COURTS

Forum quashes PSEB demand of Rs 43,218
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, June 1
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has quashed a demand of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) of Rs 43,218 from Mr Inder Krishan Behl, proprietor of Research Engineering Industries, Industrial Area-A. The forum has also directed the PSEB to refund the amount deposited against the said demand from the date of deposit till actual payment.

According to the complaint, the consumer received a bill of Rs 73,009, including Rs 43,218, as sundry charges in August, 1998 for the consumption of energy for the period from July 11 to August 9, 2001. The complainant stated before the forum that when he approached the board official, he was directed to deposit the said bill. He said a due to a threat of disconnection, he had to deposit the said bill.

The consumer alleged that the demand of Rs 43, 218 was illegal and unjustified. He further alleged that there was clear deficiency in services on part of the PSEB for raising a wrong demand. He asked from the forum to quash the demand.

The PSEB pleaded that there was no deficiency in services and demand had been raised rightly. The respondent disclosed that by default computer had started preparing wrong bills from April, 2000, and all bills were corrected later. It maintained that from March, 2000, correct billing was made and an amount of Rs 43,218 was charged from the consumer.

The board disclosed that the consumer got the load extended from 50.925 Kw to 97.170 Kw. It further disclosed that the complainant was charged as per report of the flying squad (October 15, 1999). It stated that the meter installed at the premises of the complainant was defective and the account was overhauled.

The board clarified that after admitting the demand as correct the consumer requested to pay the amount in installments and he was allowed to do so. It prayed for the dismissal of the complaint.

The forum observed that the respondent did not placed any evidence regarding the amounts for which the consumer was charged. The forum further observed that there was no evidence to prove that the meter was defective and it was removed and sent to ME Laboratory for checking.

The forum stated that no notice was issued to consumer before raising the said demand. The forum further stated that it was not understandable as to how the demand had been raised. The forum held that the demand having been raised without any basis was liable to quashed.

State consumer forum terms guarantor as consumer
Case referred back to district panel
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, June 1
The Punjab State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (PCC) has termed a guarantor as a consumer after an appeal filed by Mr Dwarka Dass Bawa, a resident of Civil Lines, Ludhiana.

The state commission has set aside an order of the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum (DCF), Ludhiana, proclaimed on August 25, 2000 in which a complaint filed by the appellant was dismissed on the grounds that a guarantor was not a consumer and the case was remanded back to the DCF for fresh decision and in accordance with law after affording proper opportunity of being heard from the parties concerned.

The commission had concurred with the order of the West Bengal State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in a case of UCO Bank versus Dr Sisir Kumar Kar, wherein it had been held that the guarantor came within the definition of consumer under the Consumer Protection Act 1986.

According to the complaint filed by the consumer before the DCF, Mr Laxman Bawa had taken a loan for auto-rickshaw from State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur through its branch manager, from the Dandi Swami branch, Ludhiana, on the recommendation of Department of Industrial Estate.

Mr Dwarka Dass Bawa (appellant) in the capacity of guarantor for the said load, had pledged three National Saving Certificates of the denomination of Rs 3,000, Rs 5,000 and Rs 10,000 with the bank. He had also executed a memorandum agreement on August 2, 1998, along with the borrower.

But the borrower could not regularly make the payments of installment of the bank loan and the bank raised demand from the appellant. But when the appellant demanded from the bank for a statement of account showing the outstanding dues to the borrower, it refused to do so on the ground that the matter was confidential.

A representative of the appellant, Mr S.S. Sarna, stated before the commission that the as per the clause 19 of the memorandum of agreement signed by the consumer, the liability of the guarantor would be co-extensive with that of borrower. Mr Sarna pointed out, ‘‘It is of course true that his client had not borrowed any money from the bank, Nevertheless, the fact remains that his liability stood co-extensive with that of that bank.’’ For supporting his point of view, Mr Sarna had also placed the aforesaid order of the West Bengal Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission.

Now all parties concerned in this case have to appear before the DCF, Ludhiana on June 10, 2002, for next hearing of the case. The commission had also directed the DCF to decide the case as expeditiously as possible.

‘Fast track court’ inaugurated
A Correspondent

Ludhiana, June 1
A ‘fast track court’ was inaugurated on the District Courts complex here today. Mr B.C. Gupta, retired Additional Sessions Judge, took the charge of the presiding officer of the court. The District and Sessions Judge, Ludhiana, Mr V.B. Handa, urged lawyers to ensure their presence in the court, so that cases could be decided in the shortest possible time.

Mr Handa said this was the sixth such court in Punjab. Five such courts were already functioning in Amritsar, Jalandhar, Patiala, Faridkot and Sangrur, he added. Initially, 74 sessions trials have been entrusted to this court. These cases were pending in different courts since 1998.

CULTURE

City’s hospitality wins glamourous hearts
Shivani Bhakoo

Ludhiana, June 1
Country’s top models, including Jesse Randhawa and Nina Manuel, were here in the city today for design collection show.

Ludhiana Tribune caught up with some of the models here for the fashion show. Tall Punjabi damsel from Jaipur, Jesse Randhawa, is a graduate. As her father was in defense services, she had seen quite a number of places in India. She contested for Miss India title in 1994. She said,‘‘I was recognised by the people after ‘Kuri Kuri’ music video with singer Jassi’’.

Jesse said that it was her first visit to the city and she liked the warmth and hospitality given by the people of Ludhiana. Jasse likes South Indian, Thai and Italian food. She enjoys interacting with people.

Speaking about her most embarrassing moment, Jesse said,‘‘While walking on the ramp, I fell from the stage and I found myself in the lap of audience’’.

Model Nina Manuel started her career in 1996 after her graduation in commerce. She likes this profession. The dusky beauty said,‘‘Modeling is an interesting profession. You happen to meet so many people. You can visit many places. You can make a lot of friends’’.

Nina said that she had done two music videos for Baba Sehgal and Remo Fernandes. She added,‘‘My father is a Keralite and mother is from Goa. I was born and brought up in Mumbai. I have lived in Quwait for seven years’’.

Modeling is a nice profession but jealously should not exist anywhere. There should be a healthy competition and one should learn to make oneself a better person.

Speaking about her eating habits, this Taurian girl said that she preferred to eat Punjabi butter chicken, tandoori chicken and Thai food.

Two other models — Nafisa Joseph and Jas Arora — were also in the city yesterday to inaugurate a showroom at the Mall Road, where they provided consultancy services to help customers choose garments best suited to his or her life-style based on international fashion.

While talking to Ludhiana Tribune, Nafisa said that she was born in Delhi and was brought up at Bangalore. She joined as MTV VJ in October 1996. She was declared Miss India 1997. She said she liked doing music videos. ‘‘I am absolutely not interested in joining the film industry. I am getting a lot of offers from leading directors but I am totally dedicated towards modeling’’, she said.

Nafisa feels that the Punjabi women are very pretty. ‘‘They are absolutely stunning. Yesterday, I visited Golden Temple at Amritsar and the women were simple, elegant and beautiful. I think the Punjabi women are away from stress whereas the women in Delhi and Mumbai lead very stressful lives’’, added Nafisa.

She has absolutely no expectations from life. She said,‘‘Expectations lead you nowhere. You should not expect but should do your duties diligently’’.

Punjabi Jas Arora loves to interact with people. He said that he liked his profession (modeling) as it gave an opportunity to meet so many people.

‘‘I have been modeling for the past five years. My latest movie ‘Danger’ was released recently and I am happy that people have appreciated my work’’, said Jas.