Centre puts decision of independent Administrator for

Chandigarh on hold Chandigarh, Aug 17 (PTI) Faced with stiff resistancefrom Punjab’s ruling and opposition parties, the Centre hasput on hold the appointment of K J Aphons as an Administratorof Union Territory of Chandigarh. The turnaround came as the political parties, includingthe ruling Akali Dal in Punjab urged the Union Home Ministerto review the appointment of the Administrator, arguing itwill effectively take away the powers of the Governor ofPunjab over Chandigarh and may not be in the larger interestof the state, Punjab government sources said. They said Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal prevailedover the Union Home Ministry, arguing the move to takeChandigarh away from the control of Punjab Governor will senda wrong signal to the people in the poll-bound state. Soon after the news broke regarding Alphons’ appointment,Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh as well as the AAPissued press statements, strongly opposing the move. Later, vying to take credit of keeping Chandigarhunder Punjab Governor’s fold, Badal snapped at Congress leaderAmarinder saying his protests on appointment of Administratorwere "nothing more than crocodile tears." "Will Captain Singh please tell Punjabis as to whokept Chandigarh out of Punjab? Will he also tell why the Citywas not transferred to Punjab on January 26, 1986, as promisedunder the Rajiv-Longowal Accord which he now talks about?"Badal hit out, calling Captain and his Congressmen "the realculprits for Chandigarh being denied to Punjab." Earlier, talking over telephone from Kerala, Alphonssaid, "I will be joining next week." Meanwhile, AAP too opposed the appointment. Punjab’s demand for Chandigarh had been relegated tothe back burner and is now talked about only in rhetoric. The practice of appointing an Administrator of the UTdesignated as "Chief Commissioner" continued up to May 31,1984. Thereafter, on June 1, 1984, the Governor of Punjabtook over the direct administration of the Union Territory asthe administrator. "Chief Commissioner" was re-designated as "Adviser tothe Administrator" from June 1, 1984. After the reorganisation of Punjab and Haryana in1966, the post of Chief Commissioner was created forChandigarh. K Banarji was the last Chief Commissioner who wasre-designated as Adviser to Administrator with effect fromJune 1, 1984. PTI VJ AKA DKS AQS RGAQS