Chandigarh: None of three SDMs cared to inspect PGs, say junior staff do it

Two days after three young lives were snuffed out by a fire in a PG accommodation, no one had been held to account for their deaths.

Residents said SDMs must inspect PGs to check whether lower officials were really doing their work. (File)

THE SUB-DIVISIONAL Magistrate of each division is tasked with ensuring that no illegal paying guest accommodation is running in their jurisdiction. So, when was the last time the SDMs in the city inspected a PG accommodation in their jurisdiction?

Newsline posed this question to all three of them and received almost the same response: “Don’t remember” and “not really”. It appears that despite the explosion of PG facilities in the city and media reports detailing the cramped and unsafe conditions of their occupants, none of these officers had thought fit to visit any such premises.

Two days after three young lives were snuffed out by a fire in a PG accommodation, no one had been held to account for their deaths.

SDM (South) S K Jain, when asked when was the last time he inspected a PG, responded: “Maine to abhi ek hi week pehle join kiya hai, to main to bata hi nahi sakta ki pehle wale ne kab visit kiya ya check kiya koi PG. Aur yeh checking neeche wale karte hain (I just joined as SDM a week back so I won’t be able to tell whether my predecessor visited or checked any PG. Also, this checking is done by the lower staff).”

The illegal PG where three lives were lost falls within the jurisdiction of Jain’s sub-division. For an SDM it requires just one hour to clean up the illegal PG mess in localities which are full of PGs and Jain still had one week’s time when he joined as SDM.

SDM (Central) Nazuk Kumar’s response to Newsline query was quite similar. “I don’t remember when was the last time but we keep doing inspections. It is a regular procedure, basically an ongoing process.”

When asked specifically when she had personally inspected a PG, she said, “No, I didn’t do it. In fact, it is not really our job. Inspectors do it.” The SDM added that now teams have been constituted and “we have started inspections”. There are only 15 illegal PG cases in her court even though there are hundreds running in the city.

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SDM (East) Sudhanshu Gautam, when quizzed, replied: “No, I didn’t personally inspect a PG but beat officials carry out the check. They inspect and we undertake the court proceedings.”

Gautam said he held a meeting with residents’ welfare associations on Monday so that they could tip him off about illegal PGs. He said 30 cases are pending in his court of which there are some that are two to three years old but penalties have been calculated.

Residents said SDMs must inspect PGs to check whether lower officials were really doing their work.

“If these officers want, they can clean up the mess in an hour. Just one hour is required. But they don’t care whether norms are being violated. They just want to enjoy signing the files in air-conditioned offices,” griped Baljinder Bittu, chairman of Federation of Sectors Welfare Association.

Hina Rohtaki

Hina Rohtaki is a Special Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in Chandigarh. She is one of the most prominent journalists covering the Chandigarh Administration, civic issues, and the unique political status of the Union Territory. Professional Background Experience: She has been in the field for over a decade and is known for her investigative reporting on administrative waste and urban governance. Awards: She is a recipient of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award, which was presented to her by the President of India in January 2020. She was also awarded the Jethmalani prize (The Will of Steel Awards) in 2025 in the Empowerment category for a series of articles that highlighted the struggles of Covid widows. Core Beat: Her primary focus is the Chandigarh administrative structure, the Union Territory's financial management, and urban development projects. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent work highlights a focus on government accountability, administrative expenditures, and civic trends: 1. Investigative & Financial Reporting "Fuelling power: Senior UT IAS officers guzzled petrol worth Rs 30 lakh in 2 yrs" (Dec 14, 2025): An investigative report detailing the high fuel bills of top bureaucrats, including the Finance Secretary and Chief Secretary’s staff. "Admn spends Rs 1.5 crore on dismantling road railings and fixing again after increasing height" (Dec 8, 2025): Highlighting administrative waste on "non-viable" solutions for pedestrian control. "Chandigarh’s finances under ministry’s watch now" (Nov 27, 2025): Reporting on the new requirement for MHA approval for all new projects in the UT. 2. Governance & Constitutional Status "What will it mean for Chandigarh if it is brought under Article 240?" (Nov 24, 2025): An "Explained" piece on the potential constitutional shift that would grant the President more power over the UT's governance. "MP Manish Tewari moves Bill seeking directly elected Mayor with 5-year tenure" (Dec 6, 2025): Covering the legislative push to reform Chandigarh's municipal leadership structure. "No proposal to increase Mayor's term in Chandigarh by 5 years: Centre" (Dec 10, 2025): Reporting on the Union government's response to demands for a longer mayoral term. 3. Urban Infrastructure & Environment "Chandigarh admn cuts power to India's tallest air purifier, asks firm to dismantle it" (Nov 17, 2025): A critical report on the failure of a high-cost environmental project deemed "of no use" by experts. "UT rethinks 24/7 water supply project as costs soar" (Nov 26, 2025): Detailing the financial challenges and delays in modernizing the city's water network. "Centre 'obfuscating, covering up' MC's shifting deadlines for clearing Dadu Majra dump" (Dec 12, 2025): Reporting on the ongoing controversy surrounding the city's major waste dump. 4. Lifestyle & Local Trends "Chandigarh turns into a Thar city as women fuel the surge" (Dec 2, 2025): A feature on a unique automotive trend in the city, with a record 600 registrations by women drivers this year. "After fivefold spike in 2023, EV sales struggle to pick pace in Chandigarh" (Dec 2, 2025): Analyzing the slowdown in electric vehicle adoption despite previous surges. Signature Beat Hina is known for her meticulous tracking of RTI (Right to Information) data to expose administrative inefficiency. Her "Ground Zero" reporting on the Dadu Majra garbage dump and her scrutiny of the Chandigarh Smart City projects have made her a key figure in the city’s civil society discourse. X (Twitter): @HinaRohtaki ... Read More

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