A significant administrative transformation is underway in Chandigarh, with a series of strategic moves pointing towards a potential future under Article 240 of the Indian Constitution. This shift, which would place the Union Territory more directly under central government administration, is no longer mere speculation but appears to be a carefully orchestrated plan.
Central Service Rules: A Landmark Policy Shift
The most definitive signal came in 2022 during a visit by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. In a surprise announcement, he declared that Central Civil Service Rules would replace the longstanding Punjab Civil Service rules for all employees under the Chandigarh Administration.
This policy change has brought substantial benefits for the UT's workforce. Employees now receive pay scales as per central rules. Furthermore, the retirement age has been enhanced from 58 to 60 years. In a major boost for women employees, child care leave has been doubled from one year to two years. Interestingly, these central rules were actually in force in Chandigarh until 1991, before being switched to the Punjab service rules following various demands and protests.
Bureaucratic Reshuffle: Empowering AGMUT Cadre Officers
Parallel to the policy change, a quiet but significant reshuffling within the bureaucratic structure has been observed. Key posts in the Chandigarh administration are increasingly being assigned to officers from the AGMUT (Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram and Union Territory) cadre.
For instance, the pivotal department of Managing Director, CITCO, was handed over to AGMUT cadre officer Hari Kallikkat, a post previously held by a Punjab officer. The health department, which was traditionally with the Home Secretary—a senior IAS officer from Haryana—is now with AGMUT cadre officer Ajay Chagti. Following the repatriation of the then Home Secretary Arun Gupta, these responsibilities were transferred to UT cadre officers.
Even posts like Assistant Estate Officers are now predominantly held by UT cadre officers, such as DANICS officers Khushpreet and Naveen, and officer Rajiv Tewari, marking a departure from the past when one AEO would typically be from the Haryana civil service.
Consolidating Central Control: Key Administrative Moves
Further cementing this transition, the Centre this year designated the post of Adviser to the Administrator as the Chief Secretary. The Adviser, who is the senior-most IAS officer in the setup reporting to the Administrator (the Punjab Governor), was redesignated. This change, while the reporting structure remains the same, is poised to empower the Chief Secretary further under the Lieutenant Governor, pending approval.
The frequency of Home Minister Amit Shah's visits to Chandigarh also signals the Centre's heightened interest. His inaugurations and the flagging off of pilot projects from the UT, including the symbolic implementation of three new criminal laws from Chandigarh, underscore a deeper involvement in the city's affairs.
However, this centralization has sparked calls for greater local representation. Vinod Vashisht, convener of the City Forum of Residents Welfare Organisations (CFORWO), emphasized the need for more people-centric governance. "Chandigarh is a UT without a legislature. What is more important is to bring in more people representative power... instead of vesting all decision-making in a single person," he stated, advocating for a five-year term for mayoral elections and enhanced powers for the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation.
The groundwork for bringing Chandigarh under Article 240 has been laid meticulously over the last three years. From sweeping policy changes to a strategic bureaucratic overhaul, the writing appears to be clearly on the wall, steering Chandigarh towards a new administrative paradigm.
