25012024-CT-01.qxd 1/25/2024 12:51 AM Page 1 c m y b Chandigarh tribune PANCHKULA TO GET ITS SECOND FIRE STATION WHISTLEBLOWERS IN GRAFT CASES HONOURED TWO ARRESTED FOR FRAUD, GAMBLING IN DERA BASSI Speaker Gian Chand Gupta has laid stone of two projects, including a new fire station at MDC. P2 Haryana’s Anti-Corruption Bureau felicitates whistleblowers who aided arrest of staffers over bribery. P2 Cops have arrested two persons for allegedly cheating and gambling. Their accomplice is on the run. P2 » » CHANDIGARH 294 PANCHKULA 188 MOHALI 298 401-500 301-400 201-300 101-200 51-100 0-50 FACEBOOK/CHANDIGARHTRIBUNE ■ FOG CUTS VISIBILITY TO 40 M ■ AT 294, AQI IN CITY MOVES FROM ‘VERY POOR’ TO ‘POOR’ Bench says 18-day deferment totally unreasonable, unjustified & arbitrary SEVERE VERY POOR POOR MODERATE SATISFACTORY GOOD Alliance intact in city, claim Congress, AAP Saurabh Malik Tribune News Service Chandigarh, January 24 The Punjab and Haryana High Court today ruled that the deferment of mayoral poll for 18 days was “totally unreasonable, unjustified and arbitrary” before directing the holding of elections on January 30 –– a week before the revised date. The Bench also issued five commandments on holding the elections in a fair and free manner. The elections were to be held initially on January 18, but were postponed to February 6, resulting in the filing of a petition challenging the order. The Bench of Justice Sudhir Singh and Justice Harsh Bunger said, “The grounds on which the poll has been deferred are unjustified and unreasonable and the very fact that it has been deferred for 18 long days adds irrationality to it. We have given respondents patient hearing and sufficient opportunity to rectify the said wrong, but to no avail.” The Bench observed the pleadings and arguments on behalf of the UT and other respondents made it evident that the elections were deferred owing to presiding officer Anil Masih’s illness and law and order situation. But the court found no justifi- INBRIEF 4 ROBBERY CASES CRACKED, 2 HELD Chandigarh: The police claimed to have solved four robbery cases with the arrest of two miscreants. At least 12 mobile phones, three wallets and a motorcycle were seized from their possession. The police claimed the suspects, identified as Manni (24) and Mohit (20), alias Mohni, both residents of Fatehgarh Sahib, had targeted at least 10 persons since January 1. A city court sent them to three-day police custody. TNS WHAT’S ON CHANDIGARH APNI MANDI: Sectors 34 and 56, and Ram Darbar MOHALI APNI MANDI: Sector 76 PANCHKULA APNI MANDI: Sector 5 Sandeep Rana Tribune News Service Congress councillors, who are not in Chandigarh over fears of poaching, pay obeisance at a dargah in Nakodar on Wednesday. UT EXPLORING OPTIONS, MAY MOVE SC ■ Sources say the UT Administration is exploring all legal aspects of the HC order and will take the next course of action, including approaching the Supreme Court, after taking legal opinion cation for it as the UT deputy commissioner, being the prescribed authority, was within his right to nominate and appoint another presiding officer. “One could have understood the situation, if there was any emergent crisis or natural calamity. However, there being none, we are constrained to observe that the grounds to defer the elections are totally absurd and frivolous,” it said. The Bench added it was evident that apprehensions regarding the law and order situation pertained to the gathering of supporters and police commandos of other state at the election venue. The apprehensions were not that grave leading to a situation, which could not have been addressed by the Administration, it added. Before parting with the order, the Bench directed that the prescribed authority would ensure the holding of the elections under a presiding officer “as may be nominated” by him. The councillors coming to vote would not be accompanied by any supporter or security personnel belonging to any other state. The city police would ensure adequate security to the councillors. They would also ensure no untoward incident took place in or around the MC premises, it concluded. 1 held for firing at businessman’s house in Sector 5 ALL SET FOR R-DAY: Police personnel participate in a full dress rehearsal for the Republic Day parade at Parade Ground in Sector 17, Chandigarh, on Wednesday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: RAVI KUMAR UT to allot 14 acres for HC block Located in Sarangpur village | Proposal with MHA for final nod for the construction of an additional administrative block of the high court. During a meeting, UT Administrator Banwarilal Purohit approved the proposal, which has now been sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs Dushyant Singh Pundir Tribune News Service Chandigarh, January 24 On the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the UT Administration has decided to allocate 14.86 acres of land at Sarangpur village (MHA) for final approval. During a hearing on January 22, the high court directed the UT to allot three plots (two plots of 6-acre each and one of 2.86 acres) for an administrative block at Sarangpur village. continued on page 2 Chandigarh, January 24 Days after unidentified miscreants opened fire at the house of a businessman in Sector 5 here, the city police arrested one of the suspects, Gurwinder Singh (26), alias Laddu, of Mullanpur. UT SSP Kanwardeep Kaur said, “His aides have also been identified. Raids are on to nab them. A bike was impounded.” Sources said four persons on two motorcycles were seen near the spot. The case was registered on the complaint of Kuldeep Singh. The bullets had hit an SUV parked at his house. Empty shells were found from the spot. He had received extortion calls days before the incident. — TNS EXTORTION BID ■ Kuldeep Singh said on Jan 19, he heard shots fired outside his house ■ FIR lodged; businessman received extortion calls days before the incident 18 night shelters, but homeless in corridors Say they can’t commute to facilities |Provide them aid, councillor tells MC RAVI KUMAR Tribune News Service Chandigarh, January 24 Despite the Municipal Corporation having set up 18 temporary night shelters at eight locations in the city, many homeless persons, including migrant labourers, rickshaw-pullers and beggars, still prefer to sleep in the corridors of markets or other convenient places. Talking to Chandigarh Tribune, some of them said they find it more convenient to sleep near their place of work where they have stocked bedding and other necessary items. Some say night shelters are not located near their preferred area and it is not easy for them to travel long distance to sleep and return the next day. Nevertheless, a fairly large MAX 11°C | MIN 5°C YESTERDAY MAX 8.4°C | MIN 3.6°C SUNRISE FRIDAY 7.16 AM TWITTER/THETRIBUNECHD Hold mayoral poll on January 30: HC AIR QUALITY INDEX MAINLY CLEAR SKY SUNSET THURSDAY 5.53 PM » THURSDAY | 25 JANUARY 2024 | CHANDIGARH FORECAST Homeless huddled in a corridor of Sector 29 market in Chandigarh. OUT IN THE COLD ■ Those sleeping in corridors find it convenient to sleep near their place of work ■ Some say it’s not easy for them to travel to night shelters to sleep and return the next day ■ Councillor Saurabh Joshi says MC should come up with shelters that can be set up at night, dismantled in the day ■ This will ensure that those sleeping in corridors or open spaces get some cover from intense cold wave, he says number of people are opting for the night shelters where the MC has provided facili- ties like heater and bedding. Besides, there are no charges to sleep there. Those opting for the facility only have to produce an identity proof as a security measure. Councillor Saurabh Joshi, whose ward in Sector 16 has a night shelter, said, “The MC should come up with shelters that can be set up at night and dismantled during the day. Such shelters must be provided near places where the homeless usually sleep, particularly near markets. This will ensure that those sleeping in the corridors or other open spaces get some cover from intense cold wave.” Joshi said people had been sleeping in the corridors for long. “They keep their bedding and other goods on the terrace of booths and take these out at night. At some places, traders have provided continued on page 2 c m y b Chandigarh, January 24 Even as the INDIA alliance doesn’t seem to be taking shape in Punjab and West Bengal with the CMs of both states declaring to contest the Lok Sabha elections on their own, the development is unlikely to affect the Congress and AAP alliance in the city so far as the mayoral poll is concerned. Dr SS Ahluwalia, city AAP co-incharge, told Chandigarh Tribune, “The pact on the city mayoral poll has already been stitched and remains steady. It is AAP’s as well as Congress’ fight to save the democracy. The BJP got this election postponed for its own personal reasons. INDIA alliance has the numbers here and we are going to win the election.” HS Lucky, city Congress president, said, “The developments in Punjab and West Bengal will have no bearing on the alliance here. I want to thank the high court for its verdict as it is a message to the ruling BJP that was try- Say it’s fight to save democracy | Tie-up for selfish motive: BJP NUMBERS IN FAVOUR OF ALLIANCE ■ The Congress-AAP alliance has a total of 20 votes — 13 of AAP and seven of the Congress ■ The ruling BJP has 15 votes (14 councillors and one exofficio member, i.e. MP) ■ The SAD, which has one vote, is yet to take call on whom to support ing to influence the election by pressuring the UT Administration. We hope for a fair and impartial election. I advise the BJP not to make it a prestige issue.” Slamming the two parties, city BJP president Jatinder Pal Malhotra alleged, “How can an alliance have different set of rules? It is just a selfish alliance to gain power. They are talking of saving democracy. Where were they when the Congress, during its rule, dismissed governments in states.” Motorists struggle as dense fog envelops Chandigarh. RAVI KUMAR At 8.4°C, city records coldest day of season Chandigarh, January 24 The city on Wednesday found itself in the grip of severe cold wave, recording the coldest day of the season at 8.4°C. It was also the coldest January day since 2013. The maximum temperature fell to 8.4°C, which was 10 degrees below normal. Before this, the coldest day was reported on January 8, 2013. While in 2012, the lowest maximum temperature was 13.8°C. The minimum temperature also fell to 3.6°C, four degrees below normal. On January 14, the city recorded the coldest night since 2017 when the temperature dipped to 2.4°C. The city saw very dense fog, resulting in poor visibility, which fell to less than 40 m at 8:30 am. Clear sky with moderate to dense fog is expected for three more days. — TNS FLIGHTS GROUNDED 19 flights were cancelled and 30 delayed due to fog and low visibility on Wednesday flights — departures to Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and arrival from Pune — cancelled flights from Delhi and Goa diverted to Delhi in evening Most other early morning flights were late by 3-4 hours 4 3 TRAIN TRAFFIC HIT ■ New Delhi-Kalka Shatabdi reached city at 1.56 pm, delay of 2 hours and 57 minutes ■ Kalka-New Delhi Shatabdi reached Delhi 41 minutes late at 10.56 am ■ Jan Shatabdi arrived late by 3 hours and 20 minutes at 9.47 pm ■ New Delhi-Kalka Shatabdi reached late by 15 minutes at 8.45 pm
The Tribune, now published from Chandigarh, started publication on February 2, 1881, in Lahore (now in Pakistan). It was started by Sardar Dyal Singh Majithia, a public-spirited philanthropist, and is run by a trust comprising four eminent persons as trustees.
The Tribune, the largest selling daily in North India, publishes news and views without any bias or prejudice of any kind. Restraint and moderation, rather than agitational language and partisanship, are the hallmarks of the paper. It is an independent newspaper in the real sense of the term.
The English edition apart, the 133-year-old Tribune has two sister publications, Punjabi Tribune (in Punjabi) and Dainik Tribune (in Hindi).