Guv least interested in hearing grievances, say residents

The UT administrator took merely half-an-hour to wind up the public hearing session held here on Monday. A handful of nine residents, who appeared in the session, left dejected, as they alleged that the administrator did not give them a patient hearing.

The UT administrator took merely half-an-hour to wind up the public hearing session held here on Monday.

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A handful of nine residents, who appeared in the session, left dejected, as they alleged that the administrator did not give them a patient hearing.

City-based RTI activist RK Garg approached the administrator with a request to remove the rumble strips on Sector 27/30/20/19 roundabout. Garg alleged that Patil showed no interest and disposed his case in 30 seconds with a mere assurance that they will look into the matter.

Unhappy with the treatment, Garg said: "If the administrator is least interested in hearing the problems of residents, then why does he make people wait for months? My turn came after two months, but the hearing was wound up in 30 seconds."

RK Thakur, member of a government-aided school employees union, approached Patil with a requested for grant of pension benefits for retired people of privately managed government-aided schools in Chandigarh. Thakur alleged that Patil did not give a patient hearing to his case and was later apprised by the officials that the matter was in court.

Similarly, other complainants too were not happy with the kind of treatment meted out to them.
Kuljeet Singh Shan came with a representation regarding a property dispute. Patil was apprised that the case is pending in court. To this Patil said: "Since the case is pending in court, the decision cannot be taken by us. You will have to wait for the court's decision."

Similarly, a delegation lead by Seema came up with a plea that teachers on contract basis be adjusted in the education department, as they were dependent on it for their livelihood. But they were snubbed saying that when the vacancies open up they would think about this option.

The efficacy of public hearing sessions are under a cloud for delay or no action on complaints of residents, who appear before the administrator to get a solution to their problems.
Over the past one year, public hearing sessions have evoked poor response from complainants due to regular cancellation of hearing sessions at the last minute.

Public hearing sessions held in
2012
Month Number of complainants
November 19: 3
November 5: 11
October 1: 11
September 3: 16
August 6: 16
July 2: 13
March 19: 20

2013
Month Number of complainants
February 4: 8
March 18: 4
April 1: 4
May 6: 5