Chandigarh employees to be under central civil services rules

• IAS NEXT, Lucknow
• 30, Mar 2022

Reference News:-

The Central Government has announced that the central civil services will now apply to the employees of the Chandigarh administration.

• The Union Territory of Chandigarh is the common capital of Punjab and Haryana.

Implications:

1. Enhancement of retirement age from current 58 years to 60 years.
2. Women employees will now have two years of child care leave from the existing one year.
3. It will have other benefits like an increase in child education allowance.
4. Those with the education department, their retirement age will enhance to 65 

Opposition to this decision:

The decision has invited sharp criticism from Punjab leaders who, cutting across party lines, termed it “an encroachment on Punjab’s rights”.

• This is in violation of the spirit of Punjab Reorg Act and must be reconsidered.

Chandigarh status:

So far, the UT employees were covered under Punjab Civil services rules.

• In 1966, when Punjab was split into Punjab and Haryana, with some territory to Himachal Pradesh, both states claimed Chandigarh as their capital. Pending a resolution, the Centre declared Chandigarh a Union Territory.
• As per the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966, Chandigarh was to be governed by the Centre but laws in force in undivided Punjab were to be applicable to the UT.
• In 1984, the Punjab governor was made administrator of the city at a time when the region was battling terrorism.

Administration of UTs:

Articles 239 to 241 in Part VIII of the Constitution deal with the union territories and there is no uniformity in their administrative system.

• Every union territory is administered by the President through an administrator appointed by him.

Power of parliament to make laws:

• The Parliament can make laws on any subject of the three lists (including the State List) for the union territories.
• The President can make regulations for the peace, progress and good government of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Daman and Diu.
• A regulation made by the President has the same force and effect as an act of Parliament.