Exactly 30 years after, Chandigarh may soon be free from a Governor’s administration and come back under the direct control of the Centre as a Union Territory. The UT, which since 1984 has been operating through the Punjab Governor as its Administrator, may now soon be directly reporting to the Home ministry through a Chief Commissioner.
Chandigarh is the capital of both Punjab and Haryana. Before May 1984, the Administrator of the UT was designated as Chief Commissioner. But during the peak terrorism days in Punjab, its administration was put under the control of the Punjab Governor, who became the UT Administrator, for better coordination between Punjab and Chandigarh. The Chief Commissioner as of now acts as Advisor to the Governor-Administrator. All other UTs are administered through Chief Commissioners, but an exception was made in 1984 for Chandigarh for effective handling of security situation.
However, with security situation in the area now better, the Ministry of Home Affairs, sources said, would like to have it back under its direct control. The NDA Government has already started working on the modalities of restructuring the administration, and an announcement in this regard is expected shortly. Being the Punjab Governor former Home Minister in UPA-I, the UT at present has Shivraj V Patil as its Administrator, while Congress veterans Arjun Singh and several Army Generals, too, have been its Administrators in the past. IAS Officer KK Sharma is the present Advisor to the Administrator.
Even though the Government of Punjab is expected to oppose the move, Union Ministry for Home Affairs may give it a go ahead soon given the fact the BJP cadre in the UT have been constantly raising the issue of revival of Chief Commissioner’s post in Chandigarh with Home Minister Rajnath Singh. Sources in MHA said the Government, too, finds it much easier to run UT with the officer directly reporting to it.
Meanwhile, Rajnath Singh held a special meeting to review the functioning of UT division in his ministry on Monday. It was observed that Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Act 2006 that aims to revive sick units remains unimplemented in Chandigarh.
He also directed speeding up various construction activities in Daman and Diu, promotion of tourism activities in lakshwadweep and Andaman Nicobar Islands while safeguarding ecological balance and keeping in mind security aspects. The HM also directed close monitoring of “precarious financial position” of UT of Puducherry.