Article 240 of Indian Constitution: The demand for an amendment in Article 240 of Indian Constitution has been heating up since the Indian government recently announced that Chandigarh is soon to be included in Article 240 of the Indian Constitution. Chandigarh is a Union Territory which is the joint capital of the states of Punjab and Haryana. The current Administrator of Chandigarh is the Governor of Punjab. However, as per Article 240, Chandigarh may have a separate administrator for the Union Territory as other Union Territories of the country have.

Article 240 states that the President has special powers to make rules for certain Union Territories for the peace, progress and good government of that Union Territory. The rules made under this article have the same power as of an act made by the Parliament. The rules made can amend or repeal previous acts in that Union Territory.

What is Article 240 of Indian Constitution?

Article 240 of Indian Constitution deals with the power of the President to make rules for certain Union territories. The President of India can make rules for certain Union territories to ensure that it is peace, tranquillity and good government are maintained there. When the President passes a rule under Article 240 of Indian Constitution, that rule has the same effect as if it is made by the Parliament. This rule can also amend or repeal any earlier law in that Union territory.

This Article can be applied in Union Territories which don’t have a legislature of their own or where immediate help from the Union government is needed. This Article allows the central government to act swiftly whenever necessary to assist the Union territory.

Article 240 Chandigarh

Article 240 Chandigarh is a plan to bring Chandigarh under Article 240 of the Constitution of India. Currently, Chandigarh is a Union Territory of India, also serving as the joint capital for the Indian states of Punjab and Haryana. The Governor of Punjab also serves as the Administrator of Chandigarh. This arrangement, however, is set to change if Chandigarh were to come under the purview of Article 240.

Article 240 allows the President of India to make regulations for the Union Territories mentioned in this Article. This means that if Chandigarh were to be included under Article 240, the city can also receive a separate independent Administrator or a Lieutenant Governor as is the case with most Union Territories in India, removing the need for Chandigarh to be directly administered by the Governor of Punjab.

Union Territories Covered Under Article 240

As per Article 240, the President can make regulations for the following Union Territories:

• Andaman and Nicobar Islands
• Lakshadweep
• Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu
• Puducherry
• Ladakh

Important Note: Delhi and Jammu & Kashmir are NOT included under Article 240 because they have their own legislative assemblies governed by separate constitutional provisions.

What are the Key Provisions of Article 240?

Article 240 explains the powers of the President of India to make regulations for the administration of certain Union Territories. These regulations work like laws made by the Parliament. The goal of the article is to ensure smooth administration in UTs that do not have a complete legislative structure. Here are the key provisions:

• Allows the President to make regulations for the peace, progress, and good governance of certain Union Territories. These regulations have the same force of law as an Act of Parliament.
• Article 240 specifically applies to Union Territories such as Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Puducherry (only when the Legislative Assembly of Puducherry is suspended or dissolved), and Ladakh.
• In the case of Puducherry, the President’s power to issue regulations under Article 240 is triggered only when the Legislative Assembly of Puducherry is suspended or dissolved. 
• The regulations made by the President under Article 240 can amend, override, or repeal any law or Act of Parliament that is applicable to the specified Union Territories. This gives the central executive significant power to govern these territories.
• Parliament has the ultimate power to legislate for these Union Territories, and it can modify or repeal any regulation made by the President under Article 240.
• The regulations made under Article 240 come into effect on the President’s approval, without any parliamentary debate or voting. This allows for quick and decisive action when necessary.

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What’s The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2025

The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2025 is a new proposal that aims to change the way Chandigarh is governed. The bill plans to place Chandigarh in the same group of Union Territories that do not have a legislature. This change will give the President more power to make regulations for the city under Article 240 of Indian Constitution.

• The bill was listed for introduction in the Winter Session of Parliament beginning December 1, as per Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha bulletins.
• It proposes to place Chandigarh in the same category as Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, and Puducherry when its assembly is not functioning.
• If passed, it may allow Chandigarh to have an independent administrator again, instead of being managed by the Governor of Punjab.
• The change may bring a system similar to other UTs where a Lieutenant Governor handles administration directly.
• The government also listed a set of 10 more bills that may be introduced in the same session.
• Article 240 already allows the President to make regulations for selected UTs, and the bill aims to extend this framework to Chandigarh.
• The President’s regulatory power stops when a UT gets a working legislature under Article 239A, as seen in Puducherry.
• Regulations made under Article 240 can amend or repeal any parliamentary law that applies to a Union Territory.

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