11012023-CT-01.qxd 1/11/2023 12:45 AM Page 1 c m y b Chandigarh tribune RESPITE FOR RESIDENTS OF SECTORS ACROSS GHAGGAR COUPLE GUILTY OF KILLING DAUGHTER, SENTENCE TODAY VASHISHT TAKES OVER AS MOHALI BJP PRESIDENT In a relief to people living across the Ghaggar, two-thirds of garbage has been lifted from Jhuriwala site. P3 Court convicts Vishal, his wife Pooja of killing their 25-day-old daughter at Ram Darbar four years ago. P3 Punjab BJP chief Ashwani Sharma hands over responsibility of the party’s Mohali unit to Sanjeev Vashisht . P3 » » TRICITY COVID REPORT CHD P’KULA MOHALI POSITIVE 99,355 48,434 1,01,161 RECOVERED 98,170 48,012 99,988 NEW CASES 0 0 0 ACTIVE 4 1 5 CHANGE 0 0 0 DEATHS 1,181 421 1,168 NEW 0 0 0 AIR QUALITY INDEX CHANDIGARH 338 PANCHKULA 241 MOHALI 252 401-500 301-400 201-300 101-200 51-100 0-50 SEVERE VERY POOR POOR MODERATE SATISFACTORY GOOD INBRIEF TWO BOYS AMONG 4 HELD FOR ROBBERY Chandigarh: Four persons, including two juveniles, have been arrested for robbing a Jagtpura resident. Complainant Laltu Kumar claimed four boys stopped him and robbed him of a mobile phone and Rs 4,400 at knifepoint while returning home on January 6. A case was registered at the Sector 31 police station. Two youths, Chander Parkash (20) and Ajay (19), were later arrested and two juveniles apprehended. TNS MISSING BOY FOUND IN KHARAR Chandigarh: A six-year-old boy, who had been reported missing in Kajheri, Sector 52, on January 6, has been found at Kharar. The police said a doorto-door search in the vicinity of his house was carried out and all police stations in neighboring cities were informed. Around 720 hours of CCTV footage was scrutinised. The boy was traced to Kharar and handed over to parents. TNS TWITTER/THETRIBUNECHD MAX 14°C | MIN 7°C YESTERDAY MAX 11.5°C | MIN 7.8°C SUNRISE THURSDAY 7.20 AM FACEBOOK/CHANDIGARHTRIBUNE Heritage sectors’ prices may take hit: Realtors SC JUDGMENT Bet on increase in rates in other parts of UT, Mohali, Panchkula Sandeep Rana WILL GET OUT OF REACH Tribune News Service ❝ Chandigarh, January 10 The Supreme Court order barring conversion of independent houses, part of “heritage” Phase I of Chandigarh, into apartments may hit the property prices in Sectors 1 to 30, but benefit property owners in other areas, say realtors. Property dealers feel the ruling is expected to bring about an increase in demand for properties in sectors other than 1 to 30, besides Panchkula and Mohali. Due to little or no availability of properties, people will scout for options in nearby areas, they say. “In sectors affected by the ruling, the market will come down and prices will fall as different kinds of properties are already available in other sectors. It will also have an impact on revenue of the UT Estate Office. Although there will be an increase in the number of tenants in these sectors, those keen on selling portions of their houses will no longer be able to do so now,” says Kamaljit Singh Panchhi, president, Property Federation Chandigarh. Vaneet Garg, managing director, Vaneet Infra, says: Floor-wise sale ensured properties remained within budget of locals and outsiders. The SC order is expected to increase demand for properties in neighbouring areas and towns. ❞ Vaneet Garg, PROPERTY DEALER DEVELOPED IN 2 PHASES Ph I (heritage) Phase II TRIBUNE PHOTO: PRADEEP TEWARI HISTORIC VERDICT, WILL SAVE CITY’S FUTURE ❝Ithasvirtuallysaved city’s future. The SC has used its powers to prohibit fragmentation & apartmentalisation in Phase I.It’s a historic judgment. It will help preserve city’s character. Paramjit Singh Patwalia, COUNSEL FOR APPELLANTS “Chandigarh is already overcrowded. Floor-wise sale of property ensured it remained within the budget of locals and those from other states. While the apex court order is a step towards safeguarding the heritage status of ‘Corbu- APARTMENTS RUINING CITY ADMN MUSTN’T GIVE IN ❝The UT was planned for 5 lakh ❝We thank SC for saving people. We already have over a million and a half. If it keeps increasing, the UT will be ruined. And by building apartments, we were going in that direction. That is why we are opposing it. Manmohan Lal Sarin, SENIOR ADVOCATE & GEN SECY, SARIN MEMORIAL LEGAL AID FOUNDATION, SUPPORTING RWA THAT MOVED SC Nehruvian and Corbusian Chandigarh’s original heritage character. UT authorities should not buckle under pressure from those politicians who have no locus standi. Vinod Vashisht, CONVENER, CITY FORUM OF WELFARE ORGANISATIONS Suspects from Hry duped finance firm via app Tribune News Service Eight mobiles, four laptops, 31 SIMs, four trucks seized from suspects. 1.4K IDs CREATED FOUND BUG IN APP ■ Finance firm Paul ■ Suspect Rohtash Kumar, a Merchants duped of ~1.95 cr; FIR lodged on Dec 31 ■ 1,497 IDs created by suspects on its mobile app ‘PaulpayV2.0’ ■ 3,114 transactions made using IDs to withdraw ~1.94 cr fraudulently ■ Some phone numbers used found active in Delhi; lead cops to suspects BSc with knowledge of computers, had been hunting bugs in financial apps on Google Play Store, iTunes, etc. ■ He found a bug in Paul Merchants’ ‘PaulpayV2.0’ app, used tool to intercept portal data, stopped signals to payment gateway & bypassed it ■ Transactions were thus successfully made at the server even after cancelling the same from their end CHEATED AMOUNT SPENT BY SUSPECTS ■ ~30L to pay off loan on trucks ■ ~30L on buying fuel for vehicles ■ ~5L on recharging FASTag of ■ ~25L on buying Amazon gift vehicles ■ ~2L on mobile phone recharge ■ ~2.50L on paying insurance premiums 3,114 transactions were made using these IDs to withdraw Rs 1.94 crore fraudulently. The police found out some mobile phone numbers that were used to create the IDs were active in Delhi’s Sectors 1 to 30 Sectors 31 to 47 << Properties in UT were being sold on a share-wise sale basis. 5 land in police net for ~1.95-cr online fraud Chandigarh, January 10 Five persons accused of duping Paul Merchants, a finance company, to the tune of Rs 1.95 crore have been arrested by the Cyber Crime Investigation Cell (CCIC) of the UT police. The suspects have been identified as Pankaj Kumar (29), a resident of Haryana’s Sirsa district; Vikram (28), Mukesh Kumar (29), Rajender Parsad, alias Raju (38), and Rohtash Kumar (27), all residents of Hisar district. The complainant, working as a managing director (accounts) at the firm, said they were a non-banking financial corporation authorised by the RBI to issue prepaid wallets and cards to general public. The prepaid wallets and cards were issued through mobile application ‘ PaulpayV2.0’, which enabled customers to avail themselves of various payment services. The complainant alleged their system was hacked and the company was duped of Rs 1.95 crore, following which a case was registered on December 31. During the course of investigation, the transactions were scrutinised by the police and it was found 1,497 IDs had been created on the application and as many as GENERALLY CLOUDY SUNSET WEDNESDAY 5.41 PM » WEDNESDAY | 11 JANUARY 2023 | CHANDIGARH FORECAST card vouchers ■ ~50L transferred to Paytm accounts ■ ~40L on repaying various loans Mukherjee Nagar. Based on the information, the police conducted raids there and arrested Pankaj Kumar on January 5. A few SIM cards used to create the continued on page 3 INCREASE IN VEHICLES ‘BOUND TO IMPACT’ TRAFFIC The Supreme Court noted though the Chandigarh Administration is permitting one dwelling unit to be converted into three apartments, its adverse effect on traffic has not been addressed. With the increase in the sian Chandigarh’, it is expected to increase the demand of properties in neighbouring area and towns.” However, Kamal Gupta, Property Consultant Association, Chandigarh, sees little impact of the ruling. “I think WILL STUDY IMPACT ❝We need to study the impact of the judgment. Federation will set up a committee of members to examine it and take up the matter with the UT Administration. Hitesh Puri, CHAIRMAN, CHANDIGARH RESIDENT ASSOCIATIONS WELFARE FEDERATION number of dwelling units, a corresponding increase in vehicles is bound to be there. However, without considering the said aspect, one dwelling unit is permitted to be converted into three apartments. there will be no major impact on property prices. The property trends will be known with the passage of time.” The Supreme Court judgment is applicable to Sectors 1 to 30 in Phase I. This phase falls in a heritage zone. Sale WILL PRESERVE HERITAGE ❝This is a historic and welcome order, and will enable city to maintain its original and heritage character, for which the city is known around the world. This is a New Year’s gift for the City Beautiful. Ajay Jagga, ADVOCATE AND CITY-BASED ACTIVIST of floor-wise property was already not allowed in the UT. However, properties were being sold and registries were being done on a sharewise property sale basis. A Bench has slammed the continued on page 3 Family property feud behind court ruling Tribune News Service Chandigarh, January 10 The Supreme Court directions have come in a case of a property dispute involving a Sector 10 family. According to the prosecution, Single Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court in the case of Chander Parkash Malhotra considered a dispute with regard to a house in Sector 10-A, which, on the death of the original owner, was inherited by his sons and daughters. Some of the legal heirs, i.e. brothers and sisters of Malhotra, filed a suit for partition of the property in which a preliminary decree was passed by the trial court on September 30, 1983. In appeal, the District Judge modified some of the findings recorded by the trial court. Thereafter, the proceedings for passing of the final decree were taken up by the trial court. A Local Commissioner was appointed to suggest the mode of partition. He submitted continued on page 3 PLEA BY SEC 10 HOUSE OWNER’S HEIRS ■ Sec 10 house owner’s legal heirs file suit for partition of property; trial court passes prelim decree in Sept 1983 ■ In appeal, District Judge modifies trial court findings; Local Commissioner, appointed to suggest mode of partition, submits report in Feb 1989 ■ Report says property in dispute can’t be partitioned; petitioner Chander Parkash Malhotra raises objection, but it is rejected by trial court ■ Order is challenged in High Court by way of revision; validity of Rule 14 of Chandigarh (Sale of Sites and Building) Rules, 1960, is also challenged ■ HC cites Rule prohibiting fragmentation/amalgamation of site or building ultra vires to the Constitution; UT Admn moves SC against the order 30 turned apartments from 2001-07 Tribune News Service Chandigarh, January 10 Nearly 30 residential units were converted into apartments when the Apartment Act was in force in the city for six years. In 2001, the UT Administrator, in exercise of powers conferred under Sections 5 and 22 of the Capital of Punjab CBI gets sanction to prosecute 6 officers Zirakpur, January 10 Two unidentified miscreants fired at a youth while fleeing after a theft bid at a house in Dhakoli went awry. The youth had a narrow escape, but the miscreants made good their escape in broad daylight. The house owner, Ekta Anand, said her husband had gone out for some work and she was away to her motherin-law’s house in Ekta Vihar, Baltana. Her son Vishwas Anand was studying with his friend in the house, which was locked by her from outside. The complainant said around 6.30 pm, two youths broke the lock of the main continued on page 3 NOW, HERITAGE PANEL TO APPROVE PLANS The order will have far-reaching consequences. Now, all new building plans have to be approved by the Chandigarh Heritage Conservation Committee (CHCC). Now, all pending building plans will have to be put up again as per the new directions. TRIBUNE PHOTO: NITIN MITTAL Theft thwarted, two open fire at Dhakoli youth Chandigarh, January 10 Five years after registration of an FIR in an alleged Rs 1,300-crore scam involving Punjab National Bank’s (PNB) corporate branch here, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has received prosecution sanction against six bank officers. The CBI has submitted the sanction orders in the CBI court here. The CBI has already filed a chargesheet in the case against directors of company M/s Kudo Chemie Ltd Jitender Singh, Gurmeet Kaur and nine senior bank officials for offences punishable under Sections 420, 467, 468 and 471 read with Section (Development and Regulations) Act, 1952, had framed the Chandigarh Apartment Rules, 2001. By virtue of the 2001 Rules, even in case of a single residential unit, it was permissible to subdivide it. However, city residents vehemently opposed the construction of apartments, which, according to them, was continued on page 3 PNB FRAUD Competent authority denies nod against 3 others 120B of the Indian Penal Code and under the Prevention of Corruption Act. While the competent authority has given prosecution sanction against six officers, it has denied the same against three others. The CBI had registered the FIR on a complaint filed by the Chief Manager, PNB, Sector 17-B, against the company and its directors in 2017 regarding the alleged fraud. In the chargesheet, it continued on page 3 A train arrives at Chandigarh Railway Station amid fog on Tuesday. Expect light rain today Chandigarh, January 10 Light rain is expected in the city tomorrow. According to the Meteorological Department, the city is likely to see generally cloudy sky with thundery development/light rain on Wednesday. The next day, the city is likely to witness partly cloudy conditions followed by dense fog for two days. Meanwhile, the maximum temperature was recorded at 11.5°C today, which is nine degrees below normal, while the minimum stood at 7.8°C, three degrees above normal. —TNS City gets 1st horticulture waste processing unit Chandigarh, January 10 The city today got its first dedicated horticulture waste processing plant at the Industrial Area, Phase II. Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Banwarilal Purohit inaugurated the plant in the presence of MP Kirron Kher, Mayor Sarbjit Kaur, UT Adviser Dharm Pal and others. Almost entire horticulture waste was being thrown at the dumping ground in Dadu Majra till now. Purohit said all waste would be processed in a scientific manner to produce combustible products and dumping in landfill sites would be c m y b avoided. He said the products made from horticulture waste would generate income for the civic body as these could be sold to industrial units. The products might also be used for cremation purposes, thus saving the fuel wood, he added. The Mayor said the plant had the capacity to process 30-40 tonne of raw horticulture waste a day into briquettes. She said the total project cost Rs 3.50 crore, including the cost of operation and management for one year. The UT Adviser said processing of floral waste was also started separately. The MC Commissioner added the plant would further help city improve on Swachhta front. — TNS Refuse was earlier dumped at Dadu Majra site ‘BRIQUETTES TO BRING INCOME’ All horticulture waste will be processed in a scientific manner to produce combustible products (briquettes) and dumping in landfill sites will be avoided. Briquettes will generate income for the civic body as these could be sold to industrial units. ❝ UT Administrator Banwarilal Purohit at the horticulture waste processing plant in Chandigarh on Tuesday. PHOTO: VICKY ❞ Banwarilal Purohit, UT ADMINISTRATOR