After MLA’S intervention, Jalandhar MC refunds ₹15,000 fine to sweet shop owner

JALANDHAR: In an alleged case of political interference in the working of the Jalandhar municipal corporation (MC), the authorities have refunded ₹15,000 of a penalty worth ₹20,000 to the owners of a sweet shop in Jalandhar.

The shop was challaned due to ‘poor sanitation conditions’ by the health and sanitation department. This was after the authorities received a call from MLA Rajinder Beri.

As per the receipts procured by HT, the sanitation department had cancelled the challan against Rama Mandi-based Ganesh Sweet Shop and Cake House, that was issued on July 24. The receipt was issued in the name of the said shop (receipt 25, book 17541). The cancelled challan also reads that the penalty has been reduced on instructions of the health officer. A revised receipt of ₹5,000 (receipt 34, book 17541) was issued against the shop owners. “After MC issued a challan against the owner, he approached segment MLA Rajinder Beri who then called the department and said that Ganesh Sweet Shop owner is known to him. He directed us to charge only ₹3,000-₹4,000 as penalty. The department refunded ₹15,000 to the sweet shop on July 25 and issued another challan of ₹5,000,” said an official.

MLA Rajinder Beri admitted to making a call to the MC against issuing of heavy penalty against Ganesh Sweet Shop. “It is against the Punjab Municipal Act for teh MC to issue such heavy penalties. The civic body is not supposed to issue challan of more than ₹2,000,” Beri said.

“When the shop owners approached me, I called the MC authorities and asked them to reduce the penalty,” he added. On supporting one violater, and not the others who were issued similar penalties that day, Beri said that only Ganesh Sweet Shop owner had approached him. “I would have taken up their issue as well if they would have approached me,” he said.

Contradicting the MLA’S statement, chief sanitary inspector Hitesh Aggarwal said that there is no limitation of amount till which MC can issue challan.

“We are currently issuing challans of more than ₹2,000 for different kinds of violations. We have not received any instructions regarding issuing less than ₹2,000 penalty,” Agarwal said.

On July 24, the sanitation wing had carried out inspections at different parts of the city and issued penalties ranging from ₹10,000 to ₹20,000 to at least eight outlets. Total ₹97,000 was generated by the department by issuing penalties. Checks were carried out at sweets shops on the Hoshiarpur road. Pritam Sweets had to pay a penalty of ₹15,000, AM PM Bakery of ₹15,000, Jyoti Sweets paid ₹10,000, New Krishna Sweets paid ₹15,000, Dashmesh Vaishno Dhaba had to give ₹10,000.