Kalia writes to Speaker Punjab Vidhan Sabha, seeks action against Chatwal

Jalandhar, March 9, 2014: Manoranjan Kalia, MLA has made a complaint against Manpreet Singh Chatwal, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Jalandhar. The complaint has been sent to the Speaker, Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Chandigarh.

In his complaint, Kalia has stated that on February 21 this year at about 4-30 pm, he had a call from Joginder Singh, Councilor asking him to intervene in the matter of Sudama Market, Jyoti Chownk, Jalandhar City. He immediately rushed to the Sudama Market, Jyoti Chownk, Jalandhar City to listen to the grievances of the shopkeepers. The shopkeepers of Sudama Market said that they were ready to vacate  the encroachment to abide by the orders of Punjab and Haryana High Court and requested further that the Municipal Corporation should not build a wall in front of their shops as it would affect their business. It is pertinent to note that Sudama Market houses vegetable shops, fruit shops and old cloth shops.  He immediately called Manpreet Singh Chatwal, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Jalandhar and narrated the fore said whole conversation   and requested the Commissioner to come to the spot for an amicable solution. Chatwal said that he had already made the arrangement of Police Force consisting of 150 policemen to remove the encroachments of Sudhama Market forcefully and was hesitant to come to the spot. “I again insisted the Commissioner Municipal Corporation Jalandhar that the encroachments will be removed peacefully”, said Kalia, adding there was no need for the use of the Force provided wall should not be built in front of the shops as it would affect their business . When he again insisted to come to the site, the Commissioner kept quiet, the mobile phone was switched off, said Kalia. He thought that the Commissioner would come to the spot but he did not turned up. After waiting for 15 minutes, he again tried to contact on phone twice but there was no response. After half an hour he (Kalia) phoned Ashok Gupta , Principal Secretary, Local Government and narrated the whole episode. Ashok Gupta said that he would instruct the commissioner accordingly.

In his complaint, Kalia further states that after few minutes Ashok Gupta phoned him back that Commissioner Municipal Corporation would be coming within a few minutes, but the Commissioner  did not turn up. After half an hour, he again called Ashok Gupta that in spite of his instructions, Chatwal did not come to the spot. The shopkeepers of Sudama Market started dharna, he remained there for four hours, the Commissioner came to the spot when people were agitating and the tents were pitched for staying the whole night and he declared that he would not go until the Commissioner comes here. After waiting four hours the Commissioner came to the spot at 9 pm when the District Administration intervened.

The behavior of the Commissioner Chatwal is most condemnable that he did not obey to the Elected Representative and Principal Secretary, Local Government, said Kalia in his complaint, adding it is pertinent to note that after the assurance that the wall will not be built in front of the shops, the shopkeepers very next day (February 22) removed the encroachment themselves. Had he not intervened, the use of force by the Commissioner would have led to unrest among the shopkeepers culminating into law and order problem.

“I therefore request you that the mater be referred to the Privilege Committee for the breach of privilege by Manpreet Singh Chatwal, Commissioner , Municipal Corporation, Jalandhar City for showing disregard to the Elected Representative & the public  and disobedience of orders /instructions from the Principal Secretary, Local Government”, said Kalia in the complaint.