Factory godown looted
Tribune News Service

PANCHKULA, Oct 19 — A factory godown was looted on the night of October 17 and medicines worth Rs 1 lakh were found missing.

In his complaint, Mr Gurdip Singh stated that he left the premises at 8 p.m. after locking the godown.

In the morning, the helper at the godown called up him, a resident of Sector 20, Chandigarh, and informed him of the theft. On reaching the godown in Phase I of the Industrial Area, he informed the police and reported a loss of medicines stored at the place.

A case under Sections 457, 380 of the IPC has been registered.

A team of fingerprint experts visited the godown and an inquiry into the case is on.

Accident: Mr Satish Kumar Sharma, a resident of Sector 10, was injured in an accident near the Sector 8 filling station here today. First he was admitted to the General hospital in Sector 6 with a serious head injury and and later the case was referred to the PGI. A case under sections 279 and 337 of the IPC has been registered.

CHANDIGARH

Liquor seized: The police has arrested a resident of Janata colony and seized 50 pouches of liquor from him. A case under Sections 61, 1 and 14 of the Excise Act has been registered.

According to police sources, Rajesh Kumar was arrested at a naka set up near the dividing road of Sectors 24 and 25 when he was going on his scooter. The search of his scooter led to the recovery of the illicit liquor.

Assaulted: Mani Majra resident Vijay Kumar reported that he was assaulted by Kala, alias Lucky, a resident of Indira colony, with a sharp-edged weapon. A case under Sections 324 and 34, IPC, has been registered at Mani Majra police station.

Moped stolen: Mr Sandeep, a resident of Sector 15, reported to the police that his moped (CH0I-Q-1367) was stolen from Sector 17. A case under Section 379, IPC, has been registered.

HUDA told to refund forfeited amount
Tribune News Service

PANCHKULA, Oct 19 — The District Consumer Disputes Redressal forum has ordered the Haryana Urban Development Authority to refund Rs 26,700, wrongly forfeited, pay an interest of 10 per cent on Rs 83,700 from the date of deposit and Rs 1,000 towards cost of proceedings to Ms Vanmala, a resident of Panchkula.

In her complaint, Ms Vanmala had stated that she was allotted a residential plot in Sonepat on a freehold basis for Rs 2,30,100. She deposited 25 per cent of the price of the plot and a penalty of 10 per cent on the first annual instalment was imposed. She has added that in spite of verbal requests and personal visits she was denied possession of the plot.

In 1995, HUDA ordered resumption of the plot in question and forfeited the 25 per cent amount deposited by the complainant. Further, she filed an appeal with the Chief Administrator, HUDA, which was forwarded to the Administrator, HUDA, who levied an interest of Rs 33,675 on the total cost of the plot and a penalty of Rs 3,264 and thereafter forfeited Rs 26,700 while ordering a refund of Rs 30,825 out of Rs 57,525. Further, the complainant demanded an interest for six months on Rs 57,525 deposited by her.

In the written statement, the opposite party said that the complainant had failed to pay the first annual instalment of Rs 32,646 up to 1992 and no reply was received on the notice served by it. A fine of Rs 3,264 was imposed and later resumption order of the plot in question and forfeiture of the amount was passed after affording full opportunity. Also, an appeal against the forfeiture of the amount was received from the complainant which was partially accepted and the amount to be forfeited was reduced to Rs 26,700.

The bench comprising Mr R.C. Taneja and Mr B.S. Badhran observed that the non-possession of the plot allotted to the complainant in 1991 in the face of non-development of the area and the subsequent resumption of the plot and forfeiture of the amount deposited was not only ''unjustified, but illegal''. They added that HUDA had indulged in deficient services coupled with unfair trade practice.

The judgement added that since the area had not been developed, HUDA was not entitled to recover interest on the balance sale price from the complainant for its non-payment and was not legally entitled to resume the plot.

Prices of pulses fluctuate
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 19 — The prices of a number of pulses have witnessed fluctuation in the local market during the past two weeks.

During a survey, it was found that a kg of ''mah sabat'', priced at Rs 28 two weeks ago in retail and Rs 25 in the wholesale market, could be purchased today at Rs 30 and Rs 26.50, respectively. The price of ''mah chilika'' went up from Rs 28 to Rs 30 a kg in retail and from Rs 26 to Rs 27 in the wholesale market. The same was the case with ''mah dhuli'' as its price increased from Rs 31 to Rs 32 a kg in retail and Rs 27.50 to Rs 28 in the wholesale market.

There was, however, no change in the price of ''dal chana'' as it was available in the retail and wholesale markets at Rs 20 and Rs 17.50 a kg, respectively. "Kala chana'' was also available at the same price. White ''chana'' was available in the retail market at Rs 36 a kg and Rs 32 in the wholesale market.

''Arhar'' became costly as its price went up from Rs 34 to Rs 36 a kg in retail and from Rs 31 to Rs 32 in the wholesale market.

''Moong'', on the other hand, turned cheaper as the price of ''moong sabat'' dipped from Rs 28 to Rs 26 a kg in retail and from Rs 24 to Rs 21 in the wholesale market. ''Moong chilika'' remained stable at Rs 28 a kg in retail and Rs 24.50 in the wholesale market due to sustained arrivals in the local market.

The price of ''dal masri'' was also stable at Rs 26 and Rs 23 a kg in the retail and wholesale market,respectively. ''Malika masar'' could be had at its old price of Rs 32 a kg in retail and Rs 27 a kg in the wholesale market. The price of ''rajmah'' came down from Rs 34 to Rs 30 a kg in retail and from Rs 29 to Rs 26 in the wholesale market.

Delay in judges' appointment irk lawyers
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 19 — Lawyers at the Punjab and Haryana High Court are sore over the procrastination on the part of the Centre to fill the vacancies of judges.

Against the sanctioned strength of 40 judges, including the Chief Justice, there are only 27 judges on the Bench of the high court. Even this strength will deplete further following the retirement of Mr Justice N.K. Aggarwala after a couple of weeks.

Mr S.S. Behl, a former secretary of the Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association, says the judges are overburdened with work. At times they are even unable to dispose of bail matters on the same day. No wonder these cases are adjourned day after day. Instances are also galore where arguments were concluded long ago but the judgements have not been pronounced.

The high court had recommended the names of seniormost Sessions Judges of the Punjab and Haryana cadre several months ago. Their cases have not been cleared by the union government so far.

Lawyers urge the government to clear the appointment of Sessions Judges for elevation to the high court Bench. Their appointment will give relief to both the litigants and the judges.

Fine knock by Varun
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, Oct 19 — A superb knock of 72 runs off 60 balls by Varun Sethia enabled hosts St John's High School, Sector 26, in getting the better of Shishu Niketan Senior Secondary School, Sector 22, by 26 runs in the under-16 section of the Blessed Edmund Rice cricket tournament here today.

St Xavier's High School, Sector 44, beat Mount Carmel School, Sector 46, by 91 runs. Bhavan Vidyalaya, Sector 27, defeated Manav Mangal School, Sector 21, by 65 runs. The match between St Anne's School, Sector 32, and DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 8, could not be held.

Brief scores — first match: St John's 159 for 8 in 25 overs (Varun Sethia 72, Harneet 30, Akshay 23, Watan 2 for 24, Vinay 2 for 27); SN-22 133 all out in 23 overs (Arvind 29, Uday Kaul 15, Rajesh 15, Amit 11, Asim Ali Gupta 3 for 25, Harneet 2 for 14, Abhay Mohan 2 for 17); second match: St Xavier's 201 for 5 in 25 overs (Puneet Dutt 55, Joseph 34, Sumit 29, Charanjeev 14, Vinod 2 for 31); Mt Carmel 110 all out in 19.1 overs (Ankur 22, Puneet 18, Anuraj 10, Amit 3 for 25, Sumit 2 for 10, Charanjeev 2 for 21); third match: BV-27 182 for 5 in 25 overs (Rahul 54, Hardeep 20, Sumanth 19, Sandeep 11, Sandeep 2 for 28, Manjeet 2 for 31); MM-21 117 all out in 21.3 overs (Manjeet 34, Amit 18, Himanshu 17, Alok 5 for 21, Kanav 2 for 17).

Sanjay Club, GGHS-11 win
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, Oct 19 — Sanjay Football Club, Sector 44, and Government Girls High School, Sector 11, moved up on the second day of the first Chandigarh senior women's soccer tournament for Deepak Kampania memorial trophy, being played at the Football Stadium, Sector 17, here today.

Sanjay Football Club blanked YPS club (yellow) by three goals to nil. At half-time the score was 2-0. Aarti scored one goal and Pinki Sharma scored two goals.

Government Girls High School whipped Shishu Niketan Senior Secondary School, Sector 22, by six goals to nil. Manpreet scored four goals and Bal Ganga scored two goals. Half-time score was 4-0.