Jalandhar, July 16
Taking stern action against the tehsildar-II for not abiding by its orders pertaining to making payment to a resident, the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum today passed an order issuing warrants of attachment of his bank accounts for August 8 for Rs 18 lakh.

The order pertains to making compensation to the tune of Rs 60,000 per marla to a complainant who had purchased two plots from the rehabilitation department in an auction held in 1981. Complainant Tilak Kumar had not been delivered the possession of his plots ever since.

The forum also maintained that the statement of clerk of the judgement deter had not been received regarding account number. The counsel for the complainant presented before the forum copies of dismissal of revision petition for non-prosecution filed by the tehsildar (sales)-cum-managing officer, rehabilitation department, in the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission on July 6.

The forum had earlier directed the tehsildar to get sanction for payment from the finance secretary through the deputy commissioner for making payment on March 28. It also felt that sufficient opportunities had been granted for complying with the order and hence directed him to show cause in person before it on May 14 for non-compliance of an order passed by the state forum on October 9 last year

Tilak Kumar, a resident of Ladhewali here, had filed the case in the forum and judgement had been made in his favour on March 5, 2003. The complainant was the highest bidder for two plots measuring 16 marlas and 1 sirsai and 13 marlas and 3 sirsais. His bids were Rs 24,500 and Rs 24,700 for the plots for which he deposited 20 per cent at the same time. The office received the remaining deposit in 15 days, which was within the stipulated time. But he never obtained possession of the two plots.

The district forum had directed the tehsildar to make delivery of the plots with costs to the tune of Rs 2000. The state forum later went by the judgment as in the case of Ashwini Kumar who had met the same fate and tehsildar was ordered to make a payment along with 9 per cent interest per annum. In Tilak Kumar’s case, the interest due to him had been enhanced to 12 per cent from the date of deposit till payment.

Jalandhar, July 16
Chief judicial magistrate Varinder Aggarwal has fixed July 19 as the date for arguments on the application filed by SAD (Amritsar) president Simranjit Singh Mann and 20 others for dropping the sedition case registered against them.

The prosecution filed its reply on Monday on the application filed through advocate K.S. Hundal under section 227 of the CrPC on June 28. The case was registered against Mann and others five days for “dishonouring” the statue of late Chief Minister Beant Singh.Meanwhile, the magistrate has extended Mann’s judicial remand till July 30. — TNS

Jalandhar, July 16
The SAD-BJP government, led by Parkash Singh Badal, will declare its media policy within a month. Punjab information and public relations, water supply and sanitation minister Bikram Singh Majithia stated this while addressing a gathering after formally launching an Internet-based Punjabi newspaper “punjabiawaj. com” at Red Cross Bhawan here today.

Majithia said reporting and editorial staff of the media would be properly taken care of in the proposed policy. The minister said nowadays the readers of one area could not know about the routine news items of other cities due to the trend of publishing of city editions by most of the newspapers. Punjabiawaj.com would provide news of every city to the Punjabis even settled abroad, he added.

Presiding over the function, revenue minister Ajit Singh Kohar announced financial aid of Rs 3 lakh from his discretionary funds to chief editor of the newspaper Major Singh for running it successfully.

Former SGPC chief Bibi Jagir Kaur, adviser to CM Dr Daljit Singh Cheema, MLAs Bhagat Chunni Lal, Jagbir Brar, Amarjit Singh Samra, Sarabjit Singh Makkar, SAD urban chief Gurcharan Singh Channi, sports director Pargat Singh and Padam Shree Kartar Singh were present.

Nawanshahr, July 16
More than 100 applicants are facing a lot of hardship as Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) has failed to provide new power connections in a number of residential and commercial areas here. Among the complainants are residents of Vikas Nagar, Friends Colony, Guru Angad Nagar who have been waiting for the new connections for the last six months. But the authorities, it seems, are not much interested.

The residents alleged that PSEB has failed to utilise optimum capacity of transformers. “They have also failed to set up new transformers,” said one of the residents. “When it comes to agri-sector, the government takes a prompt action. The farmers’ applications are being processed speedily, but when it comes to giving connections in urban areas, the government is not bothered. The bias is evident from the fact that the work on augmentation of load capacity of existing transformers is still pending,” rued a resident, pleading anonymity.

Most of the applicants felt that despite urban consumers being major revenue source for PSEB, they were being made scapegoats. “ The state government is bound to provide free power to farmers. We pay the bills, but still we get the step-motherly treatment,” said another resident. It’s also being alleged that applicants with political influence are being given preference while giving electricity connections. Executive engineer B.S. Lakha said the delay is due to overload on transformers. “The plan for installing around 15 transformers in different localities has been prepared, but the work could not be started due to shortage of requisite material and staff,” he added. However, the officer rubbished allegations of favoritism while releasing connections. 

Hoshiarpur, July 16
To monitor the working of government employees, a secret cell is being set up at all the district headquarters in state. While the performers will be suitably rewarded, strict action would be taken against those not meeting the standards. This was stated by the acting SAD (B) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal while addressing a meeting of district officers at mini secretariat here on Monday night.

He sought cooperation from the officers for weeding out corruption in various departments. He also emphasised on the need for providing due respect to people who come to government offices in connection with their work.

Badal junior also showed deep concern over increasing number of youths falling prey to menace of drugs. He instructed the officers concerned to take effective steps against the drug peddlers. The deputy commissioner D. K. Tiwari assured SAD leader about effective implementation of various government programmes.

Nawanshahr, July 16
With the arrest of three persons, local police today claimed to have busted a gang of robbers within 24-hours of two robbery incidents. The accused have been identified as Jasbir Singh, Baljit Singh and Hero, all residents of Jadla village. Talking to mediapersons, DSP Dilbagh Singh Pannu said stolen vehicles, mobile phones along with some cash were recovered from the accused.

Giving details about the two robberies, DSP said, “On the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday, the miscreants who were on a scooter, looted a gunman of civil court judge near Ramgarh village after injuring him with sharp-edged weapons.” The gunman Raghbir Singh was robbed of scooter, mobile phone, identity card and purse.

Later, the accused also snatched a motorcycle, mobile phone and Rs 4,200 from Pritam Das. After receiving the complaints, a special investigation team comprising SHO Sadar Surinder Pal Singh and additional SHO Shamsher Singh was constituted. Nakas were also set up and the cops finally succeeded in nabbing the robbers near Charan. A case has been registered.