Punjab Suba Movement

Punjab Suba Movement

Subject : History

Context : Recently, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has decided to organise an event to mark the anniversary of police action at the Golden Temple against Punjab Suba Movement.

Concept:

About Punjab Suba Movement

• It started in Punjab soon after the Independence.
• The Shiromani Akali Dal was spearheading the movement for a Punjabi speaking state.
• Those in favour of demand used to raise slogan ‘Punjabi Suba Amar Rahe’ and those opposing demand were raising slogans in favour of ‘Maha-Punjab’.
• It was on April 6, 1955 that Amritsar DC banned the slogans of ‘Punjabi Suba’ and ‘Maha-Punjab’ fearing law and order problem.
• It is suspected that slogans like Punjabi Suba or Maha-Punjab Amar Rahe, or Punjabi Suba Zindabad can violate the law and order.

Constitutional Provisions for Creation of New States

• Article 3 assigns to Parliament the power to enact legislation for the formation of new States.
• The Parliament may create new States in a number of ways, namely by:
  1. Separating territory from any State,
  2. Uniting two or more States,
  3. Uniting parts of States and
  4. Uniting any territory to a part of any State

• The Parliament’s power under Article 3 extends to increasing or diminishing the area of any State and altering the boundaries or name of any State.
• A bill calling for formation of new States may be introduced in either House of Parliament only on the recommendation of the President.
• A bill must be referred by the President to the concerned State Legislature for expressing its views to Parliament if it contains provisions which affect the areas, boundaries or name of that State.