By Hillary Victor
Chandigarh, Jan 11, 2024: The Chandigarh administration has issued a show-cause notice to Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity Home for allegedly violating building laws.
The administration of the federally-ruled territory has asked the institution in Sector 23 of the city to appear for a personal hearing on February 10, the Hindustan Times newspaper reported January 9.
The administration alleged that the Catholic home violated building laws by setting up plants in parking places on its premises.
The sub-divisional magistrate (Central), who issued the notice, has also calculated a fine of 53,000 rupees a day since October 9, 2020, which amounts to around 54 million rupees.
Established in 1980, the home takes care of 40 disabled people.
According to the notice, the parking adjoining the right-hand side of the main gate has been covered with landscaping, covering a 900 square feet area. Similarly, another parking adjoining the left-hand side, with 16,800 square feet area, has also been covered with landscaping.
For this violation, the home is liable to pay 3 rupees per day per square foot, which comes to around 53,000 rupees a day,
The notice further states if violations at the site or building are established, the charges for violations at the specified rate shall be payable within 15 days of the order.
For any delay in payment, interest shall be charged at 1.25 percent for each month. Failing to pay the fine will result in resumption, cancellation and sealing of the site.
The show-cause notice has been issued under Rules 14 and 16 of the Chandigarh Estate Rules 2007.
Raman Walia, an advocate and social worker, who is a regular visitor to the home, said planting small plants and keeping flower pots could not be termed a violation. Stating that the notice was not valid, he urged the administrator to intervene in the matter and pass necessary directions for withdrawal of the notice.
Another social worker, Arvind Bansal, who has visited the home for the past 10 years, praised the nuns’ selfless service. He urged local residents to come forward and get the parking area constructed as the nuns’ home does not accept cash donations.
Mother Teresa had laid the foundation stone of the home, christened “Shanti Dan,” on October 3, 1977. Mother Teresa had then issued an appeal not to offer any cash donations to her society.
In July 2015, the home decided not to adopt any more children and has since been taking care of 40 disabled people.
Would the administration have made Rs.54 million rupees had vehicles been parked in the said enclosure. The Administration should be pulled up by the Court for raising such a stupid claim read fine.
It is very sad….the local administration calculates everything in terms of money. Where as they themself must never have planted greenery. But in the name of ‘Vikas’ must be destroying nature to pocket money. Shameful.
A moronic decision.
This is following a familiar pattern of attacking the weakest. In my hometown Kanpur the Defence Estates Officer levied a lease rent of Rupees One Crore per annum on the Shishu Bhawan. I took up the issue with our ecclesiastical authorities, to no avail, and the property was taken over by the Defence authorities.
It was especially painful for me because it was my mother who brought Mother Teresa to Kanpur and my father had facilitated getting that house for the sisters from one of our relations.
Instead of levying fine (a whopping Rs 5.4 crore plus interest payable at 1.25 per cent for each month), the Missionaries of Charity Home at Chandigarh should be awarded for creating greenery and providing much-needed oxygen.