In a bid to assuage the sentiments of Punjab,the Centre has put on hold a decision to merge the posts of Chandigarh Police Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSP) posts with DANIPS.

"Notification of the Ministry of Home Affairs dated September 25 merging the posts of DSPs of Chandigarh Police with that of Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli Police Service (DANIPS) has been kept in abeyance till further orders," said an official.

The move came after the notification could not find much favour with the Chandigarh Police officers, who have challenged it in the Central Administrative Tribunal.

Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh and various other senior politicians from Congress, Shiromani Akali Dal and Aam Aadmi Party had also lodged a protest against the Home Ministry's decision.

They consider the move a dilution of Punjab's claim over Chandigarh and has called it a violation of the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966.

The September 25 notification faced protests as it put an obligation on the Union Territory Police DSPs to go out of Chandigarh on deputation to Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli for at least three years.

Earlier, DSP-rank officers of the Chandigarh Police were not sent out of the city.

The Home Ministry has also advised the Chandigarh administration that it might be made optional for Sikh women, riding two wheeler or pillion, to wear protective head gear, as per the practice in Delhi.

The Chandigarh administration has also been advised that in filling up civil posts, the ratio of 60:40 may be used as between Punjab and Haryana, wherever it was being followed conventionally, said the official.