21032025-CT-01.qxd 3/21/2025 12:11 AM Page 1 c m y b Chandigarh tribune HC URGES STATES TO CURB FRIVOLOUS LITIGATIONS EXPERT SHARES INSIGHTS ON DOWN SYNDROME DAY NANDITA DAS, RANDEEP HOODA SHOWCASE WIT The observation comes in backdrop of the judicial system grappling with massive backlog of cases. P3 Says awareness is key to promoting inclusive space for those diagnosed with down syndrome. P3 Speaking at the second edition of the Cinevesture International Film Fest, she opens up about her journey. P4 » » WHAT’S ON CHANDIGARH Chandigarh Lit Fest: Literati – Spring Edition 2025, CII Headquarters, Sector 31, March 22, 11 am, entry is free for all 29th Annual Art Exhibition: By Punjab Lalit Kala Akademi, Sobha Singh Art Gallery, Sector 16-B, on till March 23, 10 am to 7 pm Chota Mela: An exhibition of artwork by children, curated by Mehak Bhan, House No. 105, Sector 11, on till March 26, 12 noon to 6 pm The Aura Collective: Brings together 24 of India’s finest ceramic artists for an exclusive showcase of works in clay, Aura Pottery, New Chandigarh, March 22 and 23, 11 am to 7 pm APNI MANDI Chandigarh: Sector 24 & 46 P’kula: Sector 20 Mohali: Kumbhra Please send information about events in tricity at: whatson@tribunemail.com Babla seeks immediate release of ~200 cr to meet Feb, March costs Mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla, her husband Devinder Singh Babla with Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi. 4TH DELHI FINANCE COMMISSION REPORT The Mayor told the Home Minister that since the 4th Delhi Finance Commission report was adopted by the House in 2014, the MC has been repeatedly urging the UT and the Centre to implement it. However, the matter remains unre- solved, forcing the corporation to struggle financially. According to the 4th DFC, the MC is entitled to a share of various taxes, including 30% of value added tax (VAT) and local excise duties; 100% of motor vehicle tax and registration charges; 25% of tax on sales, purchase or consignment of goods; and 100% of service tax collections and stamp duties. Despite these provisions, the MC has received only Rs 560 crore in grant-in-aid for 2024-25 fiscal. of various taxes, including 30% of value added tax (VAT) and local excise duties; 100% of motor vehicle tax and registration charges; 25% of tax on sales, purchase or consignment of goods; and 100% of service tax collections and stamp duties. Despite these provisions, the MC has received only Rs 560 crore in grant-in-aid (GIA) for FY 2024-25. “This significant shortfall has affected the corporation’s ability to maintain essential services such as road repairs, beautification of parks, sanitation and waste management, and street lighting,” she added. The MC manages 2,000 km of roads, which includes repairs and construction of Continued on page 3 POWER SHUTDOWN MOHALI 10 am to 5 pm: Dhakoli, Peermuchhalla, Baltana, Bishanpura, Harmilap Nagar, Phase 1, MS Enclave, Ajeet Enclave, Gazipur, Mamta Enclave, Green City, Kissanpura Gurjivan, Hill View, Sanoli, Nagla Big Bazaar, Sunny Enclave and nearby areas; areas nearby the Tribune Colony road, Baltana, Shyam Nagar, Saini Vihar Phase 2, 4 and 5, Parwati Enclave, Vikas Nagar, Hem Vihar 1 and 2 , Govind Vihar, Ekta Vihar, furniture market and Kalgidhar market, Modern Enclave, areas along the Sector 19 road in Baltana, Escon Erena, Maya Garden City, Mona Green 2, Savitry Green 2 and nearby areas; Oxford Street and Panchsheel Enclave Official suspended for Three flee with gold parking lot irregularities chain from showroom Notice served on two others Tribune News Service Chandigarh, March 20 Taking note of non-compliance with parking fee regulations, Municipal Commissioner Amit Kumar today ordered the suspension of a Junior Engineer (JE) of the Buildings and Roads (B&R) Wing and served show-cause notices on the Executive Tribune News Service Engineer and the Sub-Divisional Engineer concerned during a surprise check at a parking site in Sector 17 last evening. Manoj Kumar, Junior Engineer, has been placed under suspension for non-compliance with the parking fee regulations. Executive Engineer (Roads) Anurag Bishnoi and Sub-Divisional Engineer Continued on page 3 Mohali, March 20 Three unidentified youths robbed a jeweller of a gold chain weighing 15 gm at Mullanpur Garibdas here this evening. The victim, Anju Verma, said, “A youth entered her showroom around 5.30 pm and asked for gold chains. He checked out a few chains and clicked pictures. When the salesman objected, the visitor said he was sending the pictures to his uncle to select a chain. He asked the salesman to help put a chain around his neck. As the salesman was putting the chain around his neck, he threw chili powder in his face and ran away with the chain.” Local residents said two bike-borne youths, who were waiting outside, took the suspect along and fled the spot. The police later arrived at the scene and began an investigation. 12 city pools all set to reopen from April 1 Deepankar Sharda Online payment Tribune News Service In a first, users will have to submit the fee online. After downloading the form, they will have to personally take the approval of the officials deputed at the respective pools and complete the registration process by paying fee. Last December, UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria had launched a new online portal for the membership of various sports complexes under the department. The portal simplified the procedure for obtaining membership of complexes in Chandigarh with minimal human interface. Managers/coaches at sports complexes will check the credentials of visitors by scanning QR codes on the membership card. Fee payment for obtaining the membership of a centre will be available through digital modes such as UPI, netbanking, debit card, credit card and other modes. Earlier, after getting approval from the respective officials, applicants had to queue up at the library of the Sector 42 Sports Complex to submit fee. Only the membership of the Lake Sports Complex facility can be obtained directly from the club. Chandigarh, March 20 Come April 1, the UT Sports Department will reopen all 12 swimming pools in the city for professionals as well as recreational swimmers. A membership drive will start soon after the department deputes officials at these pools. A meeting is expected to be held this week and the posting of officials will be announced officially early next week. The department is the only government body of the entire region responsible for managing 12 swimming pools. While only one pool was operational in the winter season, all others will be made functional for the summer session. Sources claimed the department was most likely to hire extra manpower for running the pools and the process to appoint new coaches is almost complete. Last year, nearly 20 officials were assigned the task of running these centres. The pools are located at the Lake Sports Complex, Sector 23 (all-weather and nursery facilities), Mani Majra complex, Sector 8, 27, 34, 38, 39, 43, 50 and 56. “The pools will be open early next month, and soon the officials will be The all-weather swimming pool in Sector 23, Chandigarh. TRIBUNE PHOTO: PRADEEP TEWARI APPROX USER FEE (EXCEPT FOR LAKE SPORTS COMPLEX) All-weather swimming pool, Sector 23 ■ Student: ~1,800 (6 months) ■ Player/recreational swimmers: ~3,500 (6 months) OTHER COMPLEXES ■ Student: ~1,500 (6 months) ■ Player: ~3,000 (6 months) ■ Recreational swimmers: ~3,300 (6 months) appointed at these centres. All pools will be operational and the process of tender allotment for managing these centres as well as making purchases has started,” said Sorabh Kumar NO OLYMPIC-SIZE FACILITY Despite having 12 swimming pools, none is a fullfledged 50m Olympic-size facility. In January, land measuring about 20 acres was earmarked at the Sector 42 Sports Complex for a multipurpose indoor sports hall and an Olympic-size swimming pool. The city has only one 50m full-size (open) pool at Panjab University to train youngsters. The membership for the same can be obtained from the Directorate of Sports, Panjab University. Of the 12 pools, at least half are ‘kiddies’ facilities with a maximum of 4ft depth. Arora, Director Sports. These pools will be open for the same hours as the previous year. During the summers, recreational swimmers outnumber professionals at these pools. Despite opening the pools for six hours, the department sometimes faces the wrath of users demanding for extended hours. Process to fill a majority of the pools has started as the facilities were closed during the winter season. c m y b FACEBOOK/CHANDIGARHTRIBUNE HC junks arhtiyas’ petition against e-auction of shops SEC 39 MANDI Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Chandigarh, March 20 Expressing concerns over the financial crisis faced by the Municipal Corporation (MC), Union Home Minister Amit Shah has assured Mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla that he would speak with Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria to find out an immediate resolution to the problem. The Mayor today met Shah in Delhi and raised the critical financial situation of the MC. She apprised the Home Minister of an urgent need for the release of funds as per the recommendations of the 4th Delhi Finance Commission (DFC) and requested an interim solution based on the 3rd DFC recommendations until a final resolution is reached. Since the 4th DFC report was adopted in 2014, the MC has been repeatedly urging the Chandigarh Administration and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to implement it. However, the matter remains unresolved, forcing the corporation to struggle financially, she said. According to the 4th DFC, the MC is entitled to a share MAX 30°C | MIN 14°C YESTERDAY MAX 31.1°C | MIN 12.9°C SUNRISE SATURDAY 6.24 AM /THETRIBUNECHD Shah assures Mayor of speedy resolution to MC financial crisis MAINLY CLEAR SKY SUNSET FRIDAY 6.34 PM » FRIDAY | 21 MARCH 2025 | CHANDIGARH FORECAST Chandigarh, March 20 The Punjab and Haryana High Court today dismissed a petition filed by the Sector 26 Sabzi Mandi Arhtiya Association against the e-auction being held for allotment of shops at the new mandi in Sector 39. A Division Bench of the High Court, comprising Justice Sureshwar Thakur and Justice Vikas Suri, remarked that the petitioners, by way of the writ petition, were attempting to scuttle the auction, which is scheduled to be conducted on March 28. The petitioners approached the High Court being aggrieved by the order dated February 17, 2023, issued by the State Agricultural Mar- keting Board, UT. The Chandigarh Administration, through the State Agricultural Marketing Board, has adopted the Chandigarh Estate Rules, 2007, for the auction of sites planned as SCOs for grain, fruits and vegetables market in Sector 39. According to the notice dated March 3, the administration has scheduled the eauction of 23 SCOs in the Sector 39 grain market. The petitioners inter alia contented that the impugned order and the impugned e-auction notice have violated the primary object and reasons of the governing Act, i.e. The Punjab Agricultural Produce Markets Act, 1961, which was enacted to consolidate and amend the law relating to the better regulation of the purchase, sale, storage and processing of agricultural produce and establishment of markets for agricultural produce in Chandigarh. Also, the rules were not in consonance with and in furtherance of the object sought to be achieved by the parent Act. The petitioners further contended that the Administration has violated their fundamental rights under Article 19(1)(g) by travelling beyond the ambit and scope of the Punjab Agricultural Produce Markets Act, 1961, and the procedure established by law. In response to the contentions of the petitioners, Senior Standing Counsel for UT Amit Jhanji said the entire process was being carried out in terms of the prevalent rules and law. After hearing the arguments, the Division Bench dismissed the petition. Admn nod to Honey Singh’s concert at Sec 25 on March 23 Tribune News Service Chandigarh, March 20 Rapper Honey Singh has been granted permission to perform at the Sector 25 rally ground here on March 23. Earlier, the Panchkula administration had denied permission for his concert. According to sources, the concert organisers will be charged ?5 lakh per day for using the venue, following the UT Estate Office’s recent revision of booking rates for commercial events at the grounds in Sectors 25 and 34. The revised rate, increased from ?30,000 to ?5 Singer Honey Singh lakh per day, applies to events attracting over 5,000 attendees. For events with smaller gatherings, the previous rate will continue. The decision to shift large- scale concerts to Sector 25 was taken after the previous events at Sector 34, including those of singers Karan Aujla and Diljit Dosanjh in December last year, were opposed by local residents. Concerns were raised over high noise levels and traffic chaos during the events, prompting the UT administration to restrict large gatherings at the Sector 34 ground. Singer AP Dhillon’s concert was relocated to Sector 25. Authorities are expected to implement strict crowd-management and traffic-control measures for the event on March 23.