Ex-Chandigarh Official Issues ₹20,000 Fine After Restaurant Denies Free Chicken

Chandigarh (The Uttam Hindu): A former official of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation (CMC) has been accused of abusing his power in a bizarre incident involving a restaurant in Sector 35, Chandigarh. The officer allegedly got a challan of ₹20,000 issued against an international restaurant chain late at night after he was refused free chicken.

The incident unfolded on February 22 when the officer visited the restaurant around 8:30 pm and requested a takeaway of chicken. When the employee asked for his name to inform the manager, the officer became irate and left. Two and a half hours later, officials from the Municipal Health Office (MOH) arrived and conducted an inspection. Although the restaurant had closed to the public at 11 pm, it remained open for online deliveries. The workers were cleaning the premises when the officer found some French fries in a small dustbin near the food preparation area. He subsequently issued a ₹20,000 challan for non-compliance under Solid Waste Management Rules 4(7).

What raised eyebrows was that the officer was from a different area, and Sector-35 is not under his jurisdiction. The action has stirred controversy within the Municipal Health Office (MOH). Dr. Inderdeep Kaur, the MOH, stated that she was unaware of the incident but emphasized that it was wrong to issue a challan outside the designated area. An investigation will be conducted, and appropriate action will be taken according to the rules.