The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

AGRICULTURE

Record procurement at grain market
Our Correspondent

Khanna, April 25
After a two-day gap due to the strike by farmers and commission agents, yesterday was a hectic day for procurement agencies in the local grain market as they procured more than 8 lakh bags of wheat, a record in terms of procurement in a single day since the market came into existence.

The Deputy Commissioner of Ludhiana, Mr S.K. Sandhu, visited the mandi to monitor the procurement arrangements. The commission agents complained about problems in lifting wheat. The DC ordered the District Transport Officer to allow tractor trollies to load wheat frequently. He directed the SSP of Khanna, Mr Dhoke, to direct police officials not to check the trollies loaded with wheat on the police nakas on the entry points to the city.

The DC listened to grievances of the farmers. When a farmer, Mr Sukhdev Singh, complained that his wheat produce was not being procured, the DC ordered the agency concerned to purchase that wheat heap. He also held a meeting with commission agents and officers of procurement agencies.

Talking to mediapersons, Mr Sandhu said there were 109 purchasing centres in the district and three centres had been allotted to each officer. He claimed that there was no shortage of staff and bardana this season and the procurement was going on smoothly.

Hostellers have a gala time
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, April 25
Hostlers at PAU got together last evening to let their hair down. They had arranged for a cultural programme comprising folk dances, solo dances, and songs. The function was attended by more than 400 students from different colleges of PAU.

Shweta presented a beautiful solo dance and Ashu Chopra recited a rib-tickling poem about the travails of hostel life. Jyotsana’s dance elicited a lot of applause. The girls were in a joyous mood and enjoyed the songs and dances to the hilt. There were cat calls and whistling from the girls, much to the amusement of the deans present. Dean, Postgraduate Studies, Dr. K.S. Sekhon, Dean College of Agriculture, Dr H.S. Sekhon, Estate Officer, Mr Rajbir Singh, were impressed with the girls’ performances. The piece-de-resistance was the vigorous Bhangra performance of the girl hostellers, a folk dance normally associated with boys.

Although the sound system could do with some improvement, Ms Sudha anchored the show rather well.

COURTS

Company directed to redeem debentures
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, April 25
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed M/s Arihant Cotsyn Limited, Ludhiana, to pay the redemption amount of the debentures standing in the name of Mr Charanjit Singh after redeeming the same along with the due interest at the rate of 14 per cent half yearly. The forum further directed to pay the delayed balance amount of interest along with 14 per cent interest, besides a sum of Rs 1,000 as cost of litigation to the complainant.

According to the complaint, Mr Charanjit Singh, a resident of the Housing Board Colony, Focal Point, had purchased 294 fully-convertible debentures at a rate of Rs 150 each for Rs 44,100. After the expiry of the stipulated time frame, Mr Charanjit Singh went to the company for redemption of the debentures, but he was told to deposit the debentures and he did the same, he added.

The complainant alleged that he approached the company many times and finally served a notice on February 15, 2000, but the payment was not made.

The company officials pleaded that the claim was time-barred. They stated that fully convertible debentures were offered to public through a right-cum-public issue in 1992 and the conversion was to take place in 1994. They stated that the company had already converted the debentures into shares and the same had been handed over to the complainant. They further stated that in case the complainant had received the shares, he could apply for the same.

The forum observed that in this case the debentures became convertible on March 31, 2000, as a resolution of the company to that effect was there. The forum held that the consumer was entitled to redemption of the debentures and was also entitled to recover the 14 per cent half yearly interest.