The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on May 06, 2026, notified regarding the extension of the Punjab Prevention of Human Smuggling Act, 2012 to Chandigarh.
The following has been stated:
• The Government has extended the Punjab Prevention of Human Smuggling Act, 2012 to the Union Territory of Chandigarh under the powers granted by the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966. The extension becomes effective from the date of publication of the notification in the Official Gazette.
• Under the modified framework, references to the “State”, “Punjab”, and “State Government” in the original Act will now refer to the Union Territory of Chandigarh and its Administrator. The notification also updates legal references from the repealed Indian Penal Code provisions to the corresponding sections under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
• Further, rules framed under the Act in Chandigarh will be placed before Parliament instead of the Punjab Legislative Assembly.
[Notification no. - S.O. 2261(E)]
