The Central Government has assured Punjab that the 60:40 quota for filling posts in the Chandigarh administration from Punjab and Haryana will be followed and no steps would be taken that may generate any “misgivings” over the share, an official said here on Monday.

The assurance came from the Union Home Minister, Mr P. Chidambaram, after the Punjab Chief Minister Mr Parkash Singh Badal raised concern over Haryana government officers' postings in Chandigarh in violation of the quota arrangement, a spokesperson of the Chief Minister's office said.

“The Union Government has ensured the maintenance of 60:40 ratio in filling job vacancies in Chandigarh from among IAS (Indian Administrative Service), IPS (Indian Police Service) and other state cadre officers of Punjab and Haryana,” the spokesperson said.

Chandigarh, the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana, is a centrally-administered union territory (UT). For about four decades, the 60:40 quota system is in place for filling vacancies in the Chandigarh administration from both the States.

The administration is headed by the UT administrator, who is also the governor of Punjab.

The spokesperson said Chidambaram in his letter reiterated the “commitment of the union government to the existing 60:40 formula” and that the Ministry was “particularly concerned about the sensitivity of States of Punjab and Haryana with regard to Chandigarh”.

“No steps would be taken that may generate any misgivings over the 60:40 share of the two states and their role in the Chandigarh administration,” the spokesperson said, quoting the letter.

The letter also said that the Union Home Secretary has spoken to the Chandigarh administrator in this regard and has asked him to ensure that the arrangement be respected.

According to the spokesperson, the Home Minister's letter stated that the agreed ratio would also apply for allocation of departments between officers from Punjab and Haryana.

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