Mehndi, rangoli contests mark Teej at KVM
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 10
Amidst fun and fervour, students and staff of Kundan Vidya Mandir, Civil Lines, celebrated Teej, the festival of swings, songs and sweets, here today.

On the occasion, mini hall of the auditorium of the school was decorated with swings and with phulkari chadars in the backdrop. Girls wearing colourful dupattas were singing folk songs in chorus. Nearly 17 girls from classes IX to XII participated in rangoli and mehndi competitions organised on the day.

Girls applied mehndi in traditional as well as contemporary designs on their hands. Designs were so intricate as the contestants seemed to outdo many experts of the city.

In the rangoli contest, girls used sawdust, bells, mirrors, rice, pulses, flowers and coconut to design rangoli in floral patterns, birds, geometrical designs and the ever popular Ganesha. Two girls formed a team to make rangoli designs.

In rangoli, Deepika and Reema were first, Tanu and Vani were declared second and Simran and Shreya won the third prize. Shivani and Richa got consolation prize. In mehndi contest, Priyanka of class XII was declared first, followed by Shruti from class XI. Rashi and Shruti from class XI shared the third prize.

The contest was organised by Ms Roop Ranjan Dharni, craft teacher. Ms Rupa Bakshi and Ms Muninder Sandhu from the College of Home Science, Punjab Agricultural University, were the judges on the occasion. Ms Neena Khanna, principal, gave prizes to the winners of various contests.

School heads meet Transport Minister
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 10
The Association of Punjab School Education Board Affiliated Schools, Punjab, held a meeting with Mr Tej Prakash, Transport Minister, Punjab, here yesterday.

Stating this in a press note, Mr Rajinder Sharma, president, said that the members told the minister about the problems faced by them regarding imposition of special road tax on vehicles owned by schools for perrying students. He said that the tax was an additional burden on the schools which were using these vehicles just twice a day while for the rest of the day these vehicles remained in the school sheds.

Mr Sharma said that the minister assured them that the matter would be solved at the earliest. He said that a committee would be set up that would listen to the problems of the school authorities and solve the issue amicably. 

CONSUMER COURT
Forum quashes demand against power theft
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 10
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has quashed the demand of Rs 43,628 raised by the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) against a consumer, Ms Bhupinder Kaur, a resident of Bhai Randhir Singh Nagar, on account of theft of power. The PSEB authorities have been directed to refund the amount deposited by the complainant along with 12 per cent interest till the date of actual refund and further to comply with the order within one month.

According to the complainant, the electric meter installed on the residential premises under account number AN 1900443 was burnt in September, 2001, and on being intimated to the PSEB, the same was changed. The damaged meter was taken away in a loose condition and no intimation was sent about its being tested in the ME Laboratory.

However, the PSEB authorities raised a demand of Rs 43,628 vide their memo dated January 22, 2001, saying the meter was running slow by 72 per cent. Since the PSEB threatened to disconnect the power supply if payment was not made, the complainant had to concede and agreed to pay in instalments.

The PSEB admitted that energy meter was changed and on being tested in the ME Lab, it was found that the seals of the meter were fake and counter was changed, as a result of which the meter was recording 72 per cent less consumption. As such, the account of the complainant was overhauled and the disputed demand was raised. The PSEB further contended that the complainant had admitted the demand to be correct and had pleaded for payment in instalments, which was agreed upon.

In his ruling, the president of the forum, Mr Hardial Singh, said while removing the meter from the premises of the complainant, the meter was not packed and sealed. Further, the consumer or his representative was not present at the time of checking in ME Lab, nor has the PSEB produced any evidence to show that the consumer was intimated and asked to be present during the testing of the meter. Therefore, the demand had been raised against the rules and was liable to be quashed. The parties were left to bear their own costs.