Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Shivraj Patil’s much-hyped Public Hearing Session held on Monday saw only four complainants and lasted for about 20 minutes only.
Monday’s session was held after a gap of over a month. Eight complainants had attended the previous Public Hearing Session that was held on February 4.
During the session, four out of five listed complainants turned up. The first complainant Kamaljit Singh represented the problems being faced by outsourced staff at Government Multi Specialty Hospital — Sector 16.
According to him, the difference between the wages being remitted to the contractual staff as against the regular ones was vast.
To this, Patil said that the matter must be looked into carefully and steps must be taken to ensure that outsourced staff do not suffer.
The next complainant, Des Raj appealed regarding illegal possession of land in Naya Gaon, District Mohali.
Shivraj Patil said that it is a civil matter and he must go to Court. Another complainant Sadhvi Neelima Vishwas, General Secretary Vishwas foundation requested for the re-allotment of land to Vishwas Meditation Centre.
Due to non-payment of 25 per cent of the total premium within the stipulated time, the lOI was withdrawn in the year 2004. To this, Administrator said that the case will be looked into and whatever can be done will be done as per rules.
Shashi Shankar Tiwari, Chandigarh Territorial Congress Colony Cell came with the representation regarding various problems being faced by poor ration card holders.
To this, Patil said that the matter will be looked into. A quick follow up of the previous Public Hearing Session held on February 4 was also done. In the past, the Public hearing Sessions held have seen about 12 complainants on an average and the lowest turn out of three complainants was witnessed on November 19, last year.
People are apparently losing their faith in Patil’s session, given the declining number of complainants in the recent past. Besides cancellation and postponement of the sessions, the delay in action on complaints received, seems to be bearing on the fortnightly session now.
The Sessions are held at UT Secretariat in Sector 9 where the Administrator listens to the grievances of the city residents and all UT senior officials remain present.
As a general practice, the Administrator used to hold Public Hearing Session on the first and third Monday of every month.
But due to busy schedule of Patil, the public hearing sessions have been either postponed or cancelled in the past several months creating confusion in the minds of complainants.
As per precedent, in about 38 months of Patil’s tenure as the UT Administrator, there should have been 76 sessions to date. However, Patil has held around 32 sessions so far.