Chandigarh Municipal Corporation Suspends Senior Horticulture Official Over Systemic Maintenance Failures at Shivalik Garden

In a decisive administrative action, the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation has suspended a Senior Divisional Engineer (SDE) from the Horticulture Department following documented lapses in the maintenance of Shivalik Garden. The suspension stems from a direct inspection conducted by the Municipal Commissioner on February 4, 2024, which revealed significant deficiencies in the garden's overall upkeep and operational standards. This move underscores a heightened institutional focus on accountability within public works and urban green space management. The inspection reportedly identified systemic failures in routine horticultural care, potentially impacting the aesthetic, environmental, and recreational value of a key public asset. The suspension of a senior technical official signals a rigorous enforcement of service protocols and suggests potential broader audits of maintenance contracts and departmental oversight mechanisms. This development highlights the administration's intolerance for procedural negligence in civic amenities, setting a precedent for enhanced scrutiny of public park management across the union territory. The case is now under formal review, with implications for departmental restructuring and future quality assurance measures in urban horticulture.