03042025-CT-01.qxd 4/3/2025 12:42 AM Page 1 c m y b Chandigarh tribune CONTRACTUAL TEACHERS STAGE PROTEST IN CITY MULLANPUR TO HOST 2ND T20 OF SOUTH AFRICA TOUR LAAPATAA LADIES LANDS IN CONTROVERSY FOR PLAGIARISM Teachers working on contract in the Education Department are pressing for regular jobs. P2 BCCI has picked Mullanpur cricket stadium to host the second T20 International on December 11. P2 India's official Oscar entry has landed in controversy, as a clip from an Arabic film Burqa City has gone viral. P4 » » WHAT’S ON CHANDIGARH A special tree walk: By Chandigarh Tree Lovers, Botanical Garden, Panjab University, April 6, 8 am, register for free by dropping an email at chandigarhtreelovers@gm ail.com before April 5, with the contact details and number of participants Cotton and Silk Expo: Himachal Bhawan, Sector 28, on till April 3 Navratri Utsav: By Chandigarh Sangeet Natak Academy, kathak performance by Samira Koser on April 4, Rani Laxmi Bai Mahila Bhawan, Sector 38, 6:30 pm The traders also contended that the land for the new mandi was acquired using market committee funds collected from them through a 2% market fee over the years. On March 31, the board auctioned 12 SCOs at the new mandi on a leasehold basis for nearly Rs 45 crore. It had received 34 bids for 16 SCOs, out of a total of 23 sites put up for the auction. After the delay of nearly two decades, the UT Administration had decided to auction 23 SCOs in the first phase. For the first time, the auction was open to the general public as well. Each shop, measuring 120 square yards, had a reserve price of Rs 3.70 crore. In the first phase, 23 out of the proposed 92 SCO sites were to be auctioned. The existing commission agents have been demanding these sites on a freehold basis. The Sector 26 mandi operates on 24 acres, whereas the new facility in Sector 39 is spread over 75 acres, and is aimed at catering to the growing demands of the tricity. A piece of land measuring 75 acres in Sector 39 was acquired in 1990 and the site was allotted for the new mandi in 2002. After the allotment of shops, the Sector 26 market will be denotified. Tribune News Service Chandigarh, April 2 The Supreme Court has stayed the further e-auction of shop-cum-office (SCO) sites at the new mandi in Sector 39. The court order has come as a big relief to the Sector 26 Sabzi Mandi Arhtiya Association, which has opposed the recent auction held as per the Chandigarh Estate Rules, 2007. A division Bench of the apex court has issued a notice to the UT Administration, the Chandigarh State Agricultural Marketing Board and the Estate Office to submit a reply within four weeks. The petitioners (association and traders) said the Chandigarh Estate Rules, 2007, cannot be applied to a mandi where shop usage is restricted to commission agents (arhtiyas) selling vegetables. They also alleged that the administration went back on its assurance that it would first accommodate the original allottees of the Sector 26 mandi, who have been operating for over 50 years, in the site allotment at the new mandi. Earlier, the Punjab and Haryana High Court had dismissed the traders’ petition, stating that they were attempting to derail the auc- PETITIONERS’ CONTENTION ■ The petitioners (association and traders) said the Chandigarh Estate Rules, 2007, couldn’t be applied to a mandi where shop usage was restricted to commission agents (arhtiyas) selling vegetables. ■ They said these rules exceeded the scope of the Punjab Agricultural Produce Markets Act, 1961. ■ The traders also alleged that the administration went back on its assurance that it would first accommodate the original allottees of the Sector 26 mandi in the site allotment at the new site. tion process. The Sabzi Mandi Arhtiya Association and 59 traders moved the Supreme Court on March 24. The petitioners challenged the applicability of the Chandigarh Estate Rules, 2007, to the recently held auction of 23 shop-cum-offices (SCOs) in the new mandi, arguing that these rules exceed the scope of the Punjab Agricultural Produce Markets Act, 1961. They claimed that the Chandigarh State Agricultural Marketing Board had adopted the Punjab Agricultural Produce Markets (General) Rules, 1962, for administration and licensing. Two-wheeler riders cross the road at a broken median on the highway in Zirakpur on Wednesday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: RAVI KUMAR. Roll back property tax hike, says BJP Tribune News Service Chandigarh, April 2 The city BJP has demanded immediate rollback of increase in property tax. Mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla today presided over an emergency meeting on the matter. It was attended by city BJP president Jatinder Pal Malhotra, vice-presidents Devinder Singh Babla and Jagtar Singh Jagga, along with the party councillors. All BJP councillors strongly opposed the hike in property tax imposed by the Chandi- Tribune News Service TWO STABBED IN SECTOR 25 garh Administration. They said the dicsion was taken without the House approval. “We strongly oppose this unjustified tax hike, which has been implemented without proper consultation and approval. This decision puts undue financial burden on the citizens of Chandigarh, and we demand its immediate rollback,” the councillors said. The BJP leaders urged the MC and the administration to focus on cutting costs and improving efficiency instead of burdening citizens with higher taxes. Punjab Health Minister Balbir Singh after the launch of the OPD service at the Advanced Autism Care and Research Centre in Sector 79, Mohali, on Wednesday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: VICKY Mohali, April 2 The Advanced Autism Care and Research Centre in Sector 79 here today started OPD service to mark World Autism Awareness Day. After launching the services, Punjab Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Medical Education and Research Dr Balbir Singh said the centre would emerge as the best institution in the state for the treatment of children with autism as well as development of their talent. The OPD services started with speech, sensory integration and play therapies. The clinical assessment room will be expanded. Advanced services and research will elevate this centre as a pioneer institution of Punjab, said the minister. Facilities such as training sessions and hostel will also be started at the centre in the coming days. Giving an example of children with autism, he said everyone is aware of the fame of Elon Musk and Thomas Edison today. One is earning fame as a successful businessman in the world and the other had proved his brilliance by inventing the light bulb. Both suffered from autism. The Health Minister said the full functioning of this centre would help in providing treatment required for such children from all over Punjab and in preparing Continued on p2 Courts can’t implicitly approve live-in relationship: HC Saurabh Malik Tribune News Service Chandigarh, April 2 The Punjab and Haryana High Court has ruled that granting protection to minors in live-in relationships would be like endorsing such arrangements — something the law strictly forbids to shield them from exploitation and moral risk. Justice Sumeet Goel also made it clear that a minor’s welfare and well-being was of paramount consideration. “In adjudicating upon a petition for protection wherein minors are involved in a live-in relationship, the court must remain mindful of the fact that the paramount consideration remains the welfare and wellbeing of the minor in question. To extend the mantle of protection in such circumstances would, in effect, constitute an implicit approbation of a livein arrangement involving minors, a proposition repugnant to the established statutory framework designed to shield the young and impressionable from exploitation and moral peril,” said Justice Goel. The Bench said the law, in its wisdom, has carefully restricted the freedom of minors, acknowledging their young age and vulnerability to undue influence and reckless decisions. Through legislative mandate, safeguards have been put in place to prevent any form of abuse or misconduct that could stem from the unrestrained dis- COUPLE DENIED PROTECTION The ruling came in response to a petition filed by a couple, the girl aged 17, seeking protection from their families. The court held that relief could not be granted since one of the petitioners was a minor. cretion of those who are yet to reach full maturity. “Any judicial imprimatur that indirectly sanctions a minor’s involvement in such a relationship would not only be antithetical to the legislative intent but would also undermine the very bulwark erected to preserve the sanctity of youthful innocence,” Justice Goel added. The ruling came in response to a petition filed by a couple seeking protection. One of the petitioners was a 17-year-old girl. The petitioners contended that they had been in a livein relationship and had earlier been engaged with family consent. The engagement was later called off. The couple claimed they were facing threats from their families and sought protection. The court, however, held that relief could not be granted since one of the petitioners was a minor. It added that judicial intervention in such matters was required to be exercised with measured caution to ensure that court orders did not, even indirectly, condone what the law expressly prohibited. 5 yrs on, South Campus security issue fails to draw UT’s attention Administration apathetic to raising height of boundary wall at Sec 25 campus where student was fatally stabbed recently Deepankar Sharda Tribune News Service Chandigarh, April 2 The UT Administration has failed to raise the height of a boundary wall separating Panjab University's South Campus from the Sector 25 Colony despite the project having been approved in 2020. Aditya Thakur, a second-year Computer Science Engineering student, was fatally stabbed on the South Campus by a group of youths during a musical event. The 5’-11½” brick wall with a 3’ railing in question had been approved on the request of the university to enhance security and do away with loitering of outsiders on the campus. Following up, the varsity authorities last July wrote to the Department of Urban Plan- ning, asking for requisite action but were told to contact the Engineering Department. “…it is intimated that requisite action in the matter has already been taken by this office wherein the height of boundary wall between (Sector 25) Colony and university was approved to be considered as 5’-11½” of brick wall with 3’-0” railing with the approval. It is therefore requested to take up the matter with the concerned (Engineering Department) at your own level,” the letter read. As asked, the varsity approached the Engineering Department reiterating the need of a proper safety wall to no avail. “It is requested that the construction may kindly be taken up at the earliest to prevent Colony residents from TRIBUNE PHOTO: PRADEEP TEWARI Mohali, April 2 Contractual workers of the Punjab Road Transport Corporation and Punbus have announced a two-hour strike on Thursday from 10 am to 12 noon in the state to press for their demands. As many as 2,500 public transport buses will remain off the road. Passengers on 577 routes are likely to be affected. However, private bus service will continue as usual. The protesting employees are demanding a hike in wages and better working conditions. — TNS Risky ride OPD service launched at autism care centre INBRIEF 2-hr bus strike in Punjab today FACEBOOK/CHANDIGARHTRIBUNE Tells UT Admn to submit reply within 4 weeks APNI MANDI Chandigarh: Sectors 29, 56 and Dhanas Panchkula: Sector 15 Mohali: Sector 71 Please send information about events in tricity at: whatson@tribunemail.com Chandigarh:A resident of Sector 25 and his friend have been stabbed by a group of youths. One of the victims, Shubham, has lodged a complaint against Nitin, Koda, Jeet, Debu and three unidentified individuals. They allegedly attacked the complainant and his friend with a sharp weapon. Both were admitted to the Government Super Speciality Hospital, Sector 16. A case has been registered. TNS MAX 34°C | MIN 16°C YESTERDAY MAX 34.4°C | MIN 13.6°C SUNRISE FRIDAY 6.09 AM /THETRIBUNECHD SC stays next auction of Sec 39 mandi sites MAINLY CLEAR SKY SUNSET THURSDAY 6.42 PM » THURSDAY | 3 APRIL 2025 | CHANDIGARH FORECAST Security personnel check ID cards of visitors to the Panjab University campus on Wednesday. throwing garbage in Panjab University Campus and also to enhance security in university campus,” the request from the varsity had read. c m y b "The issue concerns the Municipal Corporation and PU and this was already conveyed to all concerned parties in the past," Chief Engineer CB Ojha said. ‘Trouble spot’ The South Campus has been a “trouble spot” for the author- ities. It houses the University Institute of Engineering and Technology (UIET), the department with the biggest strength, as well as girls and boys hostels, an alumni house, the dental department and other lodging facilities. It is surrounded by residential areas and is located on one of the city’s busiest roads. While one part of the campus is protected by proper fencing, the side adjoining the Sector 25 Colony is only guarded by an inadequately sized wall. On March 28, the day of Thakur’s murder, he and his friends were stabbed during a concert. At the time, several outsiders had allegedly scaled the wall on the Sector 25 Colony side to enter the campus. Videos of outsiders jumping over the wall through gaps in the barbed wire near Gate Number 2 to enter the campus had also gone viral during Holi festivities. On paper, the entry of outsiders had been banned for both the events. A wake-up call While the varsity security staff regularly inspects vehicles entering the campus, the screening has intensified since the March 28 murder. The varsity has also adopted a strict policy against entry of non-students. Sources privy to the developments also claimed that the authorities will take a few decisive calls with regards to the entry of vehicles and overall campus security in the coming weeks. “We are not a Student Centre or shops-running institution, Continued on p2