Chandigarh: Reacting to the government's decision to bring Chandigarh administration officials under the central government rules, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann has said that officers of other states and services are being imposed on Chandigarh and it is in violation of the Punjab Reorganisation Act 1966. He said Punjab will fight with full force for its rightful claim on Chandigarh.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has announced that from April 1, all the employees of the Chandigarh administration will be brought under the purview of the Central Service Rules. Now the facilities given to these employees will also be given as per the rules of the Centre. The retirement age of the employees will be increased from 58 to 60 years. Now, a confrontation has started between the Centre and the new government of Punjab over this. In fact, Punjab has been claiming from the beginning that Chandigarh is part of the same. This was also mentioned in the Rajiv-Longowal Agreement in 1985. The decision of the central government was also opposed by the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).
On September 18, 1966, the Punjab Reorganisation Act was passed. According to experts, the Act provides that 60 per cent of the employees in Chandigarh will be from Punjab and the remaining 40 per cent from Haryana. Haryana leaders also stake their claim on Chandigarh and say that it was part of Ambala and That Ambala comes under Haryana. At the same time, Punjab calls it an integral part of it. Apart from these two, Himachal Pradesh also claims Chandigarh. At present, Chandigarh is a Union Territory.
