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Ifrah Mufti

She is a staff reporter in Chandigarh. She covers schools and higher education.

Articles by Ifrah Mufti

Places in Chandigarh where you can get hearty meals under Rs 50

Although Chandigarh’s deputy commissioner (DC) has initiated a process to offer meals to poor in only Rs 10, terming it as the cheapest food, there are places in the city where one can still get meals costing between Rs 10 to Rs 50.

From the government press office canteen in Sector 18 to income tax office canteen in Sector 17 and from hostel mess in Panjab University (PU) to a canteen in UT education department building, the meals are available at the cheapest rates starting from Rs 3 to Rs 49.(Representative Image)

cities

Updated on Jan 05, 2017 07:18 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Chandigarh | ByIfrah Mufti

PU students furnish ‘medical’ certificates to appear in exams

While exams are on, the Panjab University (PU) students continue to furnish irrelevant medical certificates made from known doctors in the city, to fulfill the 75% attendance norm to appear for the exams

There are certificates saying a student needs 21-day bed rest due to lower back pain and 30-day bed rest for dengue.(HT File Photo)

cities

Updated on Dec 14, 2016 02:12 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIfrah Mufti, Chandigarh

Chandigarh girl debuts in Vidya Balan-starrer Kahaani 2

Dancing around in her room and asking her to mother to keep quiet as she was giving her first interview, five-year-old Ahana said, “Arjun [actor Arjun Rampal] uncle gave me a huge box of chocolates and now I wish to do a ‘Tamasha’ movie with Deepika Padukone because I love her.”

Ahana Singh made her Bollywood debut in ‘Kahaani 2.(Anil Dayal/Hindustan Times)

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Updated on Dec 03, 2016 04:45 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIfrah Mufti

Panjab University researchers hit hard by demonetisation

Panjab University’s research scholars have been hit hard by demonetisation as they haven’t received their scholarship grants since October. This has also resulted in the delay of their progressive reports that are updated through the bank every three and six months.

The PU research scholars claimed that demonetisation was keeping bank officials busy due to which their research continuation reports have been delayed and their research continuation report has been unnecessarily delayed.

cities

Updated on Dec 03, 2016 11:02 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIfrah Mufti, Chandigarh

Cash crunch: senior citizens’ day out at banks in tricity, additional counters opened

Additional counters were opened at all banks and help desks were set up outside to help senior citizens on Saturday so that did not have to stand in queues to withdraw money.

cities

Updated on Nov 20, 2016 01:18 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIfrah Mufti/Aneesha Bedi, Chandigarh/panchkula

Breaking mould: Transgenders’ show-stopping act at PU fashion show

It was a day of breaking stereotypes and about bringing a sexual minority into the mainstream as 24 transgenders took part in the city’s first transgender fashion show at Panjab University (PU) on Friday.

Participants walk on the ramp during a fashion show for transgenders at Panjab University in Chandigarh on Friday.(Ravi Kumar/HT Photo)

cities

Updated on Nov 19, 2016 07:41 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIfrah Mufti, Chandigarh

Historic journey ends: Chandigarh’s first Indian chief architect dies at 93

The first Indian chief architect of the City Beautiful who closely worked with Le Corbusier, MN Sharma died on Sunday, in Chandigarh. He was 93. He died of a heart attack, said Sharma’s daughter Priya Ojha.

MN Sharma’s daughter Priya Ojha with his photograph in Chandigarh on Monday.(Keshav Singh/HT)

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Updated on Nov 01, 2016 04:06 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIfrah Mufti, Chandigarh

MN Sharma, ‘Salman Khan from Sialkot’ who became Chandigarh chief architect

Sharma, the first Indian chief architect of Chandigarh, died on Sunday morning, on Diwali day, at the age of 93

MN Sharma at his house in Chandigarh on June 14, 2015.(HT File Photo)

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Updated on Nov 01, 2016 12:23 AM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIfrah Mufti, Chandigarh

Councillor’s report card: Little to show by way of work, Rajinder Kaur Rattu’s ward remained neglected

Comprising Mauli complex, Charan Singh colony, Vikas Nagar, Shivalik Enclave and the Railway Colony in Mauli Jagran, BJP’s Rajinder Kaur Rattu represents the ward. While going to Panchkula, take a turn towards Mauli Jagran and carry on straight till Vikas Nagar via the Railway Colony or the Charan Singh Colony, rural Chandigarh will welcome you.

Allotment of 112 booths in her ward remained incomplete.(Sant Arora/ HT)

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Updated on Oct 29, 2016 01:30 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIfrah Mufti, Chandigarh

Berths vacant, yet people paying up to 50% more for Shatabdi seat

Even as Shatabdi Express continues to ply with 400-450 vacant seats (50-60% of total capacity of around 700), passengers are still paying between Rs 900 and Rs 950 due to the policy of flexi-fare that was implemented two months ago. The normal fare — it is now charged on just first 10% of the seats that comes to around 70 — is Rs 605 of which Rs 197 is covered by taxes. Some service charges are also accrued due to the booking charges on the internet.

The flexi-fare system for premier trains came into effect from September 9. This entails that base fare will increase by 10% with every 10% of berths sold, but there will be an upper limit.(HT File Photo, for representative purpose only)

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Updated on Oct 26, 2016 02:23 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIfrah Mufti, Chandigarh

Free Wi-Fi internet at Chandigarh railway station is being stolen!

It’s free, it has great speed, and it needs no effort to get a password. For internet junkies, the Wi-Fi at the Chandigarh railway station is God’s gift, but the authorities are not amused.

At the Chandigarh train station, anyone can get Wi-Fi access password without entering a passenger name record or PNR. RailTel, a public sector undertaking (PSU), is providing the facility, under which you get up to 40mbps speed for one hour, and then only up to 1mbps.(Illustration: Daljeet Kaur Sandhu/HT)

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Updated on Oct 04, 2016 09:44 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIfrah Mufti, Chandigarh

Irom Sharmila wants no one to fast like her: ‘Need to enter the system’

Activist Irom Sharmila wants no one to fast like she did “but stay with your cause with dedication, sincerity and perseverance”. Now ready to fight the Manipur assembly polls due early next year, she said in Chandigarh on Wednesday, “I would rather have won hearts of the people by offering myself, my love and kindness, my positivity and my selflessness.”

Activist Irom Sharmila getting emotional during an interaction as part of the Global Peace Festival 2016 at Institute of Hotel Management, Catering and Nutrition, Chandigarh, on Wednesday.(Karun Sharma/HT Photo)

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Updated on Sep 29, 2016 08:10 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIfrah Mufti, Chandigarh

3 months into academic session, getting PU hostel accommodation is a big deal

Even after three months into the academic session, getting a hostel accommodation continues to be elusive for many students on the Panjab University campus as their names are still stuck in the waiting lists.

cities

Updated on Sep 22, 2016 04:12 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIfrah Mufti, Chandigarh

A date with the fly-by-night beauties of Panjab University

Meet the fly-by-night beauties of Panjab University. Not many city residents, even those on the campus, may know about them. That’s because they venture out only after sunset and hang from the tree tops during the day.

Bats in their colony on the Panjab University campus in Chandigarh.(Anil Dayal/HT Photo)

cities

Updated on Sep 18, 2016 01:07 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIfrah Mufti, Chandigarh

Chandigarh airport: Ahead of international flight, drive on to recruit 200 personnel for airport security

Two days before Chandigarh international airport starts its flights, the process of recruitment of 200 security personnel — to be deployed outside the airport — has started

A security personnel standing guard at the airport in SAS Nagar.(HT File)

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Updated on Sep 13, 2016 02:09 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIfrah Mufti, Chandigarh

Surge pricing: Shatabdi passengers paying up to Rs 115 more per seat

The decision by Indian Railways to allow surge pricing in Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Duronto trains is making some of the frequent travellers feeling the pinch. Maximum ‘extra’ money paid on each Shatabdi ticket on Sunday as compared to the price before the surge pricing was Rs 115.

The tickets passengers bought for the afternoon and evening Shatabdi on Sunday had to pay over Rs 100 extra for the ticket.(HT File)

cities

Updated on Sep 12, 2016 01:12 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIfrah Mufti, Chandigarh

PU financial crisis came under spotlight after ABVP’s plaint to Centre: Registrar

Talking about the financial crisis and the pending grant with the centre, PU registrar Col GS Chadha (retd) on Friday said it had all started with a complaint sent to Union ministry of human resource development (MHRD) by Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) in 2015.

“In the past five-six years, it has been the same as the grants come in portions. It is not happening for the first time. In between, some complaint was sent to MHRD”.(HT File)

cities

Updated on Sep 10, 2016 02:06 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIfrah Mufti, Chandigarh

Readying for PU polls: Friends, don’t sleep for 2 days, student leaders tell supporters

Whistle-stop tours, strategy planning, group meetings, late-night campaigning were the highlights of Monday evening on the Panjab University campus. This was the last day of campaigning for the student council elections.

Traffic jam at a Panjab University gate on Monday night.(Anil Dayal/HT)

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Updated on Sep 06, 2016 01:15 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIfrah Mufti, Chandigarh

PU V-C involved in illegal acts: Senators

A day after the Hindustan Times reported Panjab University vice chancellor Arun Kumar Grover saying that PU was controlled by mafia and that senators were vultures, the PU senators on Monday hit back, triggering a major controversy.

Panjab University vice-chancellor Arun Kumar Grover(HT File Photo)

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Updated on Aug 30, 2016 12:11 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByArvind Chhabra and Ifrah Mufti, Chandigarh

PU to ban entry of cars without stickers from August 29

Taking its first security measure after police approved September 7 as the election date, Panjab University decided to ban the entry of cars without stickers from August 29.

The Panjab University campus will get additional security from September 1 onwards. Elections are slated for September 7.(HT File Photo)

cities

Updated on Aug 25, 2016 12:16 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIfrah Mufti, Chandigarh

There’s still hope for Indo-Pak relations: Gulzar

With India-Pakistan relationship grabbing the headlines for all the wrong reasons, poet, lyricist, film director and Tagore Chair Professor at Panjab University (PU) Gulzar believes that hope still remains the best bet for the estranged neighbours.

Gulzar interacting with students at Panjab University in Chandigarh on Wednesday.(Keshav Singh/HT Photo)

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Updated on Aug 25, 2016 10:35 AM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIfrah Mufti, Chandigarh

Seeking attention, student bodies resort to dharna politics on PU campus

Seeking attention of students, especially the new comers on the campus, the Panjab University (PU) student organisations are resorting to dharna politics.

Members of the Student Organisation of India protesting outside the UIET at Panjab University in Chandigarh on Monday.(Anil Dayal/HT Photo)

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Updated on Aug 23, 2016 01:46 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIfrah Mufti, Chandigarh

PU student elections: ABVP continues its struggle to get into council, has high hopes

Since the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarathi Parishad (ABVP) has not been able to secure even a single seat in the student council in past two years — despite making an alliance with other student bodies — the body is struggling hard this year to get into the council.

The student body is planning to field girl candidates for the posts of president and joint secretary for this year’s elections.(HT File)

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Updated on Aug 22, 2016 02:30 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIfrah Mufti, Chandigarh

PU student elections: SOI’s promises to better varsity fall flat

Claims by the SOI to bring in funds worth Rs 10 crore for five long-pending projects of Panjab University, out of which Rs 7 crore was for the benefit of girls, have fallen flat. The Students Organisation of India is the student wing of Shiromani Akali Dal.

The Students Organisation of India is the student wing of Shiromani Akali Dal.(HT File)

cities

Updated on Aug 20, 2016 02:14 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIfrah Mufti, Chandigarh

Burhan Wani’s successor studied engg in Punjab: ‘Tech-savvy, talkative’

“One day during the summer break in 2013, he left Chandigarh with some Punjabi friends, telling us that he is going for a week for a picnic in Kashmir. But he never returned,” said a Kashmiri student pursuing higher studies in Chandigarh at present. “Zakir was a good friend,” said another.

Zakir Rashid Bhat on a social media site as uploaded on January 6, 2013.(Photo: Google+)

cities

Updated on Aug 20, 2016 06:24 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIfrah Mufti, Chandigarh

PU student polls: Posters of parties a blot on City Beautiful

With Panjab University student polls nearing, the posters of all student parties can be seen in department buildings, trees, toilets, student centre (Stu C), auditoriums, on electricity poles and also roads leading to city colleges, showing ignorance on part of the university authorities and also the UT administration.

Posters of student unions pasted on the notice boards outside the law department at the PU in Chandigarh on Tuesday.(Anil Dayal/HT Photo)

cities

Updated on Aug 10, 2016 12:42 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIfrah Mufti, Chandigarh

Withdrawal of support by Haryana, HP, slashed Punjab grant added to PU crisis

Several factors, including withdrawal of support by Himachal Pradesh and Haryana, change in funding pattern after reorganisation of Punjab and restriction on grant by the Punjab government, have made Panjab University (PU) feel the heat of deepening financial crisis.

With the creation of universities in Himachal Pradesh and Haryana — the successor states carved out after reorganisation of Punjab in 1966 — the state governments withdrew affiliations of their colleges and their share of maintenance grant from the PU.(HT File Photo)

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Updated on Jul 29, 2016 03:25 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIfrah Mufti, Chandigarh

PU prof flags denial of admission to Kashmir’s migrant students

Kashmiri migrant students have been denied admissions this year by the Panjab University, which is contrary to the University Grants Commission (UGC) guidelines in providing “concessions via additional seats” to them, vice-president of All India federation of university and college teachers’ organisation (AIFUCTO) Dr Jagwant Singh has written to the vice-chancellor.

“In the book of instructions, university made the category provisional as pending clarification from Govt of India. However, this year no such letter has been received from government and consequently admission has been denied to Kashmiri migrants,” reads the letter.(Representative image/HT File)

cities

Updated on Jul 20, 2016 02:06 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIfrah Mufti, Chandigarh

Students yet to get access to Wi-Fi in PU-affiliated colleges

The joint prospectuses of the city colleges claim to provide Wi-Fi or internet facility to students on the campus, but the students complain that the claim is a farce.

cities

Updated on Jul 16, 2016 12:55 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIfrah Mufti, Chandigarh

Android app for admission to Chandigarh colleges fails to take off

The e-Campus android mobile application, launched in 2015 to make the admission process paperless in government colleges, has failed to take off.

The Society for Promotion of IT (SPIC) has developed the app.

cities

Updated on Jul 14, 2016 02:26 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIfrah Mufti, Chandigarh

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Ifrah Mufti

She is a staff reporter in Chandigarh. She covers schools and higher education.

Although Chandigarh’s deputy commissioner (DC) has initiated a process to offer meals to poor in only Rs 10, terming it as the cheapest food, there are places in the city where one can still get meals costing between Rs 10 to Rs 50.

While exams are on, the Panjab University (PU) students continue to furnish irrelevant medical certificates made from known doctors in the city, to fulfill the 75% attendance norm to appear for the exams

Dancing around in her room and asking her to mother to keep quiet as she was giving her first interview, five-year-old Ahana said, “Arjun [actor Arjun Rampal] uncle gave me a huge box of chocolates and now I wish to do a ‘Tamasha’ movie with Deepika Padukone because I love her.”

Panjab University’s research scholars have been hit hard by demonetisation as they haven’t received their scholarship grants since October. This has also resulted in the delay of their progressive reports that are updated through the bank every three and six months.

Additional counters were opened at all banks and help desks were set up outside to help senior citizens on Saturday so that did not have to stand in queues to withdraw money.

It was a day of breaking stereotypes and about bringing a sexual minority into the mainstream as 24 transgenders took part in the city’s first transgender fashion show at Panjab University (PU) on Friday.

The first Indian chief architect of the City Beautiful who closely worked with Le Corbusier, MN Sharma died on Sunday, in Chandigarh. He was 93. He died of a heart attack, said Sharma’s daughter Priya Ojha.

Sharma, the first Indian chief architect of Chandigarh, died on Sunday morning, on Diwali day, at the age of 93

It’s free, it has great speed, and it needs no effort to get a password. For internet junkies, the Wi-Fi at the Chandigarh railway station is God’s gift, but the authorities are not amused.

Even after three months into the academic session, getting a hostel accommodation continues to be elusive for many students on the Panjab University campus as their names are still stuck in the waiting lists.

Meet the fly-by-night beauties of Panjab University. Not many city residents, even those on the campus, may know about them. That’s because they venture out only after sunset and hang from the tree tops during the day.

Two days before Chandigarh international airport starts its flights, the process of recruitment of 200 security personnel — to be deployed outside the airport — has started

The decision by Indian Railways to allow surge pricing in Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Duronto trains is making some of the frequent travellers feeling the pinch. Maximum ‘extra’ money paid on each Shatabdi ticket on Sunday as compared to the price before the surge pricing was Rs 115.

Talking about the financial crisis and the pending grant with the centre, PU registrar Col GS Chadha (retd) on Friday said it had all started with a complaint sent to Union ministry of human resource development (MHRD) by Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) in 2015.

Whistle-stop tours, strategy planning, group meetings, late-night campaigning were the highlights of Monday evening on the Panjab University campus. This was the last day of campaigning for the student council elections.

A day after the Hindustan Times reported Panjab University vice chancellor Arun Kumar Grover saying that PU was controlled by mafia and that senators were vultures, the PU senators on Monday hit back, triggering a major controversy.

Taking its first security measure after police approved September 7 as the election date, Panjab University decided to ban the entry of cars without stickers from August 29.

With India-Pakistan relationship grabbing the headlines for all the wrong reasons, poet, lyricist, film director and Tagore Chair Professor at Panjab University (PU) Gulzar believes that hope still remains the best bet for the estranged neighbours.

Seeking attention of students, especially the new comers on the campus, the Panjab University (PU) student organisations are resorting to dharna politics.

Since the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarathi Parishad (ABVP) has not been able to secure even a single seat in the student council in past two years — despite making an alliance with other student bodies — the body is struggling hard this year to get into the council.

Claims by the SOI to bring in funds worth Rs 10 crore for five long-pending projects of Panjab University, out of which Rs 7 crore was for the benefit of girls, have fallen flat. The Students Organisation of India is the student wing of Shiromani Akali Dal.

“One day during the summer break in 2013, he left Chandigarh with some Punjabi friends, telling us that he is going for a week for a picnic in Kashmir. But he never returned,” said a Kashmiri student pursuing higher studies in Chandigarh at present. “Zakir was a good friend,” said another.

Several factors, including withdrawal of support by Himachal Pradesh and Haryana, change in funding pattern after reorganisation of Punjab and restriction on grant by the Punjab government, have made Panjab University (PU) feel the heat of deepening financial crisis.

The joint prospectuses of the city colleges claim to provide Wi-Fi or internet facility to students on the campus, but the students complain that the claim is a farce.

The e-Campus android mobile application, launched in 2015 to make the admission process paperless in government colleges, has failed to take off.

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