Badal seeks PM's help on administrative violations by Chandigarh

New Delhi, Mar 19 (UNI) Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to intervene and stop the Chandigarh Administration "from tampering with the existing system for filling the top civil posts in the Union Territory on deputation from Punjab and Haryana on a 60:40 ratio till Chandigarh is transferred to the state of Punjab." In a written communication to the Prime Minister, the Chief Minister warned that "the people of Punjab will not permit any change in the administrative structure of Chandigarh to the detriment of the interests and claims of Punjab and Punjabis. Any such effort will cause unrest in the minds of Punjabis within and outside the state and will deeply hurt their sentiments," Mr Badal said.

The reported move of the UT Administration violated not only the "specific position taken by the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) on the issue but also the related provisions in the Punjab Re-organisation Act, 1966," he added.

"I am amazed and shocked to learn that efforts are afoot to turn Chandigarh into a perpetual Union Territory," said Mr. Badal.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister's Media Advisor, Mr Harcharan Bains said Mr Badal would take up the matter with the Prime Minister at their next meeting. "He is seeking a meeting with the PM to discuss what he feels "is a matter of utmost importance and serious concern to Punjab. The UT's move has deeply hurt Mr Badal and he views it as an unreasonable, unjustified and eminently avoidable step. The Chief Minister would impress upon the Prime Minister the need to stop the Chandigarh Administration from doing anything that had the potential to cause unrest in the region," Mr Bains said.

The Chief Minister emphasised that 'it is absolutely clear that Chandigarh belongs to the state of Punjab to which it needs to be transferred immediately.' He added that the people of Punjab expected the Prime Minister to use his good offices to resolve the long-outstanding issue regarding the transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab." UNI/JSS SB BST2208