The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

St Thomas team wins quiz
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, November 3
Students from over 18 schools of the city participated in the Limca Book of Records inter-school quiz contest organised by the Ludhiana Beverages Limited at Kundan Vidya Mandir here today.

Nine rounds were conducted for the qualifying teams which included three visual and one audio round. Questions based on currents events, flora and fauna, sports, historical events and films were asked. In one of the most interesting rounds, faces of two famous personalities were digitally mixed and the contestants were told to identify both of them. In ‘Spot the googly’ round, pictures with some technical errors were shown and the students were told to identify them.

In yet another visual round titled ‘Those were the days’, the students had to identify the personalities from their childhood pictures. These included those of Mahatama Gandhi, Hrithik Roshan, Mariah Carey, Shane Warne and Shah Rukh Khan. In an audio round, music from English, Hindi and classical numbers was played and the students were told to identify the singers. In the last round, the students had to gulp down a bottleful of Limca and answer five questions in just one minute.

Finally, the team of Praney, Sumit and Moresh from St Joseph Senior Senior Secondary School won the first prize. Anurag, Manish Aggarwal and Kshitij from Kundan Vidya Mandir was declared second. Jaspreet, Gurtej and Anumeet from Guru Nanak Public School won the third prize.

The quiz was conducted by Mr Barry O’ Brian, a popular quiz master. Ms I.Kumar, Principal of the host school, appreciated the efforts of the students.

Bikramjit wins inter-college debate
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, November 3
The Nehru Kendra Trust organised the annual inter-college debate at Khalsa College for Women, Civil Lines, here today.

Speakers from 12 colleges participated in the contest. The topic for the contest was ‘Dreamers are achievers’. Bikramjit Singh from SCD Government College won the first prize. Second prize was shared by Kumad Chandra from SCD Government College and Shivani Kohli from Malwa Central College of Education for Women. The third prize was shared by Anjali from Government College for Women and Jaspreet Kaur from Khalsa College for Women.

Mr S.K. Vashisht, Principal, Government College, Jandiala, Ms Nirmal Sadan, a retired professor from Government College for Women, Dr Ramesh Inderbal, retired professor from Government College for Women, formed the panel of judges. Mr D.B. Sharma organised the contest. Mr Prem Nath Gupta, president of the trust, said that the contest was a part of the celebrations of 112th birth anniversary of Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru.

Students organise science exhibition
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, November 3
Students of Green Land Senior Secondary Public School, Jalandhar Bypass, organised a science exhibition here today. Over 350 working and non-working models were displayed.

A model on circulation and pulmonary system by Shveta Rudhra of Class XII was adjudged the best. Second prize went to Ankur Sandhu of Class XII for his model on electric ship. Experiment on smog formation by Shveta Rudhra of Class XII was given third prize. Anamika of Class XI was declared fourth for her model on drip irrigation. Biogas plant model by Rohit Bedi of Class XI won the fifth prize.

Mr Alok Shekhar, Registrar, Punjab Agricultural University, was the chief guest.

COURTS

PSEB penalised for wrong billing
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, November 3
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) to issue correct bills as per domestic tariff to Ms Pushpa Devi, a resident of Harpal Nagar. The forum has further directed the PSEB to refund the excess amount received from the consumer and to pay interest on the amount at the rate of 12 per cent per annum from the date of deposit till actual payment. It has also directed to pay Rs 500 as cost of litigation to the consumer.

According to the complaint, Ms Pushpa Devi had received a bill for Rs 3,930 on August 3, 1997 for domestic consumption. The consumer received another bill for Rs 8,089 on November 11, 1997, mentioning that the bill was issued for the charges payable in respect to NRS connection. She further stated that she continued to receive NRS bills till October 11, 1999.

The consumer stated that despite the fact that she was not carrying any commercial activity on her premises, yet the PSEB had sent her wrong bills. The complainant moved an application to higher officials, following which an inquiry by the flying squad of the board on January 5, 2001, found that the meter was being used for domestic purposes.

The consumer stated that the PSEB had sent another bill for Rs 56,747 that was later challenged by her, but the board officials forced her to deposit Rs 10,156. She alleged that the PSEB had intentionally imposed the back arrears of NRS from October 11, 1999, while she had never used the connection for any commercial activity.

The PSEB pleaded that the consumer initially used the connection for domestic purpose but later on started using it for commercial activities and hence the bills were issued to the complainant on commercial tarrif. The respondent further stated that after the submission of J.E.s’ report on October 11, 1999, mentioning the use of connection for domestic purposes only, the bills were issued as per domestic tarrif.

The respondent stated before the forum that all bills were rightly issued. The consumer had been using the connection for commercial purposes since May, 1996, and the account of the complainant was overhauled as per commercial tariff, it added. The respondent said the demand of Rs 56,747 had been legally and rightly raised.

The forum observed that according to the documents produced by the PSEB in support of the charge levelled against the consumer that she was using the connection for commercial use, did not prove the charge. Moreover, the inquiry conducted by a PSEB official revealed that she was using the connection for domestic use only, the forum added. The forum held that the demand had been wrongly raised.

Doraha councillor released on bail
Our Correspondent

Doraha, November 3
The municipal councillor of Doraha, against whom the charges of misbehaving with an SPO of the Doraha police chowki were levelled, has been released on bail.

A case had been registered against Darshan Kumar and his two sons, Sanju and Ashi, while they allegedly misbehaved with an SPO, Dilbag Singh, at Doraha police chowki on Wednesday. According to the report, Dilbag Singh tried to push them aside when the councillor, his sons and another 20-25 persons tried to wrangle outside the police station. The report said the councillor was under the influence of liquor and tried to speak in an insulting manner with the SPO. A case under Sections 353, 186, 148 and 149 of the IPC was registered.

The councillor was nabbed by the police and was presented before the judiciary where he was released on bail. Meanwhile, pleading his side, Darshan Kumar said he had never drunk in his life and that his sons were also not present on the scene. He said, “My sons and I have been wrongly accused by the police and the case too is false.”