Chandigarh, February 20,2019: A reply in a PIL related to profits earned by UT administration from Rock Garden in Punjab and Haryana High Court, the petitioner on Wednesday stated that the Rock Garden Society had earned net profit of Rs 2.17 crores in 2016-17 while a profit of Rs 2.87 was earned during the period 2017-18.
The counsel for petitioner, HC Arora has filed a replication in the case in response to the affidavit in reply filed by UT Chandigarh administration on the last date. Rebutting the contention of UT Administration that it has to incur maintenance charges of Rs.2.50 crore on maintenance of Rock garden, the petitioner asserted that till the date March 31, 2017 the Rock Garden Society had earned net profit of Rs 2.17 crore which was the period during which marriage functions were also permitted in third phase of Rock Garden.
He also asserted that during the year ends March 31,2018 the Rock Garden Society had earned net profit of Rs 2.87 crore, which was the period during which marriage functions were not permitted in third phase of Rock Garden. The petitioner averred that income from entry tickets increased during the period no marriage functions were permitted. Besides, profits of Rock Garden Society are substantial. It does not require extra funds from marriage functions to be held in third phase of the Rock Garden.
The petitioner has also rebutted the contention of UT Chandigarh administration, in its affidavit, wherein it was stated that phase III of Rock Garden has no interest for visitors, as it is just an open area, and is at the end of the Rock Garden. He has stated in his replication that the Phase-III of Rock Garden has a beautiful Doll Museum in it, besides a cafeteria in the third Phase being at the end of the Rock Garden.
Heavily relying on official documents, the petitioner has stated that the Rock Garden Society has been incurring a lot of funds on Doll Museum.
“For instance, from 2017 onwards, committee spent an amount of Rs 11.88 Lakhs for providing CCTV cameras in the Doll Museum. Besides, another amount of Rs. 32 lakhs was approved for illumination in the Doll Museum. That apart, another amount of Rs. 16.23 lakh was approved for installation of air-conditioners in the Doll Museum, which also included the expenses for conversion of rain shelter into Doll Museum. Rs. 11.39 lakh was approved for employing 10 workers in the Doll Museum in the third Phase of the Rock Garden”.