Training course for farmers
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, May 7
The Directorate of Extension Education, Punjab Agricultural University, has decided to organise a three-month integrated training course for young farmers from July 1 to September 27.

Giving this information, Dr G.S. Momi, Head of the department of Extension Education, said during the course the young farmers will be given practical and theoretical training in crop production, fruit production, vegetable production, dairy farming, poultry farming, judicious use of farming inputs, farm machinery and farm management. He said all matriculate young farmers of Punjab, except those from Gurdaspur and Amritsar districts, between the age of 20 to 40 years would be eligible to get admission in the course.

Dr Momi said applications for the course have to be submitted by June 26, followed by an interview on July 27. 

PFA’s mobile service
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, May 7
The People for Animals, Ludhiana, has started a mobile veterinary service on alternate days in the city.

An ambulance along with veterinary doctors and staff will visit different areas from 8 am to 10 am.

The ill animals will be taken to Jeev Daya Sadan at Mandeep Nagar.

The team has already visited Haibowal, Rishi Nagar, Kitchlu Nagar, Tagore Nagar and other areas, according to a press note.

PCCTU hails govt’s decision
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, May 7
Hailing the statement of the Minister of Higher Education, Mr Khushal Behl, regarding the release of salary grant for the last quarter of 2001-2002, Mr K.B.S. Sodhi, president, Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union, said teachers were happy to have the assurance of release of the arrears amounting to Rs 21 crore.

The PCCTU has urged upon the minister to ensure the updating of grant-in-aid for 2002-2003. He requested the minister to prepare a foolproof notification regarding pension and gratuity scheme which was passed by the Congress government led by Ms Rajinder Kaur Bhattal in 1996.

The Principal, Kamla Lotia SD College, also hailed the decision. He said: “I on behalf of the Association of Principals express my satisfaction and congratulate Mr Behl for taking prompt action.” 

COURTS

Four discharged on police request
Our Correspondent

Khanna, May 7
A Khanna court discharged four persons arrested on the charge of attempt of murder on a Akali worker, on the request of the police here today.

An Akali worker, Mr Shivinder Singh, lodged an FIR on April 18 at Khanna police station that as many as eight persons had attacked him at night. He alleged that many shots were fired at him. He identified his attackers as Yadwinder Singh, Rupinder Singh Gandh and Surinder Singh Shinda.

The police arrested four youths — Tanveer Singh, Bhart Bhushan, Harprem Singh and Harpreet Singh — the same night. The police seized one revolver found in their possession and maintained that they were involved the case.

But the complainant Shivinder Singh said in an affidavit submitted to the police that four persons arrested by the police in the said case were falsely implicated as all four persons were known to him. But ignoring the affidavit police produced all of them before the court of G.S. Dhillon and took remand. The complainant also reiterated his statement before the court in which he alleged that all these four youths were innocent.

Several Akali and BJP leaders demanded immediate release of the four. They also met DIG Ludhiana, Mr Rohit Chaudhary in this regard.

Today Khanna police made a request to the court of Mr G.S. Dhillon, SJDM, (Senior Division) to discharge them as they were not wanted in the case to the police.

PSEB demand quashed 
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, May 7
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has quashed a Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) demand of Rs 15,563 from Ms Inderjit Kaur, a resident of Fatehgarh Mohalla. The forum has further directed PSEB to refund the amount deposited against the said demand, along with interest at the rate of 12 per cent from the date of deposit, till the date of actual payment.

According to the complaint, a demand of Rs 15,563 on account of theft of energy, was raised by PSEB on July 17, 2001 against the connection no. Sr-01/676. The consumer stated before the forum that she had purchased the property where the said connection was installed on December 12, 2000 and after that she became the consumer of the said connection.

The consumer disclosed that since it was a domestic electricity connection, she applied for a commercial connection which was later on installed on the premises. She also depositing the electricity bills. She further disclosed that when she, along with her husband, approached the PSEB officials, they were told that the demand had been raised on account of theft of energy. They were further told that after replacing the meter, the old one was sent to M.E. Laboratory, where it was found that seals of the meter had been tampered with, counter of the meter was changed and the meter was recording less consumption of energy by 34.78 per cent.

The consumer alleged that the PSEB had violated its own rules while raising the said demand. She said that neither was the meter packed and sealed properly nor was it checked in the presence of her or her representative, which was mandatory. Moreover, she was to be issued notice regarding checking of the meter in M.E. Laboratory as per PSEB rules, she added.

She explained that the respondent could not raise the demand on its own without complying with the rules. It was demanded that the demand be quashed.

The PSEB pleaded that the electricity connection No. SR-81/671 of domestic category was disconnected permanently on March 30, 2001 on the basis of a written request filed by the husband of the complainant, Mr Mohinder Singh. The respondent further stated that in the request it was mentioned that the above account be permanently closed and if any due against the said connection, be transferred in the account no. 91/466 of NRS category.

The respondent stated that the meter was removed and sent to the M.E. Laboratory. It further stated that according to the laboratory report, the seals of the meter had been tampered with and it was recording less consumption of energy by 34.78 per cent.

The PSEB clarified that it was a case of measured theft and as such, the account of the consumer was overhauled. It stated that the demand was rightly raised and the complaint was liable to dismissed.

The forum observed that according to the documents produced, the meter was not packed and sealed properly which was mandatory. It further observed that there was no mention of any notice issued to the consumer regarding the checking and the report did not bear any signature of the consumer which was necessary as per PSEB rules.

The forum stated that PSEB had not complied with the rules. The forum held that the demand had been raised against the rules and it was liable to be quashed.