The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

EDUCATION

Shikha gets best painter award
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, October 20
Shikha Sharma, a BA II student of the Guru Nanak Khalsa College for Women, Model Town, has won the best painter award in the state-level Sobha Singh Birthday Painting Competition organised by the Department of Cultural Affairs, Archives, Museum and Education (Colleges), Punjab, at Jalandhar on Thursday.

Shikha has won a cash award of Rs 5,000 and citation which will be awarded to her on October, 29, at Amritsar by Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister, Punjab.

Shikha had painted a sketch of Guru Gobind Singh. Ms A.K. Bansal, Principal, has congratulated Shikha on her achievement.

COURTS

Forum penalises PSEB for wrong billing
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, October 20
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) to pay Rs 1,000 as compensation on account issuing wrong bills to Mr Tilak Raj Bedi, a resident of Punjab Mata Nagar.

According to the complaint, Mr Tilak Raj Bedi had paid a bill of Rs 10,131 (issued on October 20, 1999) on November 11, 1999. He stated before the forum that despite payment of the said bill, the PSEB included Rs 10,131 in the next bill issued on March 10, 2000. After that the bill was corrected and the due amount (Rs 2147) was deposited.

But the practice of issuing wrong bills continued and the PSEB again issued another wrong bill of Rs 10,422 on April 20, 2000 , in which the amount of the bill issued on October 20, 1999, was included. The consumer again visited the board office and corrected the bill.

The consumer disclosed that the PSEB officials again included the amount of bill issued on October 20, 1999, in the bills issued on June 21 and August 15, 2000, and he had to visit the office of the respondent again to correct the bill issued on June 21, 2000, and it was corrected. But the bill issued on August 15, 2000, was not corrected by the board officials rather he was told that if he would not deposit the said bill, his power connection would be disconnected, he added. The consumer alleged that there was a clear deficiency on the part of the PSEB to issue wrong bills which caused unnecessary harassment to him.

The PSEB pleaded that the bill issued on October 20, 1999 for the consumption of 3491 units of Rs 10,131 was issued against the connection no. SN-31/466, but the consumer deposited the amount in unit No. II instead of unit No. I at the Model Town Division. The respondent stated that due to the mistake of consumer, the amount was not credited in the account in unit No. I and because of that in the next bill issued on March 10, 2000, the amount was included as arrears. It was also admitted that the said mistake repeated again in the bills issued on April 20, 2000, and June 21, 2000, which were corrected later on.

The forum observed that the plea of the respondent was justified that the consumer deposited the bill issued on October 20, 1999 in the wrong unit II instead of unit I, and the bill was corrected. The forum stated that when the problem was brought in notice of the PSEB, why did the respondent issued other wrong bills. The forum held that there was clear deficiency in services on the part of the PSEB to issue wrong bills.

MC councillor challenges removal in HC
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, October 20
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has issued notice of motion to the State of Punjab through Principal Secretary Local Bodies, Municipal Corporation through its Commissioner and Punjab Minister for Local Bodies Balramji Das Tandon on a civil writ petition filed by Mr Sat Pal Puri, Congress councillor from Ward No 66 in the city, who was disqualified and removed from office by the government on August 20. The notice is returnable on October 22.

In his petition, Mr Sat Pal Puri has submitted that all allegations of encroachment of land and construction of shops in violation of the building bylaws levelled against him in the showcause notice issued by the Department of Local Government were false and baseless. Moreover, the matter pertaining to the said land was still pending in a local court and was sub judice.

The petitioner further stated that the ruling group in the Municipal Corporation and the government had passed the order for his removal in total violation of the provisions of the relevant act without observing principles of natural justice and without caring for the fact that the matter was sub judice before a civil court.

CULTURE

Yaadon ka safar: a pleasant journey into past
Asha Ahuja

Ludhiana, October 20
Pushpa Hans, a seasoned singer of many decades and a heroine of yore, took her audience on a nostalgic trip down the memory lane during her performance at Nehru Sidkhant Kendra yesterday evening. The function was organised by Markaz-e-Mausiqui, an organisation whose aim is to revive old culture and folk songs so that the modern generation gets a chance to go deep into roots of the culture.

Pushpa started with Sufiana rendering of Sheikh Farid’s creation followed by her repertoire of songs. Then to the delight of the listeners she repertoire a song in Multani, “Chan kida, guzari hai raat”. Pushpa sang Shiv Batalvi’s number, “Mai ni mai ek shikra baniya”.

Later talking to mediapersons, she said, “I do not want our Sufi writings to fade away, so I am presenting the ‘kalams’ of Sufi writers in eight episodes on Doordarshan. Sufi music brings ‘junoon’ and it represents the highest form of spiritual love between God and his creation. Bulle Shah, Shah Hussein and Sheikh Farid’s creations will be presented in the first episode of a series of eight episodes. I have brought in Jagjit Singh to sing some of their songs. Some songs will be rendered by me and a new find, Anupama.

Cultural council expands its wings
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, October 20
Lawyer Jagjit Singh Gill, folk singer Bhupinder Singh Babbal and half-a-dozen international-level bhangra dancers were honoured by the Punjab Cultural Promotion Council at its general-body meeting and function in the seminar hall of Punjabi Bhavan here.

In his address on the occasion, the Chairman of the council, Mr Devinder Singh Chhina appreciated the contribution of Bhupinder Babbal in promoting traditional folklore of Punjab worldwide. He also praised Jagjit Singh Gill for promoting education through the Nankana Sajhi Education Trust, of which, Mr Gill is Additional Secretary.

Mr Chhina said the council had also decided to work for the promotion of human rights and adopting these as part of culture. He said the body would also work towards preserving environment, besides promoting sport, community development, media ethics, fine arts and religious harmony in the state. The council artistes in the state would present folk dances at the opening and closing ceremonies of the forthcoming National Games.

Mr Gill and Daljit Singh Jassal of Virasat Bhavan appreciated the role of the council in promoting Punjabi culture. Dr G.S. Cheema stressed the need for combating pollution and creating employment opportunities for rural youth.

The ‘Mundio Aa Gaye Oye’ fame singer, Bhupinder Babbal, entertained the audience with ‘Mirza’ and ‘Couples’. He urged art lovers to preserve and promote traditional folk instruments like ‘dhadd’, ‘sarangi’ and ‘toombi’ through traditional fairs. Television artiste and the council Secretary General, Nirmal Jaura, was the compere of the programme.

The council Chairman, Mr Devinder Chhina, would be the Director of the Human Rights Promotion Centre of the council and Director of national and international folk festivals. Mr Barjinder Singh Brar will be the Director of the Sports Centre of the council. Prof Nirmal Jaura will be the head of the Media Communication Centre of the council, Daljeet Singh Jassal will be the Director of the fine arts centre, Prof Sarabjeet Kaur Mangat will be the Director of the Centre for Environment and Natural Resources, Mr Rakesh Yogi will head the Music Centre of the council, Pritpal Singh Pali will be the Director of the Centre for All Religious and Bhupinder Babbal will head the Fold Arts Centre of the council.

Besides, Mr D.S. Saini will be the legal adviser and Mr Jagjit Singh Gill will be the chief minister of the council. The folk dancers who were honoured at the function included Bhupinder Singh Vicky, Gurcharan Singh, Rakesh Yogi, Bansi Lal, Parminder S. Nona and Gurpreet Singh Saini.