The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

EDUCATION

Government teachers show resentment
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 10
Resentment prevails among the unemployed ETT qualified youth against the alleged harassment by employees of the Chief Medical Office during the medical examination.

Stating this in a press note, Mr Bhajan Singh, president, and Mr Joginder Azad, secretary, said that they had demanded from the Deputy Commissioner that a special team be constituted for a day to carry out their medical examination. They, however, said that the officers later assured them that the teachers would not have to pay Rs 50 or Rs 100 during such examination.

Mr Bhajan Singh further said that ETT qualified candidates and BEd candidates for science teachers’ post were facing several problems during the interview as no sitting arrangement was being made for them. He said that the same treatment was being given to teachers at in-service training centre.

Denial of house tax exemption flayed
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 10
The Recognised and Affiliated Schools Association (RASA) has condemned the local bodies for denial of house tax exemption to affiliated and recognised schools despite clear-cut instruction by the state government in this regard.

The district president of the association, Mr N.K. Bangia, said in a statement here that the Department of Local Government, Punjab, has issued a notification to clarify that all schools and colleges affiliated with the Punjab School Education Board, the Central Board of Secondary Education, the Indian Council for Secondary Education and universities were run exclusively for the purpose of promoting the cause of education without any motive of monetary or commercial angle, shall qualify for exemption.

However, the Municipal Corporation authorities, he added, were adamant and refused to allow the due concession to education institutions. In view of widespread resentment among the school heads, the association according to Mr Bangia, would take up the matter with the Minister for Local Bodies, Mr Balramji Das Tandon.

COURTS

Forum penalises transport company
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 10
In an ex-parte order, the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed a local transport company, Delhi UP Madya Pradesh Transport Company, to pay Rs 14,800 on account of cost of goods not delivered to the Subhash Wool Centre, Mochpura Bazar. The forum has also directed the company to pay interest on the said amount at the rate of 18 per cent per annum from March 22, 2000, till the actual date of payment.

According to the complaint, a consignment of hosiery goods of Rs 14,800 had been booked with the transport company from Ludhiana to Sangroli in Madya Pardesh on November 11, 1999, vide receipt 967648. A partner of the complainant firm, Mr Subhash Chander, stated before the forum that the goods were handed over to the company for transportation and the documents were sent to the branch of the Union Bank of India at Shakti Nagar, Singroli with the instructions to deliver the goods to the endorsee against payment.

It was alleged that the respondent could not deliver the goods without the document being retired and a clear endorsement was there. Mr Subhash Chander disclosed that the consignee did not retire the documents and as such the bank returned the document as per the instructions of the complainant on March 21, 2000. After that the complainant contacted the transport company a number of times, but the respondent failed to deliver the goods, he added. When he contacted the counterpart of the respondent, Shiv Transport Company, he came to know that the consignment was delivered to some other party, he further added.

Mr Subhash Chander disclosed that despite many efforts, the goods were not given back to him. He further disclosed that they had made a request to make the payment of the goods, but despite issuing a reminder a couple of times, the cost of goods was not paid by the respondent. He alleged that there was clear deficiency in service because the consignment was delivered against the instructions.

The forum observed that according to the documents produced before it by the complainant, a consignment of Rs 14,800 was booked. Moreover, the respondent had admitted that the payment of Rs 14,800 was due to the complainant on account of cost of goods booked for transportation in a letter produced before the forum, it added.

The forum held that since the evidence produced by complainant was unrebutted, the respondent was liable to pay the cost of goods along with interest at the rate 18 per cent.

Dhanda, Sikri join hands in Bar elections
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 10
The election scenario of the District Bar Association took a dramatic turn on the last day of filing nomination papers, when opponents K.R. Sikri and Harish Rai Dhanda joined hands and stunned the lawyers’ community here.

Mr K.K. Sikri proposed the candidature of Mr Harish Rai Dhanda for the post of president, District Bar Association. Last year, both contested for the post of president and bitterness was reportedly prevailing amongst both factions.

“To put an end to the prevailing bitterness in Bar and for the welfare and unity of lawyers’ fraternity, I will wholeheartedly support Mr Dhanda,” said Mr Sikri.

Now there will be a direct contest between the sitting DBA-president, Harish Dhanda and Mr M.C. Sehgal for the post of president. Mr Dhanda has headed District Bar association for five times and is a sitting member of the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana.

For the post of vice-President, Mr Rajesh Bali and Rana Surat Singh have filed nomination papers with the returning officer.

H.S. Narang, Parupkar Singh Ghuman, Dalip Kuamr Sareen and Satish Sharma have filed nomination papers for the post of secretary.

Four candidates have filed nomination papers for joint secretary, namely Amandeep Bhanot, Paramjit Singh Dev, Jagdeep Singh, Vinod Sharma.

Five contestants have come forward for the post of finance secretary — Bakshi Dwarka Nath, Rakesh Bhatia, Surjit Singh Sidhu, Narinder Singh Rana and Manpreet Singh Boparai.

Six executive members have been elected unanimously. They are Kapil Kumar Garg, Rajneesh Lakhanpal, Gurpreet Singh, Rajiv Pal Singh, Rajan Kumar Chand and Ram Parkash Bansal.

1297 voters will decide the fate of the contestants on December 20, the day of voting, said Mr Vijay B. Verma, returning officers for Bar elections.

Mr Verma said that the last date for the withdrawal of nomination papers is December 13. After that, nominations papers will be scrutinised on December 14 and the list of eligible candidates will be displayed on the notice board on the same day.

CULTURE

Cultural fiesta tomorrow
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 10
The Punjab Cultural Promotion Council would organise a cultural fiesta, “The heritage of Punjab” on December 12, in the Baba Jaswant Singh Dental College and Research Hospital, Sector 40, Urban Estate, Chandigarh Road , Ludhiana, in honour of NRIs and distinguished guests.

The council chairman, Mr Davinder Singh Chhina, told the media that star singer Manmohan Waris would be honoured with “Awaz-e-Buland” award on this occasion.

The council artists would perform Bhangra, Gidha, Jindua, Malwai Gidha and other traditional dances of the state.

Canada-based folk singers, Mander Brothers, would be another star attraction during this show.

A religious play, “Khalsa Di Sirjana”, would also be staged on this occasion. The play would be directed by H.S. Randhawa.

The Baba Jaswant Singh Trust’s vice-chairman, Mr Kirpal Singh, said that the trust would honour NRIs who had contributed a lot in propagating Sikh religion and culture. Mr R. S. Gill I-G, Mr H. S. Randhava, Mr Nirmal Singh Bhangoo, Mr Daljinder Singh Boota, Mr Rakesh Yogi, Mander Bros, Manmohan Waris, Mr R T Jindal IAS, cabinet minister Dr Rattan Singh Ajnala would also be honoured for their services in different fields.