Amid continuing war of words between Punjab and Haryana over their 60:40 ratio stake in joint Capital-Chandigarh, Haryana Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kanwar Pal Gujjar on Tuesday said that the ratio of 60:40 is not followed anywhere in the city.
Conveying displeasure over the less space provided to Haryana, which shares Vidhan Sabha premises with Punjab, the Speaker during “Meet the Press” programme here said, “At present, Haryana has only 20-22 per cent area in Vidhan Sabha premises whereas Punjab has 78-80 per cent area.”
While the ratio of 60:40 should have been maintained between Punjab and Haryana, it has not been implemented anywhere, said the Speaker.
He said, “Earlier, there was no office for leader of opposition of Haryana Assembly in the premises but now, we have somehow managed to provide office space to leader of opposition Abhay Chautala in the premises. Though there is a problem of space crunch in the premises, we are trying to make a provision for providing space for MlAs to sit in the premises.”
The Speaker said that the issue should be raised by the State Government as more space is required for Haryana in the Vidhan Sabha premises.
Chandigarh, a union territory, is the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana and both states have a 60:40 ratio stake in the city. The secretariats and assemblies of both states and headquarters of most departments are located in Chandigarh itself.
Also, both states have a common building for Secretariat, Vidhan Sabha and Punjab and Haryana High Court even though Haryana is now seeking setting up of separate Haryana High Court.
Notably, during the joint conference of Chief Ministers and High Court Chief Justices in New Delhi last month, Chief Minister Manohar lal Khattar had demanded a separate High Court for the state and had also stated that the Punjab Reorganization Act nowhere prescribes for any distribution in the ratio 60:40. The Chief Minister had said that the practice of fixing 60:40 ratio is discriminatory and against the mandate of the Constitution of India and Haryana should be given equal representation in all deputation posts and equal representation in the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
Meanwhile, the Speaker Kanwar Pal on the issue of Sutlej-Yamuna link canal said that Haryana should get its due share of water.
On the formula suggested by HJC supremo Kuldeep Bishnoi that the issue of Sutlej- Yamuna link canal should be resolved even if Haryana has to give Chandigarh capital to Punjab, he said that it is State Government’s prerogative how that issue should be resolved.
About making the Haryana Vidhan Sabha paperless, he said that Haryana is looking forward in this direction so as to save crores of rupees. Apart from this, it is being considered to organize training camps for members of recently constituted Vidhan Sabha Committees so that all members have information of functioning of committees.
On the issue of choosing Deputy Speaker of Haryana Vidhan Sabha, Kanwar Pal said that leader of the House has to choose Deputy Speaker and it is not his right.