03062025-CT-01.qxd 6/3/2025 12:39 AM Page 1 c m y b Chandigarh tribune UT CIVIC BODY BRACES FOR STORMY HOUSE MEET TODAY CHANDIGARH MARATHON LOGO DESIGNER AWAITS CREDIT The Administration had invited entries for the logo’s design and promised cash prizes for winners. P3 PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 35°C | MIN 23°C YESTERDAY MAX 37°C | MIN 24.4°C GULLU’S WILDCARD COMEBACK SEALS MTV ROADIES VICTORY Opposition councillors discuss strategy to corner BJP on finances, hike in community centre rates. P3 FORECAST Clinches title after powerful wildcard comeback and a performance that stood out for its intensity, grit. P4 » » /THETRIBUNECHD Schools given land before 1996 entitled to full EWS reimbursement, rules HC APNI MANDI Chandigarh: Sectors 29 and 56, & Dhanas Panchkula: Sector 15 Mohali: Sector 71 Please send information about events in tricity at: whatson@tribunemail.com INBRIEF DAKSHIN MARG PARTLY CLOSED Chandigarh: The UT Administration has decided to close one side of the Dakshin Marg for next seven days. According to officials, the Dakshin Marg stretch between Sector 25 and 25-W (towards Sector 25) will remain closed till June 8 due to repair work being executed by the UT Engineering Department. Earlier, the Dakshin Marg stretch between Sectors 25 and 38 (towards Sector 38) was closed from May 11 to 20 for repairs. TNS Saurabh Malik Tribune News Service Chandigarh, June 2 The Punjab and Haryana High Court has ruled that all schools, including the ones allotted land prior to a 1996 scheme, will be entitled to get reimbursement for 25 per cent students admitted under the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) category. The court also set aside the Chandigarh Administration’s revocation of recognition to Saint Kabir School and Vivek High School. Justice Harsimran Singh Sethi rejected the Administration’s contention that it was liable to reimburse schools only for 10 per cent of EWS admissions under its 1996 scheme and not the full 25 per cent mandated by the RTE Act. The question before the court was whether private non-minority schools, granting admission to 25 per cent children from EWS up to elementary classes under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, were entitled to reimbursement for these seats. Also, whether the Administration was liable to reimburse only for 10 per cent students, as per clause 18 of its 1996 scheme under which land was allotted to private non-minority and minority schools in the Union Territory of Chandigarh. Justice Sethi held that the 1996 scheme — framed under SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 5.21 AM » TUESDAY | 3 JUNE 2025 | CHANDIGARH WHAT’S ON SUNSET TUESDAY 7.20 PM Students take part in an activity at Saupin's School at Sector 32 in Chandigarh. FILE PHOTO WHAT COURT OBSERVED “The scheme 1996 does not operate retrospectively or expressly include the institutions which were already allotted land prior to January 31, 1996. The endeavour of the Chandigarh the Capital of Punjab (Development and Regulation) Act of 1952 for prospective land allotments — could not override statutory obligations under the 2009 Act. “The scheme 1996 does not operate retrospectively or expressly include the institutions which were already allotted land prior to January 31, 1996. The endeavour of the Chandigarh Administration to bring all the operational schools under the ambit of clause 18 of the 1996 scheme is not sustain- Administration to bring all the operational schools under the ambit of clause 18 of the 1996 scheme is not sustainable under law and is incorrect,” Justice Sethi ruled. He added 15 per cent EWS reservation under clause 18 was not a standalone policy but merely an ancillary condition for allotment of land to educational institutions prospectively. able under law and is incorrect,” Justice Sethi ruled. He added 15 per cent EWS reservation under clause 18 was not a standalone policy but merely an ancillary condition for allotment of land to educational institutions prospectively. “The 1996 policy is basically a land allotment scheme, the conditions therein can only be applied to institutions that benefitted under the scheme. A specific clause, which is ancillary to the primary purpose of the scheme, cannot be treated as a general clause applicable to all institutions,” the court asserted. Further rejecting the Administration’s argument that the conditions of land allotment letter issued prior to January 31, 1996, allowed retrospective application of clause 18, Justice Sethi asserted: “Nothing has come on record to show that schools allotted land prior to January 31, 1996, were operating in violation of the 1952 Act. For over a decade, the Chandigarh Administration itself never attempted to implement Clause 18 on such schools, which itself demonstrates their own interpretation.” The Bench made it clear that the schools were statutorily bound to admit 25 per cent students belonging to the EWS category irrespective of any previous schemes or conditions linked to land allotment. Recording an undertaking from the Independent Schools’ Association and others that they would comply with the mandate of 25 per cent EWS admissions without fail, Justice Sethi added: “All the private nonminority institutions, i.e., Class I and Class III schools, will be bound to give admission to children of EWS category to the extent of 25% of total seats to be filled by such schools under the 2009 Act.” The court further clarified the procedure for EWS admissions. It directed that the Administration would prepare and forward the list of eligible EWS students to the schools. Any objections raised by schools regarding the eligibility of a child would be considered by the Administration, whose decision shall be final and binding: “The schools concerned will have no other option but to admit such children without there being any further correspondence with the Chandigarh Administration on the subject,” said Justice Sethi. FACEBOOK/CHANDIGARHTRIBUNE ~1 crore, 5.5-kg gold, silver seized from IRS officer Tribune News Service Was arrested with aide in bribe case Chandigarh, June 2 The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has seized Rs 1crore cash and 5.5-kg gold and silver worth about Rs 3.5 crore from a senior Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer, who was arrested in a bribe case on Saturday. A 2007-batch IRS officer, Amit Kumar Singhal, who was posted at the Directorate of Taxpayer Services, and his close associate Harsh Kotak were arrested by the CBI from Delhi and Mohali for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 25 lakh. “The CBI conducted searches and recovered approximately 3.5 kg of gold, 2 kg of silver and Rs 1 crore cash etc. in the ongoing investigation related to the arrest of two accused, including a senior IRS officer,” a senior officer of the bureau told The Tribune on Monday. She disclosed that during the ongoing investigation in the case, the CBI has conducted searches at various premises and recovered substantial assets and incriminating material, including approximately 3.5 kg of gold and 2 kg of silver, valued at around Rs 3.5 crore, cash amounting to Rs 1 crore, documents of a locker and 25 bank accounts with various banks. Besides, documents of immovable properties and assets located in Delhi, Mumbai and Punjab were also seized. “The total value of all movable and immovable assets is yet to be ascertained,” she said. A senior IRS (Customs & Central Excise) officer, Singhal was posted as Additional Director General, Directorate of Taxpayer Services, CR Building, ITO, in New Delhi. A case was registered by the CBI on May 31 against both accused on the allegations that the IRS officer demanded illegal gratification of Rs 45 lakh from the complainant in exchange for extending favourable treatment from the Revenue/ Income Tax Department. “The demand was accompanied by threats of legal action, imposition of heavy penalties and harassment in case of non-compliance,” the CBI official said. The CBI laid a trap and caught the IRS officer’s aide red-handed while allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 25 lakh from the complainant on behalf of the accused IRS officer in Mohali, said the official. Singhal was apprehended from his residence in Vasant Kunj, New Delhi. “The investigation is continuing,” the CBI official added. UP native convicted of Shifting of furniture market to get delayed UT posts 53% jump in May GST collection minor’s rape, murder Admn yet to get environmental clearance Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Chandigarh, June 2 The Fast-Track Special Court here has convicted Heera Lal Guddu, a native of Uttar Pradesh, in a one-year-old case of rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Hallomajra. The court will pronounce the quantum of sentence on Tuesday. The police had registered the case after a child’s body with multiple stab wounds was found near a dumping site in Ram Darbar on the intervening night of January 21 and 22 last year. She went missing on January 19. The body was found in a semi-naked state and hidden under a pile of garbage near her house in Hallomajra. The autopsy confirmed rape. The CCTV footage of the area helped the police nab the accused. He was caught on camera carrying a handbag. During a door-to-door search, the child’s slippers were found in a house in the neighbourhood. The occupant of the house, Heera Lal, was missing. He was arrested from Bihar seven days after the rape and murder. A painter by profession, the accused has two wives and five children, the eldest being a 13-year-old daughter. The police claimed that the accused had shifted to Chandigarh from his native place of Ayodhya, Uttar Continued on page 3 Chandigarh, June 2 The shifting of the marble market in Dhanas and the furniture market in Sectors 53 and 54 to the upcoming Bulk Market in Sector 56 is likely to get delayed, as the UT Administration is yet to get environmental clearance for the new site. According to officials, an application to obtain environmental clearance from the Ministry of Forest, Environment and Climate Change would be submitted within a week and it would take nearly a month and a half to obtain the environmental clearance from the ministry. After getting the approval from the ministry, the process to shift the markets 339 TREES TO BE AXED TO DEVELOP NEW SITE Earlier, the Engineering Department had planned to make the market ready for auction by May, but in the absence of green nod, the work was being delayed.The environmental clearance is mandatory, as the built-up area in the new market is more than 20,000 sq mt. Also, the Administration has to cut nearly 339 trees, including 34 dried-up ones, before the allotment of sites. would be started most probably in the month of August and bids invited for allotment of sites in the new bulk market. Traders from other businesses would also be eligible to take part in the bidding process. Earlier, the Engineering Department had planned to make the market ready for auction by May, but in the absence of green nod, the work was being delayed. The environmental clear- ance is mandatory, as the built-up area in the new market is more than 20,000 sq mt. Also, the Administration has to cut nearly 339 trees, including 34 dried-up ones, before the allotment of sites. The Bulk Market is being developed at a cost of Rs 20 crore over 44 acres. It has 191 plots measuring 1 kanal each and 48 booth sites. A basement and three floors will be allowed on the one- kanal sites. Initially, the Administration had planned to shift only the marble traders from Dhanas to the new market. Recently, it decided to relocate the furniture market operating from the government land along the road separating Sector 53 and 54 to the upcoming market. Now, both furniture and marble traders will be given the option to place bids for the plots in an open auction. Traders have been occupying this chunks of prime land worth Rs 4,000 crore in Sectors 53 and 54 for the past 40 years. The Administration had acquired 227.22 acres in 2002 for the development of the third phase of Sectors 53, 54 and 55, but encroachments continued despite multiple notices. year at Rs 334 crore, which was Rs 21 crore more than Rs 313 crore collected during the same month last year. The GST collection in March was up 1%. It was Rs 241 crore compared to Rs 238 crore mopped up during the same month in 2024. The February collection stood at Rs 236 crore with a 12% increase. After witnessing a decline in December last year, the GST collection in January saw an increase of 8% at Rs 271 crore. In December, the GST collection saw a decline of 20%. The tax collection saw a growth of 20% in November 2024 at Rs 253 crore, Rs 43 crore more than Rs 210 crore received in the same month in 2023. Tribune News Service Chandigarh, June 2 Chandigarh has registered a record increase of 53 per cent in the gross goods and services tax (GST) collection in May this year against the gross levy collected during the corresponding period last year. According to the Ministry of Finance, the collection for May stood at Rs 363 crore — Rs 126 crore more than Rs 237 crore collected during the same month in 2024. An official of the Excise and Taxation Department said it was the highest-ever jump recorded in the revenue collection so far. The city saw a 7% hike in the GST collection in April this Tribune News Service Gaurav Kanthwal Tribune News Service Chandigarh, June 2 Not even a single bidder expressed interest in the allotment of the remaining nine liquor vends put up for the 10th round of auction by the UT Excise and Taxation Department here today. The department managed to auction only two liquor vends out of 11 in the auction on May 29. During the auction held on May 26, the department was able to sell only one liquor vend out of 11 during the eighth round and earned a revenue of Rs 3.51 crore. One of the allottees withdrew later. Earlier, it managed to allot one liquor vend in the Heavy rush at liquor shop in Sector 22. FILE PHOTO seventh round of auction held on May 22. In the fifth round of auction held on May 14, the department was able to allot six liquor vends out of 17 units. On April 21, 48 liquor vends, the licences of which were cancelled for the non-payment of bank guarantee, were put up for auction. It managed to find bidders for only 20 liquor vends. Mohali, June 2 June is here, and so are the summer vacations. Kids have tucked their school bags away into the far corners of their rooms and office-goers have also gotten rid of their work folders for the time being. With most of the schools closed for the month-long summer vacations, tricity residents are stocking up sunscreen and shades as they make a beeline for destinations in Southeast Asia. Tours and travel agents say Bali, Maldives, Phuket and Krabi islands in Thailand are the most popular international destinations among tricity residents this summer. A week-long vacation to Bali costs around Rs 65,000 per c m y b person, while a trip to Vietnam can be arranged for a similar price point. “Tourists’ interest in Vietnam as a summer destination has grown exponentially in the past few years. We are getting a lot of queries these days,” said Deepmala Dikshit, a Chandigarhbased tour operator. After netizens ran a campaign against Azerbaijan for supporting Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, tourists are not showing much interest in visiting it. Travel agents say it was the most sought-after destination among Indians at one point, adding, “Those who had booked their packages before Operation Sindoor are still going to Azerbaijan. There is no travel advisory FILE No takers for nine liquor vends Bali tops the list of vacation-goers from tricity from the government as such. But yes, its popularity has dimmed and travellers are bit apprehensive.” As far as domestic destinations are concerned, Shimla, Dharamsala, Kullu and Manali are back in vogue after the Pahalgam incident. “Flight occupancy to Srinagar has improved a bit but tourists are still not coming in big numbers. Leh, however, remains an all-time favourite among domestic and international tourists,” said Chandigarhbased taxi operator Parvin- der Saini, adding, “In North India, most of our taxis are heading to Shimla, Dharamsala, Kullu, Manali, Dalhousie and Uttarakhand. Many from Punjab are heading to Hemkund Sahib. Jammu and Kashmir is completely off the list for now. There is no demand and we are also avoiding it.” As many as 38 countries are offering Visa-on-arrival (VoA) to Indian nationals,25 countries are offering Visa-free entry to Indian passport holders while 62 are offering Indian citizens e-visa, according to the MEA. Countries offering simplified visa processes like evisa or visa-on-arrival options such as Thailand, Malaysia, the UAE and Sri Lanka are being preferred by tourists.