Chandigarh Administration Honors 32 Individuals with Commendation Certificates on Republic Day 2026
The Chandigarh Administration has officially announced the names of 32 distinguished public representatives, government employees, and citizens who will be awarded Commendation Certificates during the Republic Day 2026 function. This prestigious recognition celebrates their meritorious service and outstanding contributions across various fields, including public administration, health, education, policing, social service, sports, and civil-military coordination.
Diverse Spectrum of Awardees Reflects Community Commitment
The list of awardees showcases a wide spectrum of service, encompassing senior doctors, officials from the UT Secretariat, police personnel, engineers, educators, social workers, sportspersons, and volunteers. These individuals have played pivotal roles in strengthening governance and enhancing community welfare within the Union Territory of Chandigarh.
Prominent Recipients and Their Exemplary Contributions
Among the notable recipients is Dr Balram K Gupta, a senior citizen whose association with Chandigarh dates back to 1956. With nearly seven decades of residency, his personal journey parallels the growth of the City Beautiful. A former law faculty member at Panjab University, where he began teaching in 1969, Dr Gupta has made significant contributions to legal education. His involvement with Rotary since 1976 has led to a lifelong dedication to humanitarian service, including active roles in polio eradication, tuberculosis awareness campaigns, HPV vaccination drives, and support for specially-abled individuals. Additionally, he has been instrumental in projects aimed at combating avoidable blindness, restoring sight to numerous beneficiaries. As a Charter Member of Rotary Club Chandigarh Midtown, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from Rotary International District 3080 in 2016.
Another distinguished awardee is Colonel Jasdeep Sandhu, Advisor-cum-Principal Director of Civil-Military Affairs at Headquarters Western Command. Recognized for his exceptional contributions to civil-military coordination in Chandigarh over nearly a decade, Colonel Sandhu, a native of the city, played a crucial role during security contingencies, VVIP visits, and the COVID-19 pandemic. His efforts included the establishment of two 100-bed COVID hospitals and the restoration of essential services during crises. His close coordination with Chandigarh Police, civil authorities, and defence forces ensured swift responses to bomb threats, disaster situations, and intelligence sharing across the Tricity, earning repeated appreciation from senior officials.
Excellence in Medical and Sports Fields
In the medical field, Laxmi Kant Tewari, Senior Radiographic Technician-cum-Radiological Safety Officer at GMCH-32, is being honored for his professional excellence, academic leadership, and social commitment in medical radiology. A life member of leading national professional bodies, he has served as an external examiner for reputed universities and contributed to several administrative and policy committees at GMCH-32. He has organized national conferences, delivered expert lectures on radiation safety and patient care, and led social awareness campaigns against female foeticide and sex-selection drugs, alongside organizing blood donation and health camps.
In sports, Mahit Sandhu, an international rifle shooter, is recognized for bringing pride to the nation through her exceptional achievements. At the 25th Summer Deaflympics 2025 in Tokyo, she delivered a historic performance by winning two gold and two silver medals. She has also represented India at the World Deaf Shooting Championship 2024 in Hannover, Germany, and the 16th Asian Shooting Championship 2025 in Shymkent, Kazakhstan, where she won multiple medals and set new records, showcasing consistency, precision, and composure under pressure.
Additional Honorees Across Various Sectors
Other recipients being honored for meritorious service in government departments include Dr Parmanand Gupta, Dr Mrinalini C Kumar, Neeraj (MTS), Mukesh Kapoor, Parveen Kumari, Yogesh Chander, Dr Sheenu Gupta, Narinder Kapoor, Deepak Bhatt, Sumit Kumar Toor, Amrinder Singh, Anil Kamboj, Jarnail Singh, Rajesh Kumar, Raj Kumar, Vijay Kumar, Kiran Bala, Anju Verma Lakhani, Rajesh Sharma, and Inspector Daya Ram.
In the field of medicine, two doctors are being honored. Dr Parmanand Gupta, head of the Department of Orthopaedics at GMCH-32, expressed gratitude for the recognition, highlighting his expertise in paediatric orthopaedics, deformity correction, knee surgeries, upper limb surgery, and trauma surgery. Dr Mrinalini Kumar, Senior Medical Officer at GMSH-16 and a pathologist by specialty, currently serves as the District Family Welfare Officer. She emphasized her focus on improving the sex ratio and celebrating the girl child, along with initiatives like starting the DNB course and establishing the IPHL lab at GMSH-16.
Those honored in social service include Nitesh Sharma, Dilpreet Kaur Sekhon, Mohinder Pal Singh Chawla, Ritu Chaudhary, Aditi Aery, and Sanjeev Chadha, while Jiana Kumar joins Mahit Sandhu in the sports category. Dharam Vir Duggal is being recognized for his contributions to public service.
