238 Punjab, 7 Haryana Acts currently applicable in Chandigarh: Centre to Lok Sabha

The government said there is no proposal for a separate uniform policy governing the extension, amendment or repeal of such laws

As many as 245 Acts enacted by Punjab and Haryana are presently applicable in the Union territory of Chandigarh, the Union government informed the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. These include 238 Acts of Punjab and seven Acts of Haryana.

The government also listed 14 Acts of Punjab, Haryana and Assam extended to Chandigarh during the last five years. (HT Photo for representation)

Minister of state for home affairs Nityanand Rai, in a written reply to a question by MP Manish Tewari, said the central government derives its power to extend state laws to Chandigarh from Section 87 of the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966. Proposals for extending state enactments are initiated by the Chandigarh administration based on local requirements.

The government said there is no proposal for a separate uniform policy governing the extension, amendment or repeal of such laws. Each proposal is considered individually on the basis of local requirements, policy objectives and legal implications.

Among the Punjab laws currently applicable in Chandigarh are the Punjab Laws Act, 1872, Punjab Tenancy Act, 1887, Punjab Land Revenue Act, 1887, Punjab Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1958, Punjab Municipal Corporation Act, Punjab Police Act, 2007, Punjab Right to Service Act, 2011, Punjab Right to Business Act, 2020 and Punjab Abadi Deh (Record of Rights) Act, 2021.

The seven Haryana laws applicable in Chandigarh include the Haryana Housing Board Act, 1971, Haryana Prevention of Beggary Act, 1971, Haryana Essential Services Maintenance Act, 1974, Haryana Compulsory Registration of Marriages Act, 2008, Haryana Backward Classes (Reservation in Services and Educational Institutions) Act, 2016 and Haryana Fire and Emergency Services Act, 2022.

The government also listed 14 Acts of Punjab, Haryana and Assam extended to Chandigarh during the last five years. These include laws relating to tobacco control and hookah bars, essential services, OBC reservation, shops and commercial establishments, contract labour, industrial disputes, stamp duty, human smuggling, land records, fire and emergency services, tenancy and ease of doing business.

The Punjab Right to Business Act, 2020 was extended to Chandigarh to promote ease of doing business through a self-declaration-based framework, faster and time-bound approvals, reduced inspections and lower regulatory burden, particularly for MSMEs and other eligible enterprises.

The Punjab Abadi Deh (Record of Rights) Act, 2021 was extended to establish a transparent and modern framework for surveying and recording ownership rights in Abadi Deh areas, with the stated objective of reducing disputes, improving land administration and supporting planned urban development under the NAKSHA Programme.

The Haryana Fire and Emergency Services Act, 2022 was extended to provide a modern and citizen-centric framework for fire and emergency services in Chandigarh, while the Assam Tenancy Act, 2021 was extended to replace the outdated rent-control framework with a modern tenancy regime.