Recently, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has decided to implement the rules of central employees on the employees of the Union Territory of Chandigarh. After this decision, a dispute has started between the Aam Aadmi Party government of Punjab and the central government. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann even threatened to stage a ‘Road to Parliament’ sit-in against it, tweeting that “Central Government is implementing this to deploy officers and personnel of other states and services in Chandigarh Administration.”
On the other hand, other parties of Punjab also opposed this decision. Congress leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira criticized the Centre’s decision and said that we strongly condemn the dictatorial decision of the BJP to usurp the rights of Punjab over the control of Chandigarh. It (Chandigarh) belongs to Punjab and this unilateral decision is not only a direct attack on federalism but also an attack on the share of 60 per cent of Punjab’s control over the Union Territory. Akali Dal chief Parkash Singh Badal said that the Center has been ceding Punjab’s rights over Chandigarh. wants to reduce
Decision taken by the Center:Home Minister Amit Shah had announced on Sunday (27 March 2022) that now the employees of the Union Territory of Chandigarh will also be given the benefit of Central Service Rules like Central employees.
After this decision of the Center, from April 1, the retirement age of employees of Chandigarh Administration will be increased from 58 to 60 and women will get two years leave instead of one year to take care of children. The demand for implementation of Central Service Rules by Chandigarh employees was pending for 20-25 years.
Why was the decision implemented?: Political parties of Punjab are seeing this decision of Amit Shah by linking it with the coming Lok Sabha elections. Chandigarh BJP has always been a strong position. After losing the Punjab assembly elections, it is once again consolidating its ground in Chandigarh. In the municipal elections held last year, the BJP got a tough fight from the Aam Aadmi Party. AAP had won the maximum 14 seats, surprising everyone. However, after one vote was rejected by AAP, the mayor became of BJP in Chandigarh.