28032025-CT-01.qxd 3/28/2025 12:48 AM Page 1 c m y b Chandigarh tribune TOP SEED ARMAN FROM PUNJAB IN TENNIS FINAL GOLF ASSN EXECUTIVE SET TO BE ELECTED UNOPPOSED KHAKEE: THE BENGAL CHAPTER IS WINNING ACCOLADES Beats Chandigarh’s Gaurish Madaan 6-2, 6-1 in ongoing Roots AITA CS(7) National Ranking meet. P3 Only 14 candidates for the same number of posts of executive left in the fray after withdrawals. P7 The cast shares what it means to be part of a Neeraj Pandey series and how he got Bengal’s inimitable flavour right. P8 » » MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 25°C | MIN 19°C YESTERDAY MAX 35.1°C | MIN 18.5°C SUNSET FRIDAY 6.39 PM SUNRISE SATURDAY 6.15 AM » FRIDAY | 28 MARCH 2025 | CHANDIGARH FORECAST /THETRIBUNECHD FACEBOOK/CHANDIGARHTRIBUNE SC clarifies ruling, tells Sec 32 college Revised estimates to resume counselling for NEET-PG in works: Gadkari TRIBUNE CHOWK FLYOVER PROJECT CHANDIGARH Press Photographers Awards and Exhibition: Underpass Gallery, Sector 17, on till March 28 from 10 am to 8 pm Book launch: ‘Speaking with Nature’ by Dr Ramachandra Guha at Government Museum and Art Gallery, Sector 10, on March 29 at 5.30 pm Exhibition: ‘Writing in French – A world of voices’, on till March 31, Alliance Française, Sector 36, 9 am to 6 pm Stree Samarthya - The Summit for Holistic Strength: CII Northern Region Headquarters, Sector 31, March 28, from 3:30 to 7 pm, Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria will be the chief guest APNI MANDI Chandigarh: Sector 24 & 46 P’kula: Sector 20 Mohali: Kumbhra Please send information about events in tricity at: whatson@tribunemail.com Ticket sale for Pb Kings match begins today Tribune News Service Chandigarh, March 27 With Punjab Kings ready to begin the home leg of Indian Premier League (IPL) season 18 next week, the team have announced the release of the tickets for their second home match against Chennai Super Kings. The ticket sale will go live at 5 pm on March 28 (Friday) and the fans can purchase them through the district app and website: https://link.district.in/DSTRK T/ipl2025pbkslandingpage The match will be played at the PCA Stadium, New Chandigarh, on April 8. With the team hosting a total of seven home games, four matches will be played at the New Chandigarh stadium and the remaining three at the HPCA stadium, Dharamsala. The Kings began their campaign for IPL 2025 on a winning note after registering an 11-run victory against Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi International Stadium, Ahmedabad. The region’s only team playing in the India’s showpiece event will open their home season by hosting Rajasthan Royals (April 5) in Mullanpur, followed by three home games against Chennai Super Kings (April 8), Kolkata Knight Riders (April 15) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (April 20). The side will play their three home games at their second venue in Dharamsala against Lucknow Super Giants (May 4), Delhi Capitals (May 8) and Mumbai Indians (May 11). UT Medical Education and Research Secretary to take final decision Sheetal Tribune News Service Chandigarh, March 27 The Supreme Court (SC) has clarified on its verdict regarding the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test-Postgraduate (NEET-PG) and asked the Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32 (GMCH-32), to go ahead with the pending counselling. On March 24, the SC dismissed an application filed by the GMCH-32 as “misconceived” and reiterated that its ruling was unambiguous. The court stated, “It was absolutely clear that residence-based reservations were not permissible for postgraduate seats in medical colleges and that only institutional preference, to a limited extent, is allowed.” The SC further instructed the GMCH-32 to proceed with the long-pending third round of NEET PG counselling, offering much-needed relief to students who feared losing an academic year. The admission process had been stalled since the SC rul- FILE WHAT’S ON ing came on January 29, which struck down domicile-based reservations for postgraduate medical seats under the state quota. While medical institutions in Haryana and Himachal Pradesh moved forward with the third round of counselling without delay, the Chandigarh Administration and the GMCH-32 repeatedly postponed the process, holding multiple meetings before eventually seeking clarifica- WHAT COURT OBSERVED The Supreme Court stated, “It was absolutely clear that residence-based reservations were not permissible for postgraduate seats in medical colleges and that only institutional preference, to a limited extent, is allowed.” tion from the SC. Although the first two rounds of counselling were Association seeks CBI probe into liquor vend tendering Tribune News Service Chandigarh, March 27 The Chandigarh Wine Contractor Association has demanded an inquiry by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the CBI into the tendering process of the Excise Policy of Chandigarh for 2025-26. The association alleged that certain liquor contractors wanted to cartelise the liquor business here. "We demand that the source of this money be investigated to see from where it came to cartelise the liquor business in Chandigarh," said ‘87 UNITS ALLOTTED TO 2-3 INDIVIDUALS’ There are a total of 97 vends in the city, of which 87 have allegedly been allotted to just two-three individuals operating under different firms or through their relatives, associates and employees, alleged Darshan Singh Kler, president of the Chandigarh Wine Contractor Association. Darshan Singh Kler, president of the association, while talking to mediapersons here today. In the Excise Policy 2025-26, it is clearly mentioned that a maximum of only 10 vends will be allotted to a firm, company or association of persons, but 33 vends had allegedly been allotted to a single family - the individual got eight vends, his wife nine and son seven. The second company, in which the individual was a director, was allotted nine vends, he added. There are a total of 97 vends, of which 87 have allegedly been allotted to just two-three individuals operating under different firms or through their relatives, associates and employees, alleged Kler. conducted nationwide on schedule, the January 29 verdict led to delays in the third round, which was originally set to take place in the first week of February. Director-Principal Dr AK Atri confirmed that despite 35 vacant state quota seats, the institute was unable to proceed due to uncertainty surrounding the court’s decision. The prolonged delay added to the anxiety of candi- BJP city chief meets Shah Chandigarh, March 27 Chandigarh BJP president Jitendra Pal Malhotra met Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi today. Their meeting focused on various issues, including funds for the Municipal Corporation, reforms in education and health services, making government departments paperless, etc. Shah assured him of full cooperation by the Centre. He congratulated Malhotra on getting re-elected as the Chandigarh BJP president and said the party was fully committed to the development of the city. — TNS Hockey legend credits PU girls hostel for 1975 World Cup victory Deepankar Sharda Tribune News Service Chandigarh, March 27 Former hockey stalwart, Brigadier Harcharan Singh (retd), the attacking leftwinger from the 1975 Indian Hockey World Cup-winning squad, was clearly carried away as he credited a Panjab University girls hostel for the feat. Speaking to young male and female sportspersons at a felicitation ceremony organised by the Punjab Government at the Panjab Municipal Bhawan in Sector 35-A, Brigadier Harcharan, in a lighter vein, explained that the preparatory camp for the squad was held at PU, and the team stayed at one of the hostels right across the girls hostel. Dubbing the lodging the “best thing”, the 75-year-old joked, “It was a big motivation for playing well. And, whenever I attribute a factor in the team’s win...I count the presence of the girls in that hostel right at the top.” As the room burst into laughter, Singh shifted focused to the hardships and Former hockey player Brigadier Harcharan Singh speaks at a function to felicitate 1975 WC champions in Chandigarh. PRADEEP TEWARI A FAMOUS MEDAL SWEEP Making his international debut in 1969 against Kenya in a test series in Amritsar, he became a stalwart for the Indian men’s hockey with a bronze medal win at the 1972 Munich Olympics. Besides, he secured silver medals at the 1970 and 1974 Asian Games. Singh went on to win a silver, bronze and gold medal at three Hockey World Cups between 1971 and 1975. He ended his career as one of only four hockey players globally to have a complete medal set, having won bronze, silver and gold medals at the World Cup stage. concerns of triple Olympian Balbir Singh (Senior)—who was the manager of the World Cup winning squad. “It was a tough ask of him. He used to sit on a chair the entire night to ensure the boys return to the hostel and limiting contact with the girl students...these things c m y b apart, the team spirit was high. We used to reach the tournament venue and raise aloud a phrase from Bhagat Singh’ poem, Idekhna hai zor kitna baazu-e-qatil mein (let us see how much strength there is in the arms of the executioner)...it still gives me goosebumps,” said Harcharan amid a round of applause. Adding to the lighter mood of the event, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann joked, “When Harcharan ji was talking about the team’s training camp at the university, I was afraid that he would ask for a cash award (Rs 5 crore) for the university girls’ hostel as well for their contribution in the team’s win.” Singh etched his name in the history books with his pivotal role in the World Cup winning campaign. His standout moment came in the semifinal against Malaysia when he scored the crucial winner in extra time, turning the tide in favour of India who trailed 1-2. The victory, fuelled by substitute Aslam Sher Khan’s late goal, Continued on page 3 dates awaiting admission. However, the SC’s latest directive has removed ambiguity, reaffirming that admissions should follow a 50 per cent all-India quota and a 50 per cent institutional quota. With this clarity, the GMCH-32 can now proceed with filling the remaining 38 seats. Dr Atri convened a meeting with the Admission Council today and submitted the minutes to Ajay Chagti, Secretary, Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, to take the final decision. The admission process is expected to resume within the next few days, paving the way for the stray round, which is typically held after the third round of counselling. “We were worried that this delay would cost us a year, but now we finally have clarity,” said a candidate. Meanwhile, all-India quota admissions, including the stray round, have concluded, with successful candidates joining their respective colleges. Tribune News Service Chandigarh, March 27 The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has stated that a revised project report and cost estimates are under preparation for the proposed flyover at the Tribune Chowk. During the ongoing Parliament session, former Union Minister and Chandigarh MP Manish Tewari today asked Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport and Highways, whether any proposal had been made for the construction of a flyover at the Tribune intersection in Chandigarh to ease traffic flow on the National Highway-44. He also asked whether the plan was sanctioned by both the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Chandigarh Administration, and what is the current status of the project. The minister stated that the flyover construction near the Tribune Chowk was approved on February 11, 2019, and work awarded on February 19. However, the contract agreement could not MP Tewari raises question in Lok Sabha be signed due to stay granted by the Punjab and Haryana High Court against the construction of the flyover vide order dated November 20, 2019. The stay has now been vacated by the Punjab and Haryana High Court. “Considering the substantial gap of more than five years from the date of approval of the project, a revised project report and cost estimates as per updated schedule of rates (SOR) are under preparation for approval,” said Gadkari. Tewari also sought the details of all ongoing and proposed projects of the NHAI in Chandigarh. The minister stated: “At present, no national highway works are under implementation in Chandigarh through the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI). However, nearly 15.275 km length of NH-05, which has already been developed to 6-lane configuration, is entrusted to the UT PWD.” Four held for gym trainer murder Tribune News Service Mohali, March 27 The Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF), in a joint operation with the Himachal Pradesh police, arrested four members of the Harpreet Happo gang for their involvement in the Kharar gym trainer’s murder case. They were nabbed from McLeodganj in Dharamsala. The victim, Gurpreet Singh, alias Guri, was shot dead by four assailants in Kharar on January 31. Those arrested have been identified as Amrit of Partapura village in Phillaur, Onkar Singh, alias Golu, and Prince, both residents of Pandwa village in Kapurthala; and Gurpreet Singh of Satnampura in Phagwara. The police recovered two pistols, 20 rounds, the car in which they were travelling. All accused have a number of criminal cases, including those of murder, attempt to murder and Arms Act, registered against them.