What is 131st Amendment Bill, 2025 ?

The Parliament is up for a heated winter session as the Union Government plans to introduce the contentious Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2025 in the upcoming session set to start from December 1, 2025.

Currently, the Punjab governor functions as Chandigarh’s administrator.

The development has triggered massive pushback from the ruling Aam Aadmi Party in Punjab and other Punjab leaders including Congress’ Amarinder Singh Raja Warring and Shiromani Akali Dal’s (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal.

However, the Centre has now backtracked on its decision and said in an official statement it has “no intention” to introduce a change regarding Chandigarh’s administration.

What is Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2025

• As listed in the Rajya Sabha bulletin, the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2025 aims to include the Union Territory of Chandigarh under Constitution’s Article 240.
• This means that the bill seeks to bring Chandigarh in the same category as other Union Territories which do not have legislatures of their own and the President is empowered to frame regulations for them.
•      Currently, Article 240 includes the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, and Puducherry.

What would it mean for Chandigarh:

• The bill, if passed, would enable the President of India to frame regulations for Chandigarh as well, along with other Union Territories under Article 240 of the Constitution. The move is widely viewed as opening the door for the appointment of a lieutenant governor to run the city.
• Currently, the Punjab governor functions as Chandigarh’s administrator. If the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2025 is passed, it would mark a major departure from this existing system.

Key Criticisms from Punjab Leaders Regarding Chandigarh:

• The core criticism from Punjab’s political leaders, including those from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Congress, and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), centers on the view that the Centre’s action is an attempt to usurp Punjab’s claim to Chandigarh as its capital.

AAP (Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann):

• Strongly criticized the move as a “conspiracy” by the Central Government to “take away” Punjab’s capital.
• Asserted that Chandigarh “belongs solely to Punjab,” having been built by “razing our Punjab’s villages.”

• Vowed to resist the move and take “whatever steps are necessary” to prevent the state’s right from slipping away.

Congress (Punjab Chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring):

• Opposed the action as “totally uncalled for.”
• Stated that “Chandigarh belongs to Punjab” and warned that any attempt to “snatch it away will have serious repercussions.”

SAD (President Sukhbir Singh Badal):

• Called the move “against the interest of Punjab” and argued it amounts to the GOI going back on all commitments made regarding the transfer of Chandigarh to the state.
• Contended that the Bill seeks to “remove whatever little administrative and political control Punjab has” and would “permanently extinguish Punjab’s claim” to Chandigarh as its capital city.

• Accused previous Congress governments of having discriminated against Punjab and deprived it of its capital.