Journalism of Courage
Chandigarh District Magistrate Ajit Balaji Joshi has directed the owners of paying guest accommodations to inform their respective station house officers (SHOs) in writing regarding the antecedents of paying guests staying in their accommodations.
Those failing to comply will be liable to be prosecuted for disobedience to the order.
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The order issued under Section 144 of the CrPC on April 7 stated: “A number of persons are living in the city of Chandigarh as paying guests and not strictly as tenants. These persons are students pursuing various courses, are patients undergoing treatment and also are citizens pursuing various vocations. As they are not tenants, they are not expected to be registered with the police. This, in turn, may allow anti-social elements to reside in Chandigarh under the formal arrangement of paying guest. This arrangement involves charging for food and accommodation both.”
The order will come into force with effect from April 8 and shall be effective for a period of 60 days up to July 8.
The district magistrate has also prohibited the use of cyber cafes by unknown persons whose identity has not been established by the owner of the café.
The cyber cafe owners have been directed to maintain a register for identity
of the visitor or user. According to the directions, the identity of the visitor or user shall be established through identity card, voter card, ration card, driving licence and passport.
Joshi has also prohibited commercial establishments in the business of restaurants, discos, clubs and vendors sitting by the roadsides and on the public places from operating till late in the night.
The magistrate has prohibited running of such activities on roadsides and the public places between 1 am and 4.30 am for a period of 60 days.
However, the order would not apply to coffee shops in hotels, hospitals, chemist shops and petrol pumps. The order has been issued keeping in view the disturbance caused by these establishments.
However, the restaurants, discos and clubs have been allowed to be opened up to 2 am on Saturdays and Sundays. Cyber cafes are allowed to be open up to 2 am on all days.
The residents/ landlords/ tenants/ commercial establishments have been directed by the magistrate to furnish information about servants/ helpers/ maid servants employed by them to put a check on anti-social elements.
What the order says
A number of persons are living in the city of Chandigarh as paying guests and not strictly as tenants. These persons are students pursuing various courses, are patients undergoing treatment and also are citizens pursuing various vocations. As they are not tenants, they are not expected to be registered with the police. This, in turn, may allow anti-social elements to reside in Chandigarh under the formal arrangement of paying guest. This arrangement involves charging for food and accommodation both.
