Seasons coming
Asha Ahuja

Ludhiana, February 27
Come March, it is convocation time of Christian Medical College and Hospital. Students are preparing a musical titled ‘Seasons’ for the event. Students will unfold the spring, summer, autumn and the winter through songs and dance.

Students Shewta and Vijju say, “Seasons will have songs from college’s earlier plays ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ and ‘Joseph and his Techni Coloured Coat’. The spring will include compositions based on both Indian classical and Western music. The autumn will have Vivaldi’s composition of the season. The summers will have folk dances from Rajasthan.”

The students are managing everything. They have been practising for the past three weeks and this will continue till March 13. The play will be staged at Guru Nanak Bhavan here from March 14 to 16.

All the medical students will be involved in this musical. Shubra, Madhuri and Mani are responsible for the choreography. 

Forum penalises Baron International
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, February 27
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed Baron International Limited to refund Rs 12,750 on account of cost of the DVD player purchased by Mr Lakhwinder Singh, a resident of Karnail Singh Nagar, Phase II here. The Forum has also directed the company to pay interest on the amount at the rate of 12 per cent from January 18, 2001, the date of purchase, till actual payment, along with Rs 1,000 as costs of litigation and compensation to the consumer.

According to the complaint, Mr Lakhwinder Singh purchased a DVD player of the said company from Gurcharan Singh and Sons, Gaushala Road, here for Rs 12,750 on January 18, 2001. He said the DVD player had been found to be defective.

He said Mr Gurcharan Singh, the proprietor of the shop, had got the software changed, but the fault remained. He further disclosed that the proprietor had advised him to approach the Regional Manager, Baron International Limited, in Chandigarh, which he did.

Mr Lakhwinder Singh said after repeated requests, a mechanic with the company turned up at his residence on April 5, 2001. He had checked the DVD player of the same model purchased by his brother, which had the same fault, and complaints regarding both sets were lodged.

Mr Lakhwinder Singh further said on the advice of the mechanic, his brother had sent the DVD player to a service centre. He added that when the fault could not be rectified by the Chandigarh branch of the company, he had asked the complaint staff of the company to register his complaint, which they did, after repeated requests, on May 2, 2001.

Mr Lakhwinder Singh stated that company officials had visited his house and had remarked that the fault had not been located. He further said a senior official of the company had told him that the fault was not in his knowledge and the R and D department of the company in Vadodara had not been able to detect the fault.

After making many requests for replacement, the complainant met the Regional Manager of the company in Chandigarh on June 9, 2001, who assured him that the DVD player would be replaced. The consumer had also given a notice to the company for replacement of the DVD player. The consumer demanded a payment of Rs 12,750 on account of the cost of the DVD player, Rs 15,000 on account of mental pain and agony and Rs 5,000 as costs of litigation and other expenses, along with interest at the rate of 12 per cent per annum.

The company pleaded that its technician had visited the residence of the customer to check the DVD player and the audio and video CD had been found to be working properly, but not the DVD. It added that the consumer had been assured that the DVD player would be replaced after fresh stocks were received and supply had been delayed as it was an imported set.

The company maintained that the consumer had been asked to give it some time, but he had refused the replacement which had been offered to him. The respondent stated that it was ready to replace the set or to refund the amount. It further said it was willing to give any other relief to the consumer which the forum deemed fit.

The Forum directed the company to pay the consumer Rs 12,750 on account of the cost of the DVD player. It directed the company to pay the consumer interest on the said amount at the rate of 12 per cent and Rs 1,000 as costs of litigation and compensation.