The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

COURTS

HIGH COURT
Release PF to kiln worker

Chandigarh, March 9
The High Court has directed the Regional Provident Fund Commissioner at Karnal to release general provident fund to a Yamunanagar district resident. Pronouncing the orders on a petition filed by Mr Suresh Kumar, earlier working with a brick kiln, Mr Justice R.S. Mongia and Mr Justice K.C. Gupta observed: “We are of the view that the interest of justice would be met if without insisting on the technicalities regarding the application of the petitioner being in a particular proforma, the Provident Fund Commissioner should release the GPF amount to the petitioner”.

The Bench added that he would get whatever contribution was deposited by the brick-kiln owner as the petitioner’s share, besides his own share. It ruled that the directions should be carried out within three months.

Consumer commission allows plea against
forum order
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, March 9
The UT Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has allowed the appeal of Ajit Chawla, a resident of Panchkula, against the order of Consumer Forum-I. The complainant, who was dissatisfied with the relief granted to him by the District Forum-I, had moved complaint in the Consumer commission against the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority and State Bank of India, NRI Branch, Sector 17-B.

It was stated in the complaint that he had applied for allotment of a residential plot measuring 500 square yards. The complainant had deposited the entire amount of earnest money and thereafter the PUDA had allotted a plot to the complainant in Phase VI, Mohali. The second installment of Rs 1, 31, 250 fell due on August 1997, then the complainant instructed State Bank of India, NRI branch, Sector 17-B, Chandigarh, to pay the same to PUDA, Phase- 1, Mohali, out of NRI account held in the bank by complainant’s son Avinder Singh Chawla and his wife Gurpreet Kaur.

The complainant had alleged that on due to the fault of bank, the second instalment was paid to PUDA for the second times. The PUDA deprived benefit of Rs 1,31,250 paid to it without affording any corresponding advantage to the complainant. The complainant had requested the PUDA to recalculate the interest and the total amount due from the complainant on account of balance price of the plot but the he did not get any response. The complainant was asked to deposit a sum of Rs 2,80,000 as per PUDA letter. The matter regarding rebate interest on the second instalment paid twice was kept in abeyance for consideration at later stage. The demand of the PUDA is unreasonable and it does not take into account, the second instalment deposited twice and it had caused a loss of interest to the complainant. It was alleged that this was an act of deficiency in services on the part of, PUDA.

The Bench comprising Mr Justice K.K Srivastava, Mr P.K Vasudeva, Ms Devinderjit Dhatt, observed that the complainant was entitled to interest on the amount deposited with the PUDA upto March 15, 1999, when possession for the plot was offered to the complainant. Apart from it the PUDA could not charge interest on the instalment till March 15, 1999. “The appeal, thus, succeeds and is allowed to the extent that the PUDA should pay interest on the amount deposited by the complainant upto March 15, 1999 from the date of deposit agreed upon to be paid and should not charge interest on the installment till the date the possession was offered to the complainant on March 15, 1999. The rate of interest on the amount as awarded by the District Forum-I, should remain as it is at the rate of 12 per cent”.

Bar Association elections on April 20
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, March 9
The District Bar Association has decided to hold elections for the office-bearers’ posts on April 20, for the year 2001-2002. Nominations for the post of president, vice-president, joint secretary, treasure, executive-members are invited between March 26 and March 31. The president of the District Bar Association, Mr N.K. Nanda, said in a press note here yesterday.

The Bar had nominated, Mr G.S. Malik, as returning officer, who will be assisted by Mr L.R. Chadda and Mr R.L. Luthra on the election day. The scrutiny of nomination papers will be done on April 3 and withdrawals will be allowed on April 4.

CULTURE

Committed to cause of Punjabi serials
Parbina Rashid

Chandigarh, March 9
After completing the first phase of shooting the Punjabi TV serial “Apni Mitti”, the Director Krishan Lamba is all set to start two new ventures, one with a patriotic subject, “Udeek” and the second one with a theme of comedy called “Nain Preeto De”, both to be telecast on Zee Alpha Punjabi Channel.

Talking about his experience with the artists of Punjab , he said there is no dearth of talent in this region. However, the younger folk need some polishing as most of them lack professional training in acting, he said.

Expressing disappointment over the lack of professionalism specially among the female artists here, Lamba said most of the young female artist are only running after glamour and were not committed to their work. Talking about his nightmarish experience with his leading lady who left after everything was finalised, he said, “this type of unprofessionalism costs the entire unit dearly as the producers of the regional productions have to work with shoestring budgets”.

After long term association with big names like Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Shakti Samanta and KC Bokadia, Lamba wants to put his experience in upgrading the Punjabi films. “The time is ripe for Punjabi serials now as the new channels have considerably widened the number of viewership all over the world,” said Lamba.

His new serial “Udeek”, based on the tragic story of the long wait of a woman for her husband’s return from a Pakistani jail is going to be shot soon. Shivender Mahal is going to play the leading role. The serial would also feature Jonita Doda and Happy Virk. The pilot shooting for his other serial “Nain Preeto De” has already started. The story revolves around the student life and their problems specially that of accommodation in Chandigarh.

The favourite shooting spots in and around Chandigarh which have attracted Lamba are the wide, neat roads. Besides Rose Garden and Rock Garden also look quite attractive on the celluloid, he added. Shooting in Punjab has another major advantage, Lamba said. To shoot a scene with Punjabi flavour outside Punjab, a set needs to be constructed which are quite expensive while in Punjab everything is readymade and authentic, he said.

Talking about the financial constraints associated with Punjabi serials, Lamba said a director has to work within Rs 70,000 to 75000. Whereas an artist in Mumbai is paid about Rs10,000 per episode , an artist working for Punjabi serial gets only about Rs 1,000 per episode.

The Director who was in Mohali in connection with the shooting of “Apni Mitti”, completed , the first phase of shooting today. The serial which projects the shady side of human nature and women’s tolerance and sacrifice in our male-dominated society is being produced by Suman Lata. The music has been composed by well known poet Surjeet Pattar. The main characters are played by Shabinder Mahal, Gurkirtan, Vijay Tendon, Ashok Bali, Meenu, Gurvinder, Jonita Doda, Nirmal Rishi, Parminder Pal Kaur and Sahib Singh.

Originally scheduled to be telecast from January, now it will be on air from March 14 on Zee Alpha Punjabi. The next phase of shooting is to commence soon in various locations in the USA.

Photo-journalism workshop ends
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 9
Peter May of Berlin’s International Institute of Journalism concluded his three-day workshop on visual journalism in the Press Club here today with a demonstration of picture editing and layout.

This widely travelled man with a German accent and a deep voice is hurt whenever he sees that a good photograph has been killed by a bad page layout and cropping. He showed how pictures shot and cropped correctly could highlight the visual message in a newspaper. He also showed how to use the dummy to prepare an accurate draft of a news page. Journalists and amateurs who attended the workshop learnt a lot about how to avoid many of the usual mistakes.

Peter said he had developed his talent for visual journalism by imposing a rigorous discipline on himself. He also said most contemporary newspaper designs in India were poor copies of western ideas. He said he was in India to share his experiences as a visual journalist with professionals here. He acquired most of his skills while he was on the staff of the New Berlin Illustrated in Germany. He is also a reporter with a remarkable love for Arabian and African languages.