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Janta Darbar: 10 people attend event, people question purpose

The "Janta Darbar" held mostly on Wednesdays fixes meeting only with those who send emails at a particular email address -- a facility not every resident is familiar with, especially those from colonies and villages or senior citizens.

3 min readChandigarhSep 11, 2025 12:01 AM IST

Janta Darbar, Janta Darbar event, Chandigarh Administration, UT Administrator, Indian express news, current affairs

The statement said, "To further strengthen direct communication between citizens and the Administration, Punjab Governor and Administrator, UT Chandigarh, Gulab Chand Kataria, continued the practice of holding Janta Darbars at the UT Secretariat today."

Is the janta missing from the UT Administrator’s “Janta Darbar” as hardly 10 people attended the programme on Wednesday?

The “Janta Darbar” held mostly on Wednesdays fixes meeting only with those who send emails at a particular email address — a facility not every resident is familiar with, especially those from colonies and villages or senior citizens.

On Wednesday too, according to details by the UT office, 10 people brought their grievances to the Administrator in the Janta Darbar, where the media is not allowed. A statement by the Chandigarh Administration, however, stated, “A large number of people from across Chandigarh participated and shared their grievances. The Governor patiently listened to each person, took note of their issues, and directed officials present to initiate prompt action. On-the-spot instructions were given to ensure timely redressal.” Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria is the UT Administrator.

Asked about the procedure to be part of the Janta Darbar, the UT spokesperson said, “An email is sent to adcgovpb@gmail.com.”

Residents, however, term it “choosing the attendees is as per their will”. Baljinder Singh Bittu, chairman of the Federation of Sectors Welfare Association of Chandigarh, said, “This can’t be Janta Darbar. Janta Darbar is where the office is open to all for said timings and anyone from public can meet the Administrator and raise their grievances. In the first place, not everyone knows how to send an email and then it is up to them to select who will attend or who will not.”

He added, “Even many senior citizens don’t know how to access or get to the Administrator for this darbar. They should work on making it more accessible for people.”

The UT statement noted, “The objective of the Janta Darbars is not only to hear the voices of citizens but also to provide effective and speedy solutions to their problems. The Governor’s Secretariat has planned to hold such sessions regularly, providing people with a direct channel to communicate their concerns to the highest office of the Union Territory.”

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The statement said, “To further strengthen direct communication between citizens and the Administration, Punjab Governor and Administrator, UT Chandigarh, Gulab Chand Kataria, continued the practice of holding Janta Darbars at the UT Secretariat today.”

However, Pallav Mukherjee, former UT councillor, said that he had given a suggestion in the past about clearing backlog of files in each department at the end of every month.

“There are 42 departments in Chandigarh. They don’t need a janta darbar. All they need is a team in each of these departments that sits at the end of the month and clears the backlog of files. That prevents people from unnecessary hassle,” Mukherjee said.

He added, “The officials know that nothing is going to happen so they keep the interaction with public very less. Why doesn’t each of the HoD hold a public meeting or those with grievances?”

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Several attempts were made in vain at the UT Administration and UT Administrator’s office to get in touch with people who attended the Janta Darbar.

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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