Chandigarh Deputy Commissioner's Office Transforms into Central Grievance Redress Hub
In a significant move to enhance public service delivery, the deputy commissioner's office in Chandigarh has emerged as the central grievance redress hub for the Union Territory administration. This transformation follows the establishment of a special branch dedicated to receiving, tracking, and resolving complaints across various UT departments.
New Branch Ensures Faster Resolution of Citizen Issues
Acting on directives from the Punjab governor and UT administrator, the DC office created the complaints and inquiry assistant branch. This initiative is aimed at ensuring faster, time-bound resolution of citizen grievances, thereby fostering a more responsive and accountable administration.
Residents now have structured opportunities to voice their concerns. They can meet the deputy commissioner every Monday and Wednesday between 11 am and 12 noon. Additionally, a joint public hearing is held every Friday during the same hour, involving both the DC and the Senior Superintendent of Police.
Analysis of 757 Complaints and Swift Actions Taken
Across these hearings held on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, a total of 757 citizens met with the deputy commissioner. The majority approached the administration with issues related to unauthorised constructions, property transfer-related matters handled by the estate office, concerns of senior citizens, traffic complaints, and pending issues with the police, Municipal Corporation Chandigarh, and Chandigarh Housing Board.
According to the administration, swift action was ensured in most cases. A breakdown of the 757 complaints reveals the following distribution:
- 30% were related to the estate office
- 20% pertained to the Municipal Corporation Chandigarh
- 15% involved police matters
- 10% concerned revenue issues
- 10% were linked to cooperative societies
- 5% covered CHB, employment, education, traffic, and other miscellaneous issues
Notable Cases Highlight Effective Grievance Redress
Several specific cases underscore the effectiveness of this new mechanism. For instance, residents of Sarangpur and Khuda Jassu reported encroachments on the road leading to New Chandigarh, which were causing significant traffic snarls. In response, these encroachments were successfully removed in September 2025.
In another notable case, the deputy commissioner directed the engineering department to provide safe pedestrian access near Gurdwara Sahib in Sector 34 by opening a central verge passage. This action addressed longstanding safety concerns for pedestrians in the area.
A complaint regarding alleged medical negligence at Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, was referred to the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research for examination by a medical board. The board later submitted its report, demonstrating a thorough approach to sensitive healthcare issues.
Administration's Commitment to Accountability and Citizen-Friendly Governance
Deputy Commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav emphasized that an effective grievance redress mechanism is essential for maintaining an accountable and citizen-friendly administration. He noted that cases were escalated to UT department heads whenever officials failed to act despite repeated reminders from the complaints and inquiry assistant branch.
In a few instances, departments initiated disciplinary action against defaulting employees, reinforcing the administration's commitment to accountability. This proactive stance aims to build public trust and ensure that citizen concerns are addressed promptly and efficiently.
The establishment of this central hub marks a pivotal step in streamlining grievance redress in Chandigarh, setting a benchmark for other administrations to follow in enhancing public service delivery and governance.
