Latest news with #PanjabUniversity
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
After months of talks, PGI clears Rs 10cr in property tax
1 2 Chandigarh: After months of persistent follow-ups, notices, and negotiations, the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) has finally cleared a major chunk of its long-standing property tax dues. In a landmark move, PGI deposited Rs 10.28 crore to the Chandigarh municipal corporation, the highest single payment made by any government or private entity to the civic body in the current financial year. The payment follows a detailed reconciliation process between PGI and MC officials, involving multiple meetings, document exchanges, and field visits. The total arrears calculated stood at Rs 24 crore, of which PGI has now paid nearly half. According to MC records, several key government institutions still owe the civic body over Rs 100 crore in property tax and service charges. Among the top defaulters are Panjab University (Rs 60 crore), the engineering department of Chandigarh administration (Rs 17 crore), and Chandigarh Railway Station (Rs 3 crore). The Chandigarh Golf Club also features on the list with significant dues. These entities failed to clear their dues during the April–May rebate period and now face a 25% penalty on the total amount, along with 12% annual interest. The MC has already revised the tax figures to include these charges. Meanwhile, the MC has collected over Rs 75 crore so far this financial year — Rs 48 crore from commercial properties and Rs 27 crore from residential ones. Over 850 notices have been issued to residential defaulters (Rs 11 crore dues), and 600+ notices to commercial defaulters (Rs 6.5 crore dues). **Box: Some of the top govt tax defaulters in MC's record.** Government Entity-----------------------------Tax arrears (amount approximate) 1: Panjab University-------------------------68.85 crore 2: PGI-------------------------------------------14.00 crore 3: Chandigarh administration------------16.26 crore 5: Chandigarh Railway Station----------2.98 crore MSID:: 122818584 413 |
Time of India
2 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Rain, rust and red tape: PU hostels mock Chandigarh's clean city tag
1 2 3 4 5 6 Chandigarh: Just days after Chandigarh bagged the title of India's second cleanest city among big cities in the Swachh Survekshan rankings, a walk through Panjab University's hostels offers a jarring contrast - discarded furniture, rusting coolers, broken racks and wooden scraps lie dumped in open corners and backyards, untouched for years. While the city basks in its Swachh Bharat glory, the university hostels seem battling health and hygiene risk bureaucratic inertia, a scene that's less "clean city" and more "dump yard in progress." Despite repeated complaints by students, the junk has remained untouched for months, with many items reportedly lying there for over two years. Research scholar Shispal Sheokand, who flagged the issue recently, said he submitted a formal memorandum to Dean Students Welfare (DSW) Prof Amit Chauhan, urging immediate clearance of the trash before it leads to a health crisis. "This isn't just about aesthetics. These rotting wooden frames and rusted metal coolers invite disease, especially during the rains," Sheokand said. Prof Bharadwaj Bargai, the newly appointed warden of Boys Hostel No. 5, admitted the problem was long pending. "Most of this furniture has been lying here since around two years. We are aware of the issue and are taking steps to dispose it off soon," he said. A walk through Boys Hostel No. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Vastu Compliant 3BHK @ Kalyani LivingTree, KIADB, Bagalur Kalyani Developers Learn More Undo 3 reveals a similar scene, half-broken furniture, twisted almirahs, plastic chairs with missing legs, and outdated electrical fixtures piled against walls. Officials in the university's administration wing privately admit that even without the protest-related disruptions, the process of auctioning junk furniture has historically been slow and bogged down by procedural red tape. "Even small decisions go through multiple departments," said a staffer, requesting anonymity. Students argue that bureaucratic delays shouldn't put their health at risk. "It's ironic that a top-ranked university can't manage basic hygiene in its hostels," said Divyansh, a research scholar from the Anthropology department. With the monsoon picking up, the university's sluggish response to hostel sanitation has once again highlighted the cost of institutional inertia. Responding to the issue, DSW Prof Amit Chauhan explained that there is a procedure in place for disposing of discarded items, but the process takes time. "Hostel authorities first prepare an inventory and submit it to the university administration. Once approved, the materials are auctioned off to external bidders. Unfortunately, this time the process was delayed because the DSW office was shut down in April and part of May due to student protests," he said.
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Indian Express
Afghan national, a PU graduate, held for overstaying his visa, possessing forged Indian documents: Chandigarh Police
A 37-year-old Afghan national was arrested under the Foreigners Act for overstaying in India illegally and possessing forged Indian identity documents, the Chandigarh Police said on Saturday. A team of the Mauli Jagran police station arrested the accused, Mohammad Rasool Barak, a native of Kandahar in Afghanistan. Police said Barak entered India on a student visa in 2015 and pursued graduation from Panjab University, adding that his visa expired in 2018, but he never renewed it thereafter. However, he continued to live in India 'as a refugee and took up work as a taxi driver, clearly violating visa conditions that prohibit foreign students from engaging in any form of employment', police said. A case was registered following the complaint of the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO), Amritsar, which stated that the accused had 'not only overstayed his visa but had also illegally procured Indian documents by falsely claiming Indian nationality'. In his application for a learner's licence, Barak had falsely mentioned his place of birth as Chandigarh, India, despite being born in Kandahar, Afghanistan, on August 13, 1988, police said, adding this act of 'providing false information and obtaining government-issued Indian documents is a serious national security concern'. His Indian documents were also verified and confirmed to be illegally obtained, and relevant sections of the law have been invoked accordingly, police said. During the investigation, the accused was arrested on July 19 in Mauli Jagran and produced before the court, which remanded him to a 14-day judicial custody.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Chandigarh: Afghan man living illegally in India for 7 years nabbed
An Afghan national overstaying in India since 2018 was arrested from Mauli Jagran, Chandigarh, on Saturday, police said while adding that he had managed to procure Indian identity cards fraudulently. After verifying the facts, police registered an FIR under Section 14 of the Foreigners Act and Section 318 (cheating) of the BNS. (HT photo for representation) The accused has been identified as Mohammad Rasool Barak, 37, a native Kandahar, Afghanistan, who had entered India on a student visa in 2015. The visa was valid till 2016 following which he got a two-year extension to pursue a course from Panjab University. He graduated in 2018 and his visa expired. But he continued to live in India as a refugee, working as a taxi driver for Ola and Uber in clear violation of visa regulations that prohibit employment on a student visa. The Foreigners Regional Registration Office, Amritsar, had alerted the police about Barak's illegal stay in the country. During the probe, it came to the fore that the accused had fraudulently obtained an Aadhaar card, PAN card and driving licence, by declaring his place of birth as Chandigarh. After verifying the facts, police registered an FIR under Section 14 of the Foreigners Act and Section 318 (cheating) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Following his arrest, he was produced before a local court which sent him to 14 days' judicial custody. Cops are now investigating if Barak had any associates or networks involved in facilitating his illegal stay and procurement of forged Indian documents.
Time of India
4 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Who does what: PU issues SOP to untangle DSW office
1 2 3 4 Chandigarh: In a move to define roles for better student welfare management, Panjab University has notified a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) defining the roles of the Dean Student Welfare (DSW), DSW (Women), Associate DSW, and wardens. The decision comes as part of broader reforms initiated after a student was stabbed on campus in April, sparking protests and prompting the university to set up multiple internal committees. The SOP formalises the division of responsibilities within the DSW office, which had earlier seen overlaps and occasional friction, particularly between the DSW and DSW (Women). Under the new framework, DSW (Women) will handle girls' hostel matters, ranging from infrastructure to grievances, but all issues will be routed through her, with the DSW retaining final authority. Matters related to reserved category students will be routed through the Associate DSW. The university's official calendar recognises only the DSW post, not DSW (Women) or Associate DSW. However, both roles have functioned actively in recent years, sometimes without clearly defined boundaries. The SOP attempts to reduce such ambiguity by laying down internal processes and oversight mechanisms. Inspections of hostels and canteens by student council office bearers are now permitted only upon written complaints, and with prior permission. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like An engineer reveals: One simple trick to get internet without a subscription Techno Mag Learn More Undo These must take place in the presence of wardens, DSW (W), or the dietician, and not during peak hours. Photography during inspections is prohibited, and the dignity of workers must be maintained. The SOP also mandates that at least 75% of wardens remain on campus during each academic session. Quarterly financial reports from hostels will now be mandatory. The reform is part of a larger administrative overhaul currently underway. Other changes already rolled out include audit checks in hostel allotments, SOPs for cultural fests, restrictions on unapproved student trips, and a draft constitution for the campus student council. The university has also approved reserving a seat for women in the student council's executive body, though a committee is still seeking legal opinion for its implementation. Officials said the SOP will help bring more accountability, better coordination, and clearer lines of authority across the student welfare setup. Key SOP provisions Girls' hostel matters to be handled by DSW (Women); routed through her, final say with DSW Reserved category issues to be routed via Associate DSW At least 75% wardens must remain on campus during the session Hostel/canteen inspections by students only on written complaint and with prior permission Inspections allowed only in presence of wardens/DSW officials; no photography Committees must include student council reps and senior wardens Hostel finances to be reported quarterly What 'routed through DSW (W)' means While DSW (Women) will handle day-to-day affairs of girls' hostels, including grievances, safety, and amenities, every decision will formally pass through her to the DSW for final approval. The SOP stops short of granting her independent authority, keeping the DSW at the top of the chain. PU's official calendar, notably, only mentions the DSW post, leaving DSW (W) and ADSW as active but technically undefined actors in the university's script. What VC said on DSW being final authority Asked why the final authority rests with the DSW, VC Prof Renu Vig said, "The DSW office works as a team, but every team needs a leader. As per the PU calendar, the DSW is the designated statutory post, which is why all financial and administrative powers are vested with the DSW. The SOP is meant to clarify roles, not sideline anyone."
