Writing, painting contests held
Our Correspondent

Samrala, October 26
The Punjab Education Department with the collaboration of the National Foundation for Communal Harmony and National Integration, Delhi held a contest on the “Sampardayak Sadbhawna and Maharaja Ranjeet Singh”, in the local Government Senior Secondary School, Samrala, here yesterday. There were contests in writing, painting and Punjabi vars and kavishri gyan.

The chief guest, Dr Jagtar Singh Khatra, DPI(Schools ) while presiding over the function gave away the prizes and stressed the need for hard work.

In the painting contest Narinder Singh of GHS Mourahan (Sangrur) stood first, Gurpreet Singh of Malwa GSSS, Dhuri, stood second, and Cherry Devgaj of DIVSSS Khanna, stood third. In writing; Hardip Kaur of Dashmesh SS School, Ludhiana, stood first and Konchan of GSSS Kheri Naudh Singh was second. Var Gyan; Taranjit Kaur and party from GSSS, Ramgarhia Girls SS, Ludhiana, stood first, and Manpreet Kaur and party from GSSS, Machhiwara, stood second. Ranjesh Kaur and party GSSS, Maqsudra, was third. In the Kavishri Gyan contest, Gursevak Singh and party GHS, Maurahan was first, Paramjit Kaur and party BSGS Khalsa SS, Chamkaur Sahib stood second. Simran Kaur GSSS, Gobindgarh was third.

COURTS

Forum tells PSEB to refund deposit
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, October 26
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) to refund Rs 7,922 and 1,550, respectively, to Mr Rajinder Singh, a resident of Dashmesh Nagar. The forum has further directed the PSEB to pay interest at the rate of 12 per cent per annum on the said amounts from April 22, 1994 till their actual payment. The PSEB has also been asked to pay Rs 500 as costs to the consumer.

According to the complaint, Mr Rajinder Singh had applied for power connection and deposited Rs 1,550 and Rs 7,922 for installation of connection on January 24 and March 21, 1989, respectively. He stated before the forum that as later on he did not require the connection, he got the connection disconnected after a period of six months. The complainant was told that the amount would be refunded after a period of four years. He later applied for the refund of security along with interest on March 22, 1994.

The complainant alleged that despite fulfilling all formalities, the PSEB had withheld the amount. Even a legal notice was sent but the PSEB failed to refund the amount, he added.

The PSEB had pleaded that the order for refund of the security amount was passed, but the consumer had requested it to adjust the amount in his another account (no. M/26/34908). The respondent stated that the consumer first applied for refund of security and when the refund order was passed, he applied for the adjustment of the security amount and after that he again requested to give the security in cash.

The respondent stated that instead of applying again for the refund of security, the consumer filed this complaint. The PSEB further stated that there was no deficiency in its service and the complaint was liable to be quashed.

The forum observed that the consumer had deposited the money for installation of power connection and the same was disconnected at his request. The forum stated that the consumer had applied for the refund of security. But as per the documents produced, there was no evidence to prove the contention that the consumer had applied for adjusting the amount in to his another account, the forum added.

The forum stated that the consumer had applied for refund on March 22, 1994 and normally the refund should have been made within a period of one month. The forum held that there was a clear deficiency in service on part of the PSEB for delaying payment and it 0was desirable that the amount be refunded by the respondent along with interest.

Murder accused acquitted
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, October 26
Mr S.S. Arora, Sessions Judge, Ludhiana, has acquitted Inderdeo of Rajeev Gandhi Colony of the charge of committing the murder of Udesh Parsadi, by allegedly administered poisonous substance in his medicine, on February 25, 1998, in the Focal Point area. An FIR was registered against Inderdeo at Focal Point police station after a lapse of one month after the alleged murder on the statement of Subash Parsadi, brother of the deceased.