Lok Adalat: As many as 37 out of 54 cases relating to Industrial and Labour Laws were settled at a Lok Adalat held here in the Labour Court. The adalat was presided over by Mr RC Sharma, Additional District and Sessions Judge-cum-Presiding Officer.

HOSHIARPUR

Ban: The District Magistrate has ordered the enforcement of Section 144 of the Cr PC in the district. Assembly of five or more than five persons, shouting of slogans and carrying of fire and sharp-edged weapons in public places has been banned under the section. He also banned the use of loudspeakers.

JALANDHAR

Demonstration: Activists of the Punjab State Employees Union staged a demonstration in front of the Deputy Commissioner's office on Friday in protest against the increase in bus fares and electricity tariff by the Punjab Government.

PATIALA

Elected: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Housing Board Residents Welfare Association, Phase I: President — Mr Sohan Lal Sharma; General Secretary — Mr Harminder Singh; and Cashier — Mr Hari Gobind Sharma.
Dharna: Punjabi University Teachers Association on Friday held a dharna on the university campus in protest against the non-release of revised pay scales of university and college teachers by the Human Resource Development Ministry.

PHAGWARA

Rally: Cane growers of this area held a rally on Friday in protest against the failure of the local Oswal Agro Sugar Mill, to start cane crushing. The protesters presented a memorandum to the SDM seeking the intervention of the Punjab Chief Minister for timely action.

PHILLAUR

No clearance: The Union Planning Commission has not given clearance for the electrification of the Ludhiana-Amritsar rail section, according to Mr S.P Mehta, General Manager, Northern Railway. He said the railway was considering to introduce a superfast train between Amritsar and Hardwar.

SAS NAGAR

Prize distribution: The annual prize distribution function of Spring Dales-Public School, Phase IX, was held on Saturday. Students presented a colourful programme of dance, music, judo and other events. The Managing Director of the PSIEC, Capt Narinder Singh, was the chief guest.

Strike call: Employees of various unions of the local Telecom Department would observe strike on November 12, according to Mr J.S Dahiya, Secretary of the All-India Telegraph Traffic Employees Union, Class III, Haryana.

HISAR

Agriculture council: International Council for Sustainable Agriculture and Resource Management has been set up to monitor the sustainability of agriculture for better food production, according to Prof RK Behal, Secretary-General of the council. The council was set up at the conclusion of the International Conference on Food Security held here.
Flood water: The flood water in various districts of Hisar division will be drained out by November 15, the Divisional Commissioner, Mr Dharamveer, said here on Friday. He said as many as 500 pump sets had been installed at various places. He said a girdwari had been started which would be completed this month.

PANIPAT

Cultural fair: The Battle of Panipat Memorial Society organised a five-day cultural fair at Kala Amb, which was inaugurated by Mr Jagdish Yadav, Forest and State Education Minister, Haryana, on Thursday.
Award: Mr Barjesh Kumar, an employee of Panipat Refinery, received the prestigious "Shram Shree" award for the year 1997 from the Prime Minister at a function held in Delhi recently.

PINJORE

Elders' day: The Help Age India, in coordination with DAV Senior Public School, Surajpur, celebrated the Elders' day at HMT auditorium here on Saturday.

SONEPAT

Arrested: The Rai police has arrested Vikram, alias Sonu, of Nangal Kalan village on the charge of allegedly murdering a person of the same village. A case has been registered against him.
Concern: The Sonepat Citizens Council on Saturday expressed concern over the spate of thefts of vehicles from various parts of the city and urged the SP to take immediate steps.
Resentment: Resentment prevails among arhtias, retailers and vegetable growers against the insanitary conditions in the local vegetable and fruit market.

YAMUNANAGAR

Rally: Employees of the Haryana Government will participate on November 15 rally to be held in Delhi, Mr Inder Dutt Sharma, state President, Haryana State Electricity Board Workers Union, said here on Saturday.

Dead: Pandit Narayan Dass (86), President, HP State Truck Operators Union, died of heart failure at his residence in Badoa village on Thursday. The Health Minister, Mr JP Nadda, and the Cooperative Minister, Mr Rikhi Ram Kaundal, expressed grief over his death.
Announced: The government would spend Rs 1.80 crore on the construction of Mandawan bridge in Gehadwin constituency and it would be ready by March, the HP Cooperatives Minister, Mr Rikhi Ram Kondal, said while inaugurating a building of Government Middle School, Naghjyaar, on Friday.
Youth festival: An Inter-College Youth Festival (Group III) concluded here on Thursday. St Bede's College, Shimla, won the first position. Government Post-Graduate College, Bilaspur, and Palampur College won second and third positions, respectively. The function was presided over by the HP Forest Minister, Mr Roop Singh Thakur.

NAHAN

Threat: Members of the HP Government College Laboratory Staff Federation have threatened to boycott practical duties during examinations if there demands were not accepted, Mr Rajesh Mohindra, President of the federation, said here on Saturday.

NURPUR

Bhatiyat utsav: A three-day Bhatiyat utsav, which was inaugurated by the Industry Minister, Mr Kishori Lal, on Thursday at Chuwari, concluded on Saturday. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Sanjay Murti, presided over the closing ceremony. The minister announced a grant of Rs 50,000 for the Bhatiyat Utsav Committee.

SHIMLA

Merger demanded: The Himachal Pradesh Housing Board Employees Association has urged the State Government to merge the Shimla Development Authority and the state Housing Board, Mr Rameshwar, General Secretary of the association, said here on Friday.

SUNDERNAGAR

Killed: Kala Devi (50), a resident of Dabrath Lohara, was run over by the HRTC bus on Friday. The police has registered a case under Sections 279 and 304-A of the IPC.