Chandigarh MC proposes norms for free community centre booking

Amid the controversy over misuse of the facility, the Municipal Corporation has proposed to fix clear criteria for determination of people eligible to book community centres free of cost for weddings.

Under the present policy, the free bookings are being provided to “poor people” for weddings. Only a recommendation of the councillor is required for the booking. The policy had been in place for many years, but the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) recently alleged that the civic body has been duped of crores due to fake bookings made in the name of poor people.

The AAP had alleged that misappropriation was done using forged documents, fake stamps of councillors, falsified signatures and manipulation by middlemen posing as municipal staff.

Looking to resolve the issue, the MC formed a committee under chairmanship of the Joint Commissioner to review and finalise the policy guidelines regarding community centers/janj ghars.

UT Food and Supplies Inspector Sumit Jindal, a special invitee to the committee, said the UT Administration had on May 13, 2016, notified the eligible criteria for enrolment as Priority Households and Antyodaya Anna Yojana Households (AAY) under the National Food Security Act, 2013.

Households having gross annual income up to Rs.1.5 lakh from all sources fell under the Priority Households and those under Rs 60,000 under the AAY Households. As per record provided by the Inspector, there were 83,133 Priority Households and 284 AAY Households as of July 2025.

After consultation, the committee proposed extending the benefit to those falling under both Priority and AAY Households. However, the committee reiterated that at least 50 per cent user changes must be levied in such cases.

Present Policy

Under the prevailing policy, the Mayor, Commissioner and councillors can recommend free booking for weddings of girls from BPL families. Area councillors can recommend bookings in their own wards and where the applicant resides. The Mayor and the Commissioner, meanwhile, can recommend booking of any community centre provided that the applicant resides in that area.