The Punjab Reorganisation Act has been incorporated on 18th September, 1966. This Act has been established to streamline the Existing State of Punjab. This reorganization Act splits Punjab into State of Punjab as Sikh majority, State of Haryana as Hindu Majority and with Chandigarh administered as a separate Union Territory with the Share Capital of two States.
In order to restructure the State of Punjab, a new State was formed naming the State of Haryana with some of the Districts of the existing State of Punjab being ceased to form a State of Haryana. This State contains Hindu religion as majority. These are the districts and places as mentioned in the First Schedule.
The State of Punjab inorder to fulfill the objective of this Act is reorganized to form a new State i.e. State of Haryana and a separate Union Territory and a beautiful City known as Union Territory of Chandigarh, this later form the Capital of two States i.e. State of Punjab and State of Haryana. This new Union Territory is comprised of the two many territories as prescribed by this Act as mentioned in the Second Schedule. These territories shall be cease to exist with the State of Punjab.
There is one another Union Territory was formed in the name of Union Territory of Himachal Pradesh from the State of Punjab in pursuance to reorganization of the State of Punjab. During reorganization several territories have been transferred from the State of Punjab to Himachal Pradesh.
After the reorganization of the State of Punjab there arise an amendment of the first schedule of the Constitution of India under the heading “The State” and “The Union Territories” by making sure that the amendment shall not affect the Government of Punjab, Haryana and the Union Territory of Chandigarh and such other areas or districts, etc. In case of Representation in the Legislature, Fourth Schedule of the Constitution of India under the head “The Council of States” has been amended. Amendment of Article 371, Eighth, Ninth and Tenth Schedule of our Indian Constitution.
In case of allocation of sitting members, eleven members shall be allocated of the Council of States representing the State of Punjab shall not elected from the State of Haryana and Union Territory of Himachal Pradesh as per fourth Schedule of the Constitution of India. The number of seats allotted for Legislative assembly shall be fifty four, eighty seven and fifty six for the State of Punjab, Haryana and Union Territory of Himachal Pradesh. The duration of Legislative Assembly of Haryana shall be five years.
In case of Speakers and Deputy Speakers, shall remain the same to the State of Punjab and immediately during the Legislative Assembly of the State of Haryana, it shall elect its members as a Speaker and Deputy Speaker. The rules and procedures to conduct the business of Legislative Assembly shall be the same as of the existing State of Punjab immediately before the appointment day of this Act, unless any alteration made by the Speaker.
The Council Constituencies has been amended as directed in the Six Schedule. As soon as this Act has been incorporated, the election shall be held to fill the vacancies existing on the date of appointment day to the several Council Constituencies. Allocation of seats in the Parliament, Legislative Assembly and such other Constitutional Places will be as prescribed by this Act for the State of Punjab, Haryana and Union Territory of Himachal Pradesh. They are delimited based on the latest census figures upon notifications in the Official Gazette.
There shall be a Common High Court for Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh. The salaries and other benefits to the Judges and other Judiciary officers shall be paid by Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh. The Bar Council of Punjab is now being Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana. The Advocate-General shall be an ex-officio member. All other Court procedures remain the same and in case of Appeal to the Supreme Court such region shall be mentioned for clarity in the Applications. The Periodical reports shall be maintained by the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India.
In case of authorization and expenditure the Governor of the State of Punjab shall before the appointment day from the consolidated fund, it continues to pay from the same even after the appointment day. In case of Himachal Pradesh, the Administrator shall perform the same functions in case of distribution of expenditure and authorization. Apart from the consolidated fund the President shall allot certain funds and even give consent for allowances and privileges after it is sanctioned by the Houses of the Parliament, if he feels necessary under the provision of this Act.
The apportionment of the Assets and Liabilities shall be the same as that of in the State of Punjab before the appointment day of this Act. The Central Government holds the responsibilities for proper distributions of such assets and liabilities. It has enormous powers to make any number of rules or perform any activities in pursuance to this Act with the consent of the Houses of Parliament.
by C.Srivenkatesh Prabhu.