MANN OPPOSES SHAH’S DECISION TO IMPLEMENT CENTRAL SERVICE RULES ON UT CHANDIGARH

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday opposed Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s decision to implement Central Civil Services rules in Chandigarh.

Mann said this decision is against the Punjab Registration Act 1966. He also claimed that his government would continue to fight for Punjab’s claim on Chandigarh. “The central government is imposing employees and officers of other states on the Chandigarh administration. This move of the central government is against the Punjab Registration Act. Punjab will fight for its right over Chandigarh,” he said.

Shah on Sunday said that the service conditions of the employees of Chandigarh Union Territory Administration will now be as per the Central Civil Services rules. He has claimed that this change will benefit the employees on a large scale.

All the political parties of Punjab are opposing this decision. Criticizing the same, Shiromani Akali Dal leader Daljit Singh Cheema in a tweet said: “The decision of the Ministry of Home Affairs to impose the rules of the Central Government on the employees of Chandigarh is in violation of the spirit of the Punjab Reorganization Act 1966 and should be reconsidered.”

Congress leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira also condemned the decision. “We strongly condemn the dictatorial decision of the BJP to control Chandigarh and usurp the rights of Punjab,” he said.

Recently, the chief minister had also spoken about the Centre’s decision to tweak the rules regarding appointments of two key officers of the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB). The Centre had revised the rules for appointment of Member (Power) and Member (Irrigation), who were from Punjab and Haryana, respectively, and said that they can now be picked from anywhere in the country.

So far, the UT employees were covered under Punjab Civil Services rules. Shah said that the decision will be notified on Monday following which not only will all employees be paid as per the central service rules but also enhance the retirement age from 58 to 60 years.