Nurse booked for causing death
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, July 15 — The police has registered a case against a nurse for allegedly causing the death of a woman during delivery due to her negligence.

According to police sources, Mr Kamal Dev Suri, a resident of Dhanas, complained that his wife gave birth to a male child on May 25 at the residence of Mrs Merry Kutty. He alleged that the nurse, who is known in the area for handling delivery cases, did not take adequate pre and post natal precautions.

His wife continued to bleed after the delivery and it was only after the nurse had tried hard that she asked him to shift her to Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, where she died on May 29.

The police has registered a case under Section 304-A of the IPC and further investigations are on. However, no arrest has been made.

Dowry victim: The police has registered a case against the in-laws of a Sector 7-C resident for harassing her for dowry. Sources said Mrs Neena Rodricks had lodged a compliant that she was being ill treated by her in-laws — Errolysis, Eugene, Effy, Edwin and Savita — for bringing inadequate dowry.

A case has been registered against the accused under Section 498-A of the IPC. Further investigations are on.

Driver booked: The police has registered a case against Suresh Keshav, driver of a car (UP-07-C-0550), for knocking down a cyclist and a rickshawpuller near Dhanas village here today. The cyclist, Bhagmal, has been admitted to the hospital. While the accused has been arrested, a case under Sections 279 and 337 of the IPC, has been registered against him at police station west.

SI assaulted: The police has registered a case against Jarnail Singh alias Bittu for assaulting SI Baljit Singh, who was on duty. A case under Sections 186, 332, 353 and 506 of the IPC has been registered against the accused in the Sector 36 police station and further investigations are on.

Maruti stolen: Mr H.S. Bedi, a resident of Sector 22, has reported to the police that his Maruti car, CHK 4182, has been stolen from Sector 17. A case under Section 379 of the IPC, has been registered.

Use of force: Mr S.L. Bhanot, a resident of Sector 22, reported to the police that his landlord forcibly disconnected his water supply. A case under Section 430 of the IPC has been registered against the landlord.

Eve-teasers held: In separate incidents in the city, the police has arrested Vikram, Subash, Jupinderpal Singh, Pawanpreet and Balbir Singh, on the charges of eve-teasing.

Gamblers caught: The police has arrested Sarwan, Bhagwan Dass, Mani Ram and Venod Kumar on the charges of gambling in Ram Darbar.

Postal Department penalised
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, July 15 — The UT Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum-I has penalised the Postal Department for wrongly transferring the account of a complainant and not releasing the deposited amount on maturity.

The complainant, Mrs Kanta Dhawan, had in her complaint stated that she had opened a two-year time deposit account and deposited Rs 50,000 on March 7, 1994, in the General Post Office, Sector 17. The maturity of the said amount was to come up on March 6, 1996. The post office authorities had secured her signatures as specimen signatures at the time of depositing the money. She further averred that the said post office had transferred the said deposit in the name of Mr Fateh Lal, house No. 1253/1, Sector 41-A, Chandigarh, without verifying her signatures. She was denied the said amount of Rs 50,000 with interest on the plea that her account had been transferred in the name of Mr Fateh Lal. She alleged that she had never got her account transferred and had informed the Postal Department several times but her efforts for refund of the matured amount went in vain.

In the reply, the Postal Department contended that on a written request from the complainant the account had been transferred in another person's name and therefore, the matured amount could not be released to her. The account was transferred in a joint account with Mr Fateh Lal, resident of 753/1, Sector 41, on May 23, 1994, and thereafter the account was converted into single account in his favour on June 24, 1994.

In order to ascertain all these facts, Mr Fateh Lal was summoned by the Forum who categorically stated that a lady other than Mrs Kanta Dhawan had met him and thereafter on his insistence, the account of Kanta Dhawan stood transferred in his name. According to Fateh lal, in whose name the account was ultimately transferred by the postal authorities, it was not Kanta Dhawan who was instrumental in getting the account transferred. Thus it became clear that Kanta Dhawan had never met Fateh Lal for transferring the account in the name of Fateh Lal or anybody else.

The Forum bench comprising its President, Mr H.C Modi, and members, Mr R.K Behl and Ms. Shashi Kanta, observed that it becomes abundantly clear that Kanta Dhawan had never applied for transferring her account in the name of anybody else. Hence, the complainant is entitled to refund of the amount deposited by her. Further, Mr Fateh Lal has also stated that he has no objection for releasing the amount lying deposited in the post office to Kanta Dhawan.

The Forum held that ``post offices or banking institutions are rendering public utility services and people repose confidence in these institutions and as such they leave money and deposits with them. The latter owe onerous duty to take care as prudent custodian of the money deposited by the depositors. If the amount deposited is allowed to be withered away without taking due care on account of lapses for want of proper precaution in dealing and transferring the said deposits, people would shudder and would avoid depositing money in such institutions. Hence greater care and caution is required to be taken in this regard before affecting transfer of the account of the depositors in the name of anybody else".

The Forum directed the postal authorities to refund the principal amount of Rs 50,000 along with interest of Rs 11,462 on it and further interest at the rate of 12 per cent per annum on Rs 61,462 with effect from March 6, 1999, till its payment. The Postal Department was also asked to pay a sum of Rs 2,000 to the complainant as compensation for harassment.

Refund order

The UT Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum-I has directed a dealer to refund Rs 7,000 to a complainant for its failure to deliver a refrigerator within the time period promised by him. A sum of Rs 2,000 was also awarded as costs.

The complainant, Mr Narinder Singh, a resident of S.A.S. Nagar had stated that he had deposited Rs 7,000 with M/s Ambika Electronics Pvt. Ltd., Sector 35, for supply of a refrigerator on December 31, 1993. He further alleged that though the proprietor of Ambika Electronics had promised to deliver the refrigerator at his residence along with a guarantee card and other documents, the refrigerator was not supplied to him despite repeated visits.

A notice was issued but since no one appeared nor anyone filed a reply, the case was proceeded against ex-parte.

The Forum bench comprising its President, Mr H.C Modi, and members Mr R.K Behl and Ms Shashi Kanta, held the dealer guilty of deficiency in services for it was obligatory on their part to have delivered the refrigerator but they neither delivered the refrigerator nor refunded the amount. Hence, the dealer was directed to refund Rs 7,000 to the complainant, besides Rs 2,000 as costs.

Fresh crop of radish arrives
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, July 15—Even as a new crop of radish has made an entry in the market, the prices of most of vegetables have remained stable during the past two days in the local market.

The fresh crop of radish has started coming from different parts of Himachal Pradesh. A kg of the vegetable was priced in retail market at Rs 16, while the wholesale price of the same was Rs 60 per 5 kg today.

Meanwhile, barring garlic and lady's finger, there has been no fluctuation in the prices of most of commonly used vegetables during this period. A kg of garlic, priced at Rs 48 a kg in the retail market and for Rs 200 per 5 kg in the wholesale market, could be purchased today for Rs 40 a kg and for Rs 175 per 5 kg.

On the other hand, the price of lady's finger has increased from Rs 16 a kg to Rs 20 a kg in the retail market and from Rs 60 to Rs 80 per 5 kg. The hike was attributed to lesser arrivals in the market from parts of Punjab and Haryana.

There was no change in the price of most of vegetables during this period. A kg of bittergourd was still available at Rs 20 a kg in the retail and for Rs 70 per 5 kg in the wholesale market. Similarly, a kg of capsicum could be had for Rs 24 in the retail and for Rs 90 per 5 kg in the wholesale market.

The price of brinjal has refused to come down as it was still at Rs 16 a kg in the retail and for Rs 60 per 5 kg in wholesale market. The price of cucumber remained unchanged at Rs 16 a kg in retail and for Rs 60 per 5 kgs in wholesale market. Similarly, if a kg of cauliflower was available for Rs 30 in the retail and for Rs 130 per 5 kg in wholesale market, cabbage could be purchased for Rs 15 a kg and for Rs 55 per 5 kg.

The prices of gourd, ginger and lemon also remained stable at Rs 16, Rs 60 and Rs 24 a kg and for Rs 60, Rs 200 and Rs 100 per 5 kg, respectively. Tomato was also available at the old price of Rs 60 a kg.

SAI centres to have more trainees
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, July 15 — The Sports Authority of India training centres falling under the northern region will induct more trainees, going by the revamping of the centres done recently.

At present, six training centres are being run under the Norhtern Centre, Sector 42. They are at Chandigarh, Patiala(Punjab), Bhiwani and Kurukshetra (Haryana), Bilaspur and Dharamshala (HP) with a total strength of 197 boys and 62 girls in various disciplines as per the allotment. Now it has been proposed to increase the same to 234 boys and 121 girls during the year 1999-2000.

Chandigarh has such centre for girls only at Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Sector 18, which has in the past produced several outstanding sportspersons like gold medallists Priram Thakran, Sunita and Kamla Dalal, Sita Gosain and many others.

It is presently catering to athletics (four girls), basketball (six), volleyball (six) and hockey (twenty one). As per the revised targetted strength, all four discplines should have at least 15 trainees each, making a total of 60, against the present strength of 37.

At Patiala, six discplines have the following strength: Athletics (13 boys), basketball (six boys), cycling (14 boys, two girls), gymnastics (four girls), hockey (25 boys) and judo (seven boys). The proposed target is of inducting two more trainees in athletics, nine in basketball, six in gymnastics, and three in judo.

Bhiwani is running the centre with four discplines: Athletics (14 boys), boxing (18 boys), volleyball (eight boys) and wrestling (20 Boys). The target for the coming year will be to induct six more trainees in athletics, seven in volleyball and five in wrestling, besides reducing the number of boxing trainees by eight.

Haryana has its second centre at Kurukshetra where there are three disciplines: Athletics (seven boys), volleyball (14 boys) and hockey (22 boys). The proposal is to induct eight more trainees in athletics, 11 in volleyball, but reduce seven seats in hockey. Haryana does not have any centre for girls players.

Himachal Pradesh, apart from a high altitude centre at Shilaroo in the Shimla district, which is used for various camps, both of national and international level, Bilaspur and Dharamsala have been given training centres in field games for boys as well as girls.

Bilaspur has been allotted three games: Athletics (eight boys, four girls), volleyball (26) and boxing (seven). It has been proposed to induct seven more boys and six more girls in athletics, three boys in boxing and to reduce volleyball trainees by six.

Dharamsala, which got a new sports hostel in February this year, had the following strength in various disciplines before the revamp: Athletics (eight boys, three girls) and hockey (12 girls). The boys' centre in athletics has been discontinued and the target for this year is to add 17 girls in athletics and 13 in hockey. It will become an all-girls' centre.

The boy-athletes of the centre will be adjusted in other centres.

New Astroturf

The Astro turf at the Sector 42 hockey stadium would soon be replaced with a new one, said Mr J.P.S. Sidhu, Joint Director of Sports of the Chandigarh Administration. The amount for the same has already been sanctioned and in a few months time, the turf will be ready. Even the Indian Hockey Federation had decided to allot major national-level camps to Chandigarh, said Mr Sidhu. This was after the recent meeting, Mr K.P.S. Gill, President of the IHF, had with Ms Uma Bharti, Union Sports Minister.

Meanwhile, the Chandigarh Women's Hockey Association will not send the UT's women team for the Federation Cup Hockey championship beginning on July 19 at Tirupati. The decision had been taken in view of the clashing of annual examinations of three of the senior women players of the team with the tournament dates. Moreover, some of the team members reported sick, said Mr Sidhu, who is also a senior office-bearer of the association.

The camp which was to take place at Sector 42 had also been suspended. He further said that it was not wise to send a substandard team for the Federation Cup where Chandigarh enjoys a good status.

The tournament will have the participation of eight quarterfinalist teams of the last National Women's Hockey Championship.

Panchkula centre win

The Panchkula Coaching Centre dethroned Satluj Public School, Sector 4, by seven wickets in the first District Panchkula Cricket Championship played here at the Sector 5 grounds. Batting first, Satluj Public School boys were bundled out for a meagre 66 runs in just 13.2 overs. Ridam Chopra became the hero of the match when he wrecked the Satluj Public School's batting by claiming five wickets for 20 runs. He also did a hat trick in his first over. Vishwas Bhalla was the other succesful bowler for the PCC who bagged three wickets for 19 runs. Vikas and Atul of the SPS crossed double figures when they scored 21 and 15 runs, respectively.

In reply, the PCC team scored 70 runs for the loss of three wickets in 12.1 overs only. Ravi Shankar and Sunny Sharma remained unbeaten with 21 and 15 runs, respectively. Vikas took two wickets for the SPS by giving away 10 runs.

Sports secys

Mr Karan Singh and Ms Joginder Sandhu, Principals of Government Model Senior Secondary Secondary School, Sector 33, and Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 40, respectively, have been selected Sports Secretaries of the Education Department for three years.

This decision was taken at a meeting of school principals with the District Education Officer (DEO), Mr Brahmjit Kalia, here yesterday.

While Mr Karan Singh will be the Sports Secretary for boys' events, Ms Sandhu will look after girls' sports activities.