26052022-CT-01.qxd 5/26/2022 1:20 AM Page 1 c m y b Chandigarh TRIBUNE THURSDAY | 26 MAY 2022 | CHANDIGARH DOCTORS CONCERNED OVER PRACTICALS IN PGI ENTRANCE PAGE 2 PGI to take its agenda to the standing academic committee meeting to restart practical assessment of candidates. FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY TRICITY COVID REPORT CHD P’KULA MOHALI POSITIVE 92,336 44,323 95,999 RECOVERED 91,094 43,869 94,802 NEW CASES 13 4 7 ACTIVE 77 33 49 CHANGE 3 3 3 DEATHS 1,165 414 1,148 NEW 0 0 0 134 PANCHKULA 37 MOHALI 88 401-500 301-400 201-300 101-200 51-100 0-50 MAX 37°C | MIN 21°C | YESTERDAY MAX 35.1°C | MIN 20.7°C SUNSET THURSDAY 7:16 PM SEVERE VERY POOR POOR MODERATE SATISFACTORY GOOD INBRIEF YOUTH HELD FOR IMPERSONATION Chandigarh: A youth has been arrested for impersonation in the firemen recruitment physical test conducted at the Police Lines, Sector 26. Complainant Satpal Singh, Station Fire Officer and in charge of the attendance and identification committee at the RTC, Sector 26, had reported that Sumit Kumar of Hisar was caught while appearing for a physical test by impersonating a candidate. The police had registered a case. Earlier, three youths were found impersonating in the physical test. They were arrested along with two candidates. TNS MAN ABUSES SMO IN OFFICE, NAILED Dera Bassi: The police have arrested a Pragpur village resident on a charge of abusing the Dera Bassi SMO, Dr Sangeeta Jain, and obstructing her from performing her job. The suspect, Gurdeep Singh, was produced in a court, which remanded him in judicial custody for 14 days. In her complaint lodged with the police, the doctor said she was in her office when the man forcibly entered the office and started abusing her and other officials. She tried to calm him down, but when he did not listen, she called the police and registered a complaint. TNS Mohali water supply to be hit WHAT’S NEEDED FOR A FIRE-SAFETY CERTIFICATE ■ Fire extinguishers ■ Adequate on all floors ■ Automated sprinkler system in the entire building ■ Escape routes must be clear of any obstruction ■ All electrical wirings and installations must comply with the norms of the Bureau of Indian Standards provision for natural ventilation and lighting ■ Furniture must be treated with flame-resistant material ■ Dumping of any sort of waste material or volatile or flammable liquids is prohibited Chandigarh, May 25 Of over 20,000 commercial establishments in the city, not even 1,000 have bothered to procure the fire-safety certificate/no-objection certificate from the Fire and Emergency Services Department of the Municipal Corporation. Surprisingly, these include almost all major government departments as well. According to the Municipal Corporation, the Shivalikview, Mountview and Parkview hotels, the GMCH, Sector 32, the GMSH, Sector 16, the PGI (excluding Nehru block), the DC office, the Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh secretariats, the Police Headquarters and Panjab University are among those which are yet to get the fire-safety certificate. “We have sent notices to them several times, but to no avail. These institutions are playing with the lives of the UT proposes to celebrate Yoga Day at Capitol Complex Chandigarh, May 25 The UT Administration has proposed to celebrate International Yoga Day at the Capitol Complex here on June 21. A meeting was held today under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner Vinay Partap Singh to discuss the details of 8th International Yoga Day, which will be celebrated on June 21. An official spokesperson said the proposed venue for the event would be the Capitol Complex and it had been conveyed to the Central Government for approval. — TNS SEEMS A NON-ISSUE FOR GOVERMENT Fire safety remains a non-issue with the government. Chandigarh has been upgraded to a smart city, but we do not have the basic mandatory requirement in our buildings. ❝ ❞ Harman Sidhu, FOUNDER, ARRIVESAFE THOSE FOUND WANTING The defaulters include almost all major government departments. According to the MC, the Shivalikview, Mountview and Parkview hotels, the GMCH, Sector 32, the GMSH, Sector 16, the PGI (excluding Nehru block), the DC office, the Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh secretariats, the Police Headquarters and Panjab University are among those which are yet to get fire-safety certificate. public. In case of a fire, safety of people will be at risk. Some of these government departments and other establishments have applied for the certificate, but they were asked to do away with certain discrepancies, which they haven’t. Thus, they were not issued the certificate,” said an official. An officer privy to the development said: “As per law, we cannot legally force them to take the certificate. At our end, we carry out inspections and timely remind them to take certain measures.” Harman Sidhu, founder of NGO ArriveSafe, said: “Fire safety remains a nonissue with the government. Chandigarh has been upgraded to a smart city, but we do not have the basic mandatory requirement in our buildings. We should start taking fire safety seriously before something major happens.” He also recently filed an RTI seeking the names of hotels in Sector 43, 45 and 52, which have the fire-safety certificate. As per the MC reply, only one hotel possesses the certificate. MC Commissioner Anindita Mitra said: “We will carry out a full-fledged survey and take necessary action as per rules.” TWITTER/THETRIBUNECHD FACEBOOK/CHANDIGARHTRIBUNE CHB auction turns out to be flop show Tribune News Service Chandigarh, May 25 The Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) has yet again received a poor response to its residential as well as commercial properties put up for auction on a freehold basis. The CHB has recently decided to convert its commercial and residential units from leasehold to freehold to attract buyers. The CHB had invited e-bids for the sale of 29 residential and six commercial units on a freehold basis. When the bids were opened today, the CHB was able to sell only two each commercial and residential units. The CHB earned over ~2.15 crore from the auction of the four properties. The residential units were sold for ~47 lakh against the reserve price of ~43.25 lakh, whereas the commercial units were auctioned for ~1.68 crore against the reserve price of ~1.65 crore. In a previous auction held last month, the CHB was able to sell four commercial and UT cyber crime cell Five of Landa gang land in police net Seven pistols, magazines, two SUVs recovered arrests 4 fraudsters Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Chandigarh, May 25 Four fraudsters have been arrested by the cyber crime investigation cell (CCIC) of the UT police for allegedly cheating a city resident of ~8.50 lakh. The complainant, Dinesh Kapoor, had reported that he had received calls from unknown persons, who lured him to purchase an insurance policy which would give a huge bonus and maturity amount. The victim purchased two policies. However, he did not receive any bonus. He then received a call from another unknown number and the fraudster assured him that he would help him in getting the bonus released. He deposited a total of ~8.50 lakh in the bank accounts Reportedly cheated city resident of ~8.50 lakh provided by the suspects and later realised that he had been duped. The police registered a case and during the investigation, a team, led by Inspector Hari Om, incharge of the CCIC, nabbed the suspects, identified as Deepak Kumar (32) and Saqib Khan (26), residents of Delhi, and Jatinder Kumar Paras (29) and Rohit Kumar (29), residents of Uttar Pradesh. continued on page 2 Mohali, May 25 The police today arrested five members of the Lakhvir Singh Landa gang and seized seven pistols and magazines, an AK-47 magazine, 45 live rounds, two SUVs and ~3,200 from their possession. They were reportedly involved in extortion, cases under the NDPS Act and the Arms Act and attempt to murder in Tarn Taran and Samrala. A case under Sections 399 and 402 of the IPC and the Arms Act has been registered against the suspects, identified as Chohla Sahib resident Lovejit Singh (21); Harike resident Akashdeep Singh (21); Amloh resident Gurjant Singh (20); and Samrala residents Paramvir Singh (19) and Sunil Kumar (22); at the Sadar Kharar police station. The police said the sus- Mohali SSP Vivek Sheel Soni addresses a press conference in Sector 76, Mohali, on Wednesday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: VICKY LANDA KEY CONSPIRATOR IN RPG BLAST Notorious gangster Lakhbir Singh Landa is the key conspirator of the May 9 RPG blast at the state intelligence office in Mohali. At present, he is facing around 20 criminal cases, including those of murder, attempt to murder and under the NDPS Act. pects were planning to commit a major crime, but were nabbed near Rayat Bahra College. Mohali SSP Vivek Sheel Soni said: “The suspects will be produced in a court, and their remand will be sought. The main suspect, Lovejit Singh, is in contact with Landa, based in Canada, and used to commit crimes on his instructions. We are also carrying out investigations regarding the AK-47 magazine and why such a huge amount of ammunition was collected. The suspects have a history of major crimes.” “It is also a matter of investigation whether they have any role in the RPG attack or not,” he said. The gang members had opened fire in a ransom case at Khalra village on April 20 at the behest of Landa. On April 28, they came to Dayalpur village in Samrala to collect ransom. On May 15, they shot at a man in his thigh at Mukshakabad village in Samrala. On the instructions of Landa, the suspects were planning to carry out crime activities in Tarn Taran district and the continued on page 2 Only 4 of 35 units sold; board earns over ~2.15 crore THE PRICE Residential units were sold for ~47 lakh against the reserve price of ~43.25 lakh, whereas commercial units were auctioned for ~1.68 crore against the reserve price of ~1.65 crore. one residential unit out of 10 commercial and six residential units on a freehold basis. In an auction held in February, the CHB had invited bids for 10 residential units on a freehold basis, 24 residential units on a leasehold basis and 109 commercial units on a leasehold basis. However, it was able to dispose of only two residential units on a continued on page 2 Week after being hit, ragpicker dies Chandigarh, May 25 Almost a week after a ragpicker was bludgeoned to death, another victim, also a ragpicker, succumbed to his injuries. He has been identified as Kishori. On May 19, a ragpicker, Manoj, alias Panda, was found dead in Sector 38, while another, Kishori, was found seriously injured. During the investigation, the suspect, Raju (43), a resident of Maloya, was arrested. He had an altercation with the victims, following which he killed them. — TNS UT reports 13 fresh Covid cases CHANDIGARH: MOHALI: Due to the stoppage of the water supply from the Kajauli waterworks, Phase 3 and 4, by the Chandigarh MC, the supply will remain affected in Sector 70-71, Mataur village, Shahi Majra, Phase 7 and the Industrial Area, Phase 1 to 5. On May 26, there will be no water supply in the afternoon, while there will be low pressure supply in the evening. On May 27 morning, the supply will be according to the availability. — TNS SUNRISE FRIDAY 5:23 AM Govt depts, hospitals set wrong example, fail to get safety certificate from MC THE TRIBUNE SPECIAL PAGE 2 Chandigarh Youth Congress workers up in arms, say will continue protest until all their demands are met. Most buildings not fire-safe Tribune News Service CHANDIGARH PROTEST AGAINST COMMERCIAL PROPERTY TAX IN UT VILLAGES MC passes resolution to register case, seize goods of vegetable and fruit vendors if they fail to get licence. Sandeep Rana AIR QUALITY INDEX PAGE 2 PANCHKULA VENDORS SANS LICENCE TO FACE MC ACTION File affidavit on rehabilitating jhuggi dwellers: High Court Saurabh Malik Tribune News Service Chandigarh, May 25 Displaying the humanitarian side of law, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the Union of India to file an affidavit on the issue of rehabilitating dwellers compelled to live in jhuggis after observing that they too were citizens of this country and had a right to life. “The respondent-Union of India will file an affidavit through a competent officer giving a via media for rehabilitating such people, who out of necessity have to occupy jhuggis on land which obviously does not belong to them, but nevertheless are citizens of this country and have a right to life in terms of Article 21 of the Constitution,” the Bench of Justice Amol Rattan Singh and Justice Lalit Batra asserted. The Bench was hearing a petition filed against the Union of India and other respondents by Rajinder WHAT THE COURT SAID The respondent-Union of India will file an affidavit through a competent officer giving a via media for rehabilitating such people, who out of necessity have to occupy jhuggis on land which obviously does not belong to them, but nevertheless are citizens of this Bench country... ❝ ❞ Kumar and other petitioners through senior advocate ML Saggar with counsel GP Vashist. The UT Administration was represented by senior standing counsel Anil Mehta with additional standing counsel Sumeet Jain. The petitioners were seeking the quashing of orders, dated May 14, as per a public notice affixed in their residential area by the respondents to demolish their houses allegedly in an illegal and unlawful manner. Responding to a query whether the petitioners’ case was considered in terms of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana -2015, counsel for the respondentUT submitted that one of the “verticals” of the scheme was that persons wanting to avail of the benefit could apply for a subsidiary to the extent of 25 per cent of the consideration for houses/dwelling units they wished to purchase. He added that the petitioners had not done that. The other three “verticals” provided in the scheme had not been adopted for the UT looking at its size. Referring to the impugned public notice, he submitted that the petitioners could file objections in terms of Section 12(2) of the continued on page 2 c m y b The city witnessed 13 fresh Covid cases on Wednesday, taking the active caseload to 77. While there was no fresh fatality, 16 patient recovered from the disease. The virus has claimed 1,165 lives in the city so far. — TNS Proud moment 7 contract virus in Mohali district Arshdeep Singh (third from left), who was recently selected for the Indian cricket team, being honoured at Guru Nanak Public School in Sector 36, Chandigarh, on Wednesday. NITIN MITTAL SEE PAGE 2 Health Secy orders transfer of 9 docs Surprise visit reveals they were posted at one place for several years Tribune News Service Chandigarh, May 25 The UT Health Secretary, Yashpal Garg, today ordered transfer of nine doctors who were posted at various health and wellness centres and the Civil Hospitals. THE ORDER MENTIONS Any attempt or act of bringing extraneous pressure for cancellation and modification of transfer or posting will amount to misconduct and disciplinary proceedings against the person concerned. The orders came after the senior official conducted a surprise visit on Monday and found the staff staying at one place for several years. continued on page 2 MOHALI: Seven fresh Covid cases surfaced in the district during the past 24 hours, while four patients were cured of the disease. No new death due to the virus was reported on Wednesday. Of the 95,999 positive cases reported so far, 94,802 patients have been cured. There are now 49 active cases. The death toll stands at 1,148. — TNS 4 cases surface in Panchkula district PANCHKULA: Four fresh Covid cases were reported from the district during the past 24 hours, taking the tally to 44,323. No new death due to the virus was reported on Wednesday. Of the 44,323 positive cases reported so far, 43,857 patients have been cured. There are now 33 active cases. The death toll stands at 414. — TNS