Cops nab two with liquor
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 27 — The police has arrested two persons and seized 400 pouches of whisky from their possession.

According to police sources, Ramesh Chand and Dhiraj of Kaithal were nabbed from the Sector 17 Inter-State Bus Terminus when they were about to board a bus. A search of their bags yielded the liquor. A case under Section 61-1-14 of the Excise Act has been registered at the central police station.

Two arrested: The police has arrested Amit Saxena and Gulzar Hussain of Mauli Jagran on the charge of stealing a rickshaw. A case under Sections 380 and 411 of the IPC has been registered at the Mani Majra police station.

Assaulted: Ms Renu of Indira Colony reported that she was assaulted and injured by Suraj of the same colony. A case has been registered.

Mr Abdul Wahid of Buterla village reported that Ismail, Shamshad and Shammi of the same village assaulted and injured him. The accused are absconding.

Injured: Gaurav was injured when his bicycle was hit by a car (CH-OI-Q-0823) near the Government Press traffic lights. The injured was rushed to the PGI.

House burgled: Mr M.S. Bedi of Sector 33 reported that someone broke into his house and decamped with gold ornaments, a VCR and other household goods. A case has been registered under Sections 457 and 380 of the IPC.

DERA BASSI

One held: The police has arrested Ranjit Singh of Nanakpura in Jagadhari for smuggling 80 cases of country-made liquor. In a press note, Mr H.S. Bhullar, Deputy Superintendent of Police, said the accused was arrested in a naka near DAV School on Tuesday night.

The accused was smuggling the liquor to Haryana from Chandigarh in a truck (HYE-1615). The police has impounding the vehicle and registered a case under the Excise Act.

PANCHKULA

Case registered: A case under Sections 279, 336 and 427 of the IPC has been registered with the Raipur Rani police station against Kaka Singh, the driver of truck number HR-13-3239. The driver of a car (HR-2C-0001), in his complaint, had alleged that the truck hit his car near the Jain farm in Mauli.

Sangeet sammelan from Oct 29

CHANDIGARH, Oct 27 — The onset of winter and a festive spirit. To match this, the Indian National Theatre (INT) will organise its 22nd Chandigarh Sangeet Sammelan. This year INT has invited many reputed artistes and a few budding talents with their innovative musical feats.

The programme will begin at 8 p.m. on October 29 with flute recital by Shri Nityanand Haldipur, a disciple of Annapurna Devi daughter of the legendry Ustad Alauddin Khan of the Maihar gharana. The novelty of this programme will be a lady accompanist on the tabla Anuradha Pal, a disciple of Ustad Zakir Husain who came to limelight by her all-woman Indian classic percussion-based ensemble called Stree Shakti. This will be followed by a vocal recital by Shounak Abhisheki, son of Pandit Jitendra Abhisheki, a doyen of the Agra gharana. The last item for the evening will be a unique feature of "Taal" and "sur". Pandit Suresh Talwalkar will play a duet with his son Satyajit Talwalkar on the tabla punctuated with vocal refrains by a group of six vocalists. Pt Suresh Talwalkar is renowned for his exquisite renderings of "tal mala" and "jod tal".

The second evening will present two vocalists. Dr Vandana Katti, the first artiste for the evening, is a disciple of Manik Bhinde a disciple of Shrimati Kishori Amonkar, Jaipur Atroli gharana. Pandit Ajay Pohankar, the second artiste for the evening was spotted as a child prodigy and has continued to maintain his name and fame. He is well known for his experiments in fusion as well as in the renderings of traditional khayal gayaki and bhajans.

The concluding programme on October 31 at 10.30 a.m. will begin with a "jugalbandi" between the harmonium and the sarangi, both instruments for solo performance and accompaniment. Whereas , sarangi is capable of reproducing almost all the nuances of Hindustani music, the harmonium being a key-board instrument has certain limitations. But, not for Mehmood Dhoulpuri, the renowned harmonium artiste who will have a musical debate with his son Fakhruddin on the Sarangi. This will be followed by a vocal recital by Padma Talwalkar who has achieved deeper dimensions in the field of music with a stamp of her individuality. Promoted and patronised by various music companies, her gayaki presents a unique blend of the best of various gharanas with her own personal touch.

The sammelan will be held at Jaysukhlal Hathi Sadan, Bhartiya Vidya Bhawan, Madhya Marg.

— Vandana Shukla

Amend consumer Act, demands CRPC
From Our Correspondent

PANCHKULA, Oct 27 — The Constitutional Rights Protection Council (CRPC) has demanded amendment to the Consumers Protection Act, 1986, regarding filing of complaints with the consumer disputes redressal forums.

Stating this, CRPC national convener Vir Vikram Aditya said that at present a complaint could be filed only at the place where respondent had his head office or where the cause of action had arisen. He said an aggrieved consumer failed to get justice in the absence of the head office or an agent of the respondents at a particular place.

In financial matters such as shares, debentures, car booking, fixed deposits, etc, the jurisdiction of the forum was a big hurdle for the consumers to get justice.

The council has sent representations in this regard to the Chief Justices of the Supreme Court and the High Courts, the President of the National Consumer Commission and the State Commission and to the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.

Councillors take Mayor to task
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 27 — Even as the Mayor, Mr Kewal Krishan Addiwal, adjourned the meeting of the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh (MCC) today, the decision came in for severe criticism from various quarters.

As soon as the meeting started, Mr Addiwal adjourned it after welcoming the new Secretary, Mr H.K. Nagpal. The meeting was adjourned as women staff and a woman councillor had requested him to do so due to "karva chauth", Mr Addiwal added

However, a number of councillors, including women councillors, got angry at the sudden decision of the Mayor and protested against the adjournment. Mrs Saudamini Bambah (nominated) said it was "unfair" on the part of the Mayor to adjourn the meeting when a majority of the councillors were present. The Mayor should have taken the opinion of the House before taking such a step, she added.

A former Mayor, Mr Gian Chand Gupta (BJP), while criticising the decision, said the Mayor should have honoured the Punjab Municipal Corporation Act, 1976, as it was clear in the Act that the meeting could not be adjourned until a majority of the councillors desired so.

A former Deputy Mayor, Mrs Harjinder Kaur, while seeing no logic in adjourning the meeting, said if the meeting was to be adjourned the members should have been informed well in time so that they were not inconvenienced.

Meanwhile, sources revealed that the meeting was adjourned as the Mayor, whose term expires on December 23, did not want to take any "controversial" decision. The agenda of the policy regarding the operation of cable network in the city was listed for discussion at today's meeting.

The sources said the non-inclusion of the issues of the revision of water tariff and imposition of sewerage tax, which had been recommended by the Finance and Contract Committee (F&CC), in the agenda only showed that the Mayor was fighting shy of bringing new tax proposals at the meetings of the House during his remaining tenure.

Capsicum jumps to double
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 27 — Barring cauliflower, cucumber and capsicum, no major fluctuation was witnessed by any vegetable in the local market in spite of truckers' strike during the past three days.

During a survey of the Sector 20 market, it was found that if a kg of capsicum was priced at Rs 30 a kg last week, it was available today at double the price. The wholesale price has increased from Rs 130 to Rs 250 per 5 kg during this period. According to traders, the price has increased due to almost nil arrival from Himachal Pradesh.

Similarly, the price of cauliflower has increased from Rs 12 to Rs 15 a kg during this period. The wholesale price has jumped from Rs 50 to Rs 60 per 5 kg. There was, however, no change in the price of cabbage as a kg of it could be had for Rs 12 a kg in retail and for Rs 50 per 5 kg in the wholesale market.

The prices of cabbage, cauliflower and most of other vegetables had been stable as these come from nearby villages from where these are transported to the local market either on tractor-trailers or rehras.

The price of cucumber has also increased from Rs 12 to Rs 20 a kg in the retail and from Rs 50 to Rs 80 per 5 kg in wholesale market as arrivals were shrinking from Himachal Pradesh during this period.

Bittergourd was available at its old price of Rs 20 a kg in the retail and for Rs 80 per 5 kg in the wholesale market. The same was the case with arbi as a kg of it could be had for Rs 20 a kg in the retail and for Rs 80 per 5 kg in the wholesale market. There was no change in the price of squashgourd as a kg of it was priced at Rs 24 a kg in the retail and for Rs 100 per 5 kg in the wholesale market. Tomato could be relished for Rs 12 a kg in the retail and for Rs 50 per 5 kg in the wholesale market.

The case of lemon was also not different as a kg of it could be had for Rs 30 in retail and for Rs 130 per 5 kg in wholesale market.

The price of ginger has decreased from Rs 40 to Rs 30 a kg in the retail and from Rs 170 to Rs 130 per 5 kg in wholesale market. Beans could be had for Rs 20 a kg in retail and for Rs 80 per 5 kg in wholesale market. Peas could be had for Rs 40 a kg in the retail and for Rs 170 per 5 kg in the wholesale market. Onion and potato were priced at Rs 14 and Rs 5 a kg, respectively.

Ban on cars over 15 years by driving schools
By Our Legal Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Oct 27 — Mr Justice Swatantar Kumar of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, who is monitoring the compliance of traffice rules on a public interest litigation directed the states of Punjab, Haryana and the union territory of Chandigarh to ensure that no car which was more than 15 years old should be used by driving schools.

The Judge further directed that the qualifications and eligibility of the instructors employed by the owners of driving schools, where no instructors had been employed, should also be checked and reports submitted to this court on whether the conditions stipulated under Section 12 of the Motor Vehicles Act and rules framed there under were being adhered to or not?

The D.S.P. (Traffic) of each district alongwith nominee of the State Transport Authority or District Transport Officer accompanied by staff should personally examine the instructors and owners to ascertain whether they were aware of the traffic rules or not.

The court directed the offices to take appropriate action against such driving schools not adhering to rules forthwith, including prohibiting such school till the draw-backs were corrected.

The reports should be submitted before the court by November 3, when the case would be taken up again.

The authorities have been directed to give the status and conditions of cars being used for teaching driving. The court clarifying the earlier order regarding the use of black films and curtains for cars with blinkers allowed either black films or curtains or both to be used on such cars while strictly prohibiting the same on other cars.

GMHS-26 cagers win sub-junior title
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, Oct 27 — Governement Model High School, Sector 26, won the sub-junior girls' title in the Chandigarh Sub-Junior Basketball Championship which was played here at DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 8. In the last league match, GMHS-26 defeated Sacred Heart School, Sector 26, 12-2.

The second position went to Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 16, and the third to Sacred Heart School, Sector 26. The boys' section's final round will be played tomorrow.

Cricket semis: St Xavier's School, Sector 44, will clash with hosts St John's High School, Sector 26, in the final of the under-16 section of the Blessed Edmund Rice Cricket Tournament being played here.

In the first semi-final, St John's School scored a 31-run victory over Bhavan Vidyalaya, Sector 27.

Brief scores: St John's — 206 for five in 25 overs (Satinder Pal 70, Harneet Arora 54, Rajat Talwar 31, Hiteshwar Pruthi 16 n.o.); BV-27 — 175 all out in 24.4 overs (Rahul Kumar 79, Kanav 18, Animesh 2 for3, Akshay Verma 2 for 9, Hiteshwar 2 for 13, Abhay Mohan 2 for 31).

In the second semi-final, St Xavier's School had an narrow nine-run victory over St Anne's School, Sector 32.

Brief scores: St Xavier's — 155 all out in 25 overs (Udai 34, Sumit 22, Bhupinder 13, Saurabh 12, Jugbadal 2 for21, Satbir 2 for 23, Gaurav 2 for 29).

St Anne's — 146 for nine in 25 overs (Jugbadal 26, Aditya 20, Anuj 18, Sahil 13, Satbir 12, Charaneev 2 for18, Bhupinder 2 for 19, Bhavya 2 for 23).

Tomorrow, the under-12 section's final will be played between St John's School and YPS, SAS Nagar.

SGGS-26, GGSCW gymnasts shine
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, Oct 27 — Sri Guru Gobind Singh College, Sector 26, in the men's section and Guru Gobind Singh College for Women in the women's section, won the Panjab University Gymnastics Championship by scoring 149.85 and 66.05 points, respectively.

In the men's section, DAV College, Sector 10, came second, while Government College, Sector 46, finished third. In the women's section, Government College for Girls, Sector 11, and MCM DAV College for Women, Sector 36, got the second and third positions, respectively.

Rajesh of SGGS College in the men's section, and Anita of GCG, Sector 11, in the women's section, were declared the individual allround best gymnasts.

Results: Men (vaulting horse) — Jagvinder Singh (DAV-10) 1, Raj Kumar (SGGS-26) 2, Shakti Manru (ASC, Khanna) 3; pommel horse — Rajesh (SGGS) 1, Jaswinder Singh (SGGS) 2, Ashok (SGGS) 3; Roman rings — Rajesh (SGGS) 1, Jagvinder Singh (DAV-10) 2, Deepak Uniyal (DAV-10) 3; parallel bars — Rajesh (SGGS) 1, Lavneesh Bhambri (GC-46) 2, Jagvinder Singh (DAV-10) 3; floor exercises — Raj Kumar (SGGS) 1, Deepak Uniyal (DAV-10) 2, Lavneesh (GC-46) 3; allround performance — Rajesh (SGGS) 1, Raj Kumar (SGGS) 2, Deepak Uniyal (DAV-10) 3.

Women (vaulting horse) — Tanu (GNKCW, Ludhiana) 1, Anita (GCG-11) 2, Manoj (MCM-36) 3; balancing beam — Poonam (GGSW, Chandigarh) 1, Anita (GCG-11) 2, Meera (GNKCW, Ludhiana) 3.

Uneven bars — Anita (GCG-11) 1, Manoj (MCM-36) 2, Tanu (GNKCW, Ludhiana) 3; floor exercises — Poonam (GGSW, Chandigarh) 1, Manoj (MCM-36) 2, Tanu (GNKCW, Ludhiana) 3.

Allround best perfromance — Anita (GCG--11) 1, Poonam (GGSCW, Chandigarh) 2, Tanu (GNKCW, Ludhiana) 3.

Girls win

Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Sector 20-B, excelled in hockey, kabaddi and handball in the UT Inter-School Tournaments for girls concluded recently.

In hockey, GGSSS-20, won the title in the under-14 section by beating Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Sector 18, 2-0, with both goals scored by Rozy.

In the under-19 section, the school made it to the final. In the under-19 kabaddi, GGSSS-20, got the third place. The school also got the third place in the under-17 handball matches.