express their views on the issue fully. The resolution was adopted by the House within few days of the union home minister Amit Shah announcing that henceforth Central Service Rules would be applicable to the employees of Chandigarh instead of the Punjab Service Rules.
In his announcement, Shah had said the retirement age of employees in Chandigarh would be raised from 58 to 60 years and women employees would get child care leave of two years, up from the current one year. He had said these benefits were a “long-pending demand” of employees of the Chandigarh administration. The new service rules were notified Tuesday and would replace the earlier set of rules from Saturday.
Moving the motion, Mann urged the Central government to honour the principles of federalism enshrined in the Constitution and not to take any steps which may disturb the balance in the administration of Chandigarh, adding that through many of its recent actions the Central government had been trying to upset this balance.
He said recently the Central government advertised the posts of members of Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) to officers of all States and Central government, whereas these posts were traditionally filled by officers from Punjab and Haryana. Similarly, Chandigarh administration had always been managed by the officers of Punjab and Haryana in the ratio of 60:40. However, recently the Central government posted outside officers to Chandigarh and introduced Central Civil Service Rules for the employees of Chandigarh administration, which went completely against the understanding in the past.
The resolution read “Punjab was reorganised through the Punjab reorganisation Act. 1966, wherein, the State of Punjab was reorganised into 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 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 has been trying to upset this balance.
“Most recently the Central government has advertised the posts of members of Bhakra Beas Management Board to officers of all States and Central government, whereas these posts were traditionally filled by the officers from Punjab and Haryana. 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. Chandigarh city was created as the Capital of Punjab. In all past precedents, whenever, a State has been divided, the capital remains with the parent state. Punjab therefore, has been laying its claim for complete transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab.
“In the past, this House has passed a number of resolutions urging the Central government to transfer Chandigarh to Punjab. For maintaining harmony and taking the sentiments of people into account, this House once again recommends to the State government to raise the matter with the Central government to immediately transfer Chandigarh to Punjab. This House also requests the Central government to honour the Principles of federalism enshrined in our Constitution and not to take any steps which may disturb the balance in the administration of Chandigarh and that of other common assets like BBMB,” added the resolution.
Addressing the House, Mann said, “I guarantee the people of the state that I will fight for the rights of the state, seek appointment with the Prime Minister and take up the issue with him.” While members of the ruling AAP, Congress, Shiromani Akali Dal and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supported the resolution, BJP member Ashwini Sharma opposed it. He said the resolution was aimed at misleading the innocent people of the state to cover up for the non-performance of the successive governments.
He questioned what did the Centre do to violate the provisions of the Reorganisation Act. He said, “From March 1, 1986 to March 31, 1991, the Central Service rules were applicable on the employees of Chandigarh. Later, Punjab’s pay scale became more lucrative and the employees demanded it. Now, the UT employees have again sought central rules. If you want those employees to be governed by Punjab rules then you apply the sixth pay commission.” Sharma and BJP member Jangi Lal Mahajan then staged a walk out for not being given enough time to speak.