21012025-CT-01.qxd 1/21/2025 12:07 AM Page 1 c m y b Chandigarh tribune CHAOTIC FIRST DAY AT NEW DERA BASSI SDM OFFICE PU LOOKS TO UNITE 2 PUNJABS WITH LAHORE INVITE I LOOK FORWARD TO POSITIVE ASPECTS OF LIFE: KARAN SDM Amit Gupta and the staff discharged duties from a makeshift office arrangement. P2 The university is preparing to invite Punjab University, Lahore, to its cultural fest, Jhankaar 2025. P2 Bigg Boss winner Karan Veer Mehra says, “I do not make mistakes, mistakes have made me.” P4 » » PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 25°C | MIN 9°C YESTERDAY MAX 24°C | MIN 11.8°C SUNSET TUESDAY 5.50 PM SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 7:18 AM » TUESDAY | 21 JANUARY 2025 | CHANDIGARH FORECAST /THETRIBUNECHD FACEBOOK/CHANDIGARHTRIBUNE HC sets aside mayoral poll notification WHAT’S ON Orders election after January 29 Saurabh Malik CHANDIGARH Wool ‘n’ Silk Fab: Kisan Bhawan, on till January 28 Exhibition: Works by architect SD Sharma, who was closely associated with Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret, Government Museum and Art Gallery, Sector 10, on till February 15 Awareness campaign: By People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and Aashray Foundation, Sector 17 Plaza, January 21, 12 noon APNI MANDI Chandigarh: Sectors 29 and 56, and Dhanas Panchkula: Sector 15 Mohali: Sector 71 Please send information about events in tricity at: whatson@tribunemail.com INBRIEF SEC 25 RESIDENT STABBED, ROBBED Chandigarh: Four miscreants riding a motorcycle stabbed a man and robbed him of his purse and mobile phone in Sector 38. The victim, Mani Kumar, a resident of Sector 25 resident, told the police that he was robbed of his phone and purse, which contained Rs 200 and documents. The police have registered a case at the Sector 39 police station. TNS BAG CONTAINING JEWELLERY STOLEN Chandigarh: A bag containing gold and silver jewellery worth several lakhs was stolen from the Community Centre in Sector 30. The Industrial Area police have registered a case on a complainant filed by Anurag Kawra of Sector 19. TNS ‘Drug queen’ Bala arrested again Chandigarh, January 20 Drug peddler Bala (62), infamously known as the ‘drug queen’ of Chandigarh, has again been arrested by the UT police. She was earlier held in October last year. On January 18, the police arrested Ashwani Kumar in Sector 38 (West) with 3.10 grams of heroin. A case under the NDPS Act was registered at the Maloya police station. Ashwani reportedly told the police that he had purchased the drugs from Bala. Based on his questioning, Bala was also named in the FIR. The police obtained a warrant for search at Bala’s house on January 19. During the search, they allegedly recovered 3.44 grams of heroin from and arrest her. Bala has a 32-year criminal record involving drug peddling and thefts. In October, she was arrested by the AntiNarcotics Task Force after 1.8 grams of heroin and Rs 5 lakh were allegedly recovered from her house. — TNS Tribune News Service Chandigarh, January 20 The Punjab and Haryana High Court today set aside election schedule for posts of Mayor, Senior Deputy Mayor, and Deputy Mayor in Chandigarh. The elections were to be held on January 24. The Bench of Justice Sureshwar Thakur and Justice Vikas Suri ordered that the elections be conducted after January 29 as the tenure of the current Mayor, Kuldeep Kumar, continues until that date. The notification for the same could be issued prior to January 29. The decision was issued in response to a writ petition filed by Kuldeep Kumar, who was represented by Senior Counsel Gurminder Singh. The court found merit in the argument that conducting elections before the completion of the incumbent Mayor’s tenure would be legally untenable. The court also directed the Chandigarh Administration to consider the use of the “show of hands” method for voting during the elections, while referring to concerns regarding transparency and fairness. The Administration was also directed to ensure videography of the entire election process enhancing accountability. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had earlier approached Parliamentary panel inspects city projects Chandigarh, January 20 A Parliamentary Standing Committee led by its Chairperson Magunta Sreenivasulu Reddy today visited various flagship mission works, including Swachh Bharat Mission, Amrut and Smart City projects. The delegation was happy with the cleanliness being maintained in the city. Its members visited the construction and demolition plant in Industrial Area, where the delegation was apprised by the officials of the MC that there were a total of 22 C&D waste collection centres in the city. They also inspected the horticulture waste processing plant at 3 BRD and later visited the Integrated Command and Control Centre, Sector 17. As per the schedule, the committee will attend an informal discussion with the officials on Tuesday and review various schemes of the ministry. — TNS Also tells Administration to consider “show of hands” method WHAT COURT OBSERVED The decision was issued in response to a writ petition filed by Kuldeep Kumar, who was represented by senior counsel Gurminder Singh. The court found merit in the argument that conducting elections before the completion of the incumbent Mayor’s tenure, which ends on January 29, would be legally untenable. the High Court, seeking directions for the administration to ensure transparency in the mayoral poll. The AAP councillor from ward number 25 filed the petition demanding, among other things, that voting be conducted by “show of hands” instead of the secret ballot method. On January 3, a delegation from AAP led by Mayor , Kuldeep Kumar, met Deputy Commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav and submitted a memorandum requesting the shift to a show of hands for the election process. The memorandum referenced the 341st meeting of the General House of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation, held on October 29, 2024, where a majority vote resolved that Regulation 6 of the Chandigarh Municipal Continued on page 2 Congress candidates for the posts of Senior Deputy Mayor Jasbir Bunty (2nd from left) and Deputy Mayor Taruna Mehta (2nd from right) with other party leaders before filing their nominations on Monday. TRIBUNE PHOTOS: PRADEEP TEWARI City BJP candidates Harpreet Kaur Babla (3rd from right), Bimla Dubey (2nd from right) and Lakhbir SIngh Billu (extreme right) file their nominations for the posts of Mayor, Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor, respectively. UT likely to release fresh schedule today Dushyant Singh Pundir Tribune News Service Chandigarh, January 20 In a dramatic turn of events ahead of the mayoral elections, the Administration will issue a fresh poll notification after the Punjab and Haryana High Court ordered the UT to hold elections after January 29, when the tenure of incumbent Mayor Kuldeep Kumar ends. According to the notification issued by the UT Administration on January 7, today was the last day to file nomination papers for the posts of Mayor, Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor. The voting was to be held on January 24. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) moved the High Court against the notification claiming that the tenure of incumbent Mayor Kuldeep Kumar will end on February 19, and also pleaded for holding the elections by “show of hands”, instead of the secret ballot. Deputy Commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav said after the court’s order, a fresh notification for the mayoral elections will possibly be issued tomorrow. It would initiate a fresh round of the election process and all parties would be required to file fresh nominations, he added. Despite uncertainty over the pending Roof collapses in Dera Bassi Tribune News Service Dera Bassi, January 20 The roof of a house collapsed in Suniara Mohalla here today. House owner Dilip Kumar, his wife and son escaped unhurt. Family unhurt, blames construction in adjacent building for incident A man stands amid rubble at the house in Suniara Mohalla. The house owner claimed the walls of his house developed cracks due to the ongoing construction work in the adjacent building. “The newly plastered walls of the adjacent building were being watered daily two or three times. We requested the neighbours to stop it, but to no avail,” he claimed. Dilip said he lived with his family on the first floor, while his brother’s family had the ground floor. It was difficult to live in the house now because it could collapse anytime, he added. Dera Bassi SHO Mandeep Singh said they were investigating the matter. court order, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress candidates filed their nomination papers. The BJP fielded Harpreet Kaur Babla for the post of Mayor, Bimala Dubey for Senior Deputy Mayor and Lakhbir Singh Billu for Deputy Mayor. Adhering to their alliance pact with AAP the Congress , named Jasbir Singh Bunty for Senior Deputy Mayor and Taruna Mehta for Deputy Mayor. AAP neither filed any nomination nor announced the names of the candidate for the post of Mayor. However, these nominations were rendered null and void after the court order. The AAP-Congress alliance, with a combined strength of 21 votes in the 35-member Municipal Corporation (MC) House, is likely to retain its majority. The alliance includes 13 votes of AAP seven of the Congress, , and one ex officio member’s vote of MP Manish Tewari. Welcoming the court’s decision, AAP leader Dr SS Three snatchers arrested, 19 phones recovered Drivers to lose licence if five challans pending Tribune News Service Chandigarh, January 20 Taking a firm stance on the issue of over 7.5 lakh pending traffic challans in the city, the UT Administration has decided to issue notices to vehicle owners with five or more unpaid challans. They will be asked to clear their dues within 15 days, failing which their driving licences will be cancelled and registration certificates (RCs) suspended. Officials highlighted a significant rise in unpaid challans over the years. “Despite repeated reminders and notices, many drivers continue to neglect fines for offenses such as speeding, red light violations and dangerous driving,” said Pradhuman Singh, in charge of the Registering and Licensing Authority (RLA). He said notices would be issued to violators with five or more unpaid challans, requiring them to pay the penalty within 15 days. Non-compliance will result in the revocation of their driving licences and suspension of RCs. Additionally, the vehicles of Nominations filed by BJP, Cong stand null and void after HC order Chandigarh, January 20 The District Crime Cell (DCC) of the UT police has arrested three snatchers and recovered 19 phones from them. Rakesh, who is a street vendor and lives at Nayagaon, had reported that he was returning home from his workplace in Sector 15 on January 17 when three persons, who were riding an auto, stopped him. They intimidated him and snatched his purse. The police registered a case at the Sector 11 police station and started an investigation into the matter. During the investigation, Sagar (24), an auto driver; Laxman Kumar, alias Raja (23); and Gaurav (24), all residents of Dhanas village, were nabbed. The police impounded the auto-rickshaw used in the crime and recovered three knives, Rs 3,000 in cash, 19 stolen mobile phones and some documents from the three accused. Ahluwalia said, “We are thankful to the High Court for respecting the people’s mandate and delivering justice to AAP .” As the court declared the election notification as null and void, they decided not to file the nominations as it was of no use, he said. The BJP holding 15 votes, , is banking on cross-voting or defections to secure the 19 votes required to win the elections. With the fresh election notification, political parties may revise their list of candidates. All six women councillors of AAP are vying for the mayoral post. Over 7.5 traffic challans unpaid in city VIOLATORS TO GET 15 DAYS TO PAY FINE Pradhuman Singh, in charge of the Registering and Licensing Authority, said notices would be issued to violators with five or more unpaid challans, requiring them to pay the penalty within 15 days. Non-compliance will result in the revocation of their driving licences and suspension of RCs. defaulters will be flagged as “Not to be Transacted”, which will block any transactions related to the vehicle. This includes ownership transfer, RC renewal, issuance of duplicate RC, pollution certificate and insurance, until all traffic violations are addressed and fines cleared. Last year, over 10 lakh challans were issued by the police, but only 2.61 lakh worth Rs 22.78 crore were paid by the violators. A maximum of challans, close to 4.90 lakh, were issued for red light jumping. — TNS ~95-cr makeover plan promises greener, cleaner nullahs in P’kula Akashdeep Virk Tribune News Service Panchkula, January 20 From foul smell to heaps of garbage to stagnant water, residents living near the city’s two major nullahs have long reeled under civic issues related to the drains. However, relief is finally on the horizon as the Panchkula Metropolitan Development Authority (PMDA) is set to embark on its long-awaited Rs 95.42-crore project to rejuvenate and beautify the water bodies. The project, which is in its final planning stages, promises a much-needed transfor- RETAINING WALLS, ANTI-DUMPING NETS Under the ~95.42-core project currently awaiting the green light from the state government, the nullahs will have an 8-metre-wide regulated drain, levelled bed with boulder gravel, 1-2.5 metre retaining walls and a 6-foot antidumping net. Recreational tracks and footbridges will also be built. mation. “We understand the challenges residents have faced for years, and we are committed to addressing them. The detailed project report is ready and will be sent to the government in next few days,” a senior PMDA official said. Once sanctioned, the project will see tenders being floated in around two months’ time. The Singh Nullah, one of the drains, will see extensive upgrades. Its water flow will be regulated within an eight-metre-wide drain with a one-metre-high boundary wall on either side. Currently, the water meanders across uneven surfaces, accumulating at certain points and emitting a foul smell. “The stench and garbage of c m y b the nullah right next to our market have made life here extremely difficult. The stagnant water worsens the situation, with insects breeding and the smell unbearable at times. This also affects the footfall here,” Dr Deepika, who runs a clinic in Swastik Vihar near a nullah, said. To address the issue, the bottom bed will be levelled and packed with two feet of boulder gravel to separate waste from water. Additionally, it will have a retaining wall of 1-2.5 m, depending on the area. It will Continued on page 2 An open drain in Sector 5, MDC, Panchkula. TRIBUNE PHOTO: RAVI KUMAR