22012025-CT-01.qxd 1/21/2025 11:50 PM Page 1 c m y b Chandigarh tribune STUDENTS PROVIDED WITH WHEELCHAIRS AT PU 37-YEAR-OLD MAN ARRESTED WITH BANNED MEDICINES RELEASE OF DILJIT-STARRER BIOPIC PUNJAB 95 PUT OFF Event organised by Equal Opportunity Cell for Persons with Disabilities and the Dept of Alumni Relations. P2 Accused Mohit Kumar was allegedly carrying 5,760 tablets of Lomotil, a banned drug. P2 The film is based on the life of Sikh activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, who disappeared in 1995. P4 » » WHAT’S ON CHANDIGARH Wool ‘n’ Silk Fab: Kisan Bhawan, on till January 28 Exhibition: Works by architect SD Sharma, Govt Museum and Art Gallery, Sector 10, on till February 15 APNI MANDI Chandigarh: Sectors 15, 40, 46 and 52 Panchkula: Sector 25 Mohali: Phase 11 Please send information about events in tricity at: whatson@tribunemail.com INBRIEF KALKA-HOWRAH TRAIN CANCELLED Chandigarh: The Railways has cancelled Netaji Express (12311/12312) on January 26 and 31 from Howrah to Kalka, and on January 28 and February 2 from Kalka to Howrah. The trains have been cancelled in view of holy dip on the auspicious occasions of Mauni Amavasya and Basant Panchami. TNS Asks petitioner to list allegations of perjury by next hearing on February 27 Tribune News Service Chandigarh, January 21 The Punjab and Haryana High Court today warned that contempt proceedings would be initiated against the authorities if they failed to clear the Dadu Majra garbage dump by May. As the hearing on the issue resumed before the Bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sumeet Goel, Municipal Corporation (MC) counsel Gaurav Mohunta reiterated that significant progress had been made. The Bench was told that the first two garbage dumps had been cleared. The third dump, which has emerged, would be removed by May. But petitioner-advocate Amit Sharma, appearing in person, contested the claims, arguing that similar assurances and deadlines had been given over the past decade. Sharma pointed out that the MC claimed clearing the previous dumps, but leachate continued to flow to date He added the MC attempted to cover this up by using mud. He also presented Garbage being removed from the Dadu Majra dumping ground in Chandigarh. TRIBUNE PHOTO: PRADEEP TEWARI drone footage recorded as recently as January 7, which showed ongoing seepage. Sharma also told the Bench that 486 fires had been recorded at the site, with 45 lakh litres of water used to douse some of them. These fires, which continued for weeks in certain cases, were only controlled after the High Court admitted the 2021 PIL and summoned the Municipal Commissioner, CIVIC BODY MISLEADING HIGH COURT: PETITIONER Petitioner-advocate Amit Sharma alleged that the MC had been misleading the court for years by falsely claiming compliance with Solid Waste Management Rules. He pointed out that the rules required the construction of a boundary wall and a leachate treatment plant — both of which the MC had claimed were in place. But the ground reality was different. Sharma emphasised. Sharma further alleged that the MC had been misleading the court for years by falsely claiming compliance with Solid Waste Management Rules. c m y b He pointed out that the rules required the construction of a boundary wall and a leachate treatment plant — both of which the MC had claimed were in place. But the ground reality was different. Leachate continued to seep into nearby residential areas, and the boundary wall, constructed in 2022, collapsed in 2023. Sharma accused the MC of withholding information about the collapse until the court was told about it, leading to the issuance of a notice of perjury. He argued that the MC’s admission that the wall had been broken before filing its continued on page 2 MAX 22°C | MIN 11°C YESTERDAY MAX 22°C | MIN 10.5°C SUNRISE THURSDAY 7.18 AM /THETRIBUNECHD Clear Dadu Majra dump by May or face contempt, court tells MC PARTLY CLOUDY SUNSET WEDNESDAY 5.50 PM » WEDNESDAY | 22 JANUARY 2025 | CHANDIGARH FORECAST FACEBOOK/CHANDIGARHTRIBUNE Now, mayoral poll on Jan 30 Tribune News Service Chandigarh, January 21 A day after the Punjab and Haryana High Court set aside the mayoral election schedule, the UT Administration today issued a fresh poll notification. According to the fresh notification issued by Deputy Commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav, the elections for the posts of Mayor, Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor will now be held on January 30. According to the earlier notification, the elections were to be held on January 24 and January 20 was the last date to file nomination papers. The administration withdrew the January 7 notification. The elections will be held at 11 am in the Assembly Hall of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation (MC) building. A nominated councillor, Dr Ramneek Singh Bedi, has been appointed presiding officer. The elected councillors can file their nominations for the three posts between 11 am and 5 pm till January 25. The HC had ordered that the elections be conducted after January 29 —the tenure of current Mayor Kuldeep Kumar continues until that date — and the notification for the same could be issued UT Administration issues fresh notification after HC order prior to January 29. The directions were issued in response to a writ petition filed by Kuldeep Kumar. In the 35-member MC House, the BJP has 14 councillors, AAP 13 and the Congress seven. The SAD has one councillor. The House also has an ex-officio member, Congress MP Manish Tewari, who has voting right. The BJP has 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. Awaiting court order, all these candidates filed their nomination papers yesterday. Their nominations have been rendered null and void after the court order. The BJP holding 15 votes, is , banking on cross-voting to secure the 19 votes required to win the elections. With the fresh notification, parties may revise their list of candidates.