Punjab Govt tightens grip on local bodies, ends autonomy over resolutions
Urban local bodies must now send proposal directly to Secretariat
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, June 25, 2025: In a major administrative shift aimed at ensuring greater transparency in the functioning of Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), the Punjab Government’s Department of Local Government has withdrawn an earlier order that delegated the approval of resolutions passed by municipal bodies to the Directorate.
As per the fresh directive, all resolutions passed by Urban Local Bodies — including Municipal Corporations, Municipal Councils, Nagar Panchayats, and Improvement Trusts — must now be submitted directly to the concerned branches of the Secretariat (Administrative Department) for further examination and final decision.
This change revokes the earlier order dated June 27, 2016 (Letter No. 08/59/2009(18)-2SS2/245), under which the powers to decide on such resolutions were delegated to the Directorate.
Furthermore, the government has clarified the following:
- Resolutions passed before April 1, 2024, which have not yet been approved, will be returned by the Directorate to the respective Urban Local Bodies for reconsideration.
- Resolutions received after April 1, 2024, must be forwarded immediately to the Secretariat for necessary action and approval.
The order is effective immediately and has been issued with the approval of the competent authority.