Jalandhar, January 13
The functioning of the district consumer disputes redressal forum, Kapurthala, and camp courts organised by it at Jalandhar has been paralysed ever since the term of two of its members expired.

While the tenure of a member Sushma Handu completed in September last year, the other member Sudha Sharma retired in December, 2007. As a result, the forum is left with only one member, A.K. Sharma, who is also the president of the forum. However, he cannot take decisions alone as according to the regulations at least two members of the forum need to be present to decide a case.

Interestingly, the Kapurthala forum had been organising camp courts in Jalandhar regularly since the past few months as the number of cases piling up was increasing. The forum had reportedly solved nearly 65 cases and another 150 cases too have been forwarded to it for quick disposal.

But, after the retirement of Sudha Sharma the camps courts could not be held. The consumers, who were notified that court would be conducted from January 2, have been now told to come after January 23.

The delay as a result is causing harassment to the consumers both in Jalandhar and Kapurthala as they have been taking rounds to the offices to inquire about their cases. Since one of the members in Jalandhar forum Rakesh Kumari is also on leave the other two members including Surinder Mittal and president M M Bhalla cannot go to Kapurthala as they do not have any other substitute in Jalandhar. Now the cases in Kapurthala are being conducted only twice a week with a member coming from the Hoshiarpur forum.

Meanwhile, the consumers and the counsels are demanding quick induction of new members to Kapurthala forum or grant of extension to the previous members so that the cases do not linger on for a longer period.

Amritsar, January 13
Keeping in view the alleged increase in the number of cheating cases by Punjabi youths seeking visas by producing fake degrees, Canadian embassy authorities have recently asked its officials to prefer south Indian students rather than Punjabi youths.

This was disclosed by Canadian member parliament of Indian origin, Gurbax Singh Malhi, here on Saturday. However, he added that they had demanded an inquiry into this episode.

He said due to increase in cheating cases by producing fake degrees and marriage certificates by desperate youths seeking visas, a Canadian embassy official wrote to the immigration authorities in this regard.

He said the Indian diaspora, especially Punjabis, have urged the Canadian parliament to hold a thorough probe into the matter, which has become a burning issue.

Meanwhile, Malhi said they had brought a motion in the Canadian house to scale down the cases of cheating by way of fake marriages to settle young girls and boys.

It also seeks to put a five-year-stay condition on both the sponsoring parties and the person who is going abroad on marriage basis. Presently, it is mandatory for the person seeking the visa to stay with the sponsor for a span of two years. He claimed that the issue was likely to be taken up for debate in the house in the next five to six months.

Talking to media, Malhi, who was here to participate in the NRI Sammelan, said the NRIs have taken up the matter of providing visa to “blacklisted” persons. stating that there were only 1,000 to 1,500 blacklisted persons in America and Canada, he urged the government to liberalise the visa policy for such persons so that they could visit their native places. 

Nawanshahr, January 13
Though the formal declaration of the schedule of civic body polls is yet to come, the under-currents of electioneering for the ensuing municipal council polls can easily be gauged from the moves and counter-moves, apparently with an eye to gain electoral gains, by the local leaders belonging to both the ruling SAD-BJP alliance and the Congress here.

The aspirants of SAD-BJP tickets have started holding indoor meetings with the local MLA, Jatinder Singh Kariha, for evolving strategies for the ensuing council polls and are trying to get wards re-demarcated as per their choice. A local SAD leader is also said to be giving assurances to ticket aspirants that he is constantly in touch with the SAD (B) acting president, Sukhbir Singh Badal on the issue.

While the leaders of the ruling alliance are claiming to be in touch with the MLA, Kariha, CM Parkash Singh Badal or SAD (B) acting president, Sukhbir Singh Badal for ameliorating the sufferings being faced by the residents, MC chief and youth Congress leader Lalit Mohan Pathak alias Ballu, has started countering indoor moves of the SAD-BJP by shrewdly establishing a rapport with the residents here.

Interestingly, with water-works getting out of order, the residents of colonies situated at Kulam Road and Chandigarh Road are virtually crying for potable water. 

Hoshiarpur, January 13
Former state minister and a senior state Congress leader Jagmohan Singh Kang has alleged that the SAD-BJP government has miserably failed on all fronts. On account of mismanagement the state government was facing acute financial crisis, he 
further alleged.

Talking to media persons here today, Kang alleged that the law and order situation was worsening. Rising unemployment was leading to frustration among youths leading to evils like drug addiction and their involvement in anti social activities like terrorism, said Kang. The state police had failed to even find the motive behind the murder of Rita Bawa, principal of Kanya Maha Vidyalaya, Jalandhar. The recent violence in the Jalandhar jail indicated misrule in jails of the state, he added.

Shortage of power and imposition of intermittent unscheduled power cuts had adversely affected the industrial as well as agriculture in the state leading to closure of industrial units, said Kang.

Defending his party Kang said as many as 75 per cent of the cases registered against Congress leaders and workers had been proved to be false. Accusing the state government for pursuing a policy of vendetta against Congress workers and leaders, he said as many as 16 cases registered against them in Kapurthala only had proved false, he added. — OC

Nawanshahr, January 13
The Association of Principals of Non Government Colleges, GNDU (Amritsar jurisdiction) has strongly resented the state government’s move to withhold third quarter grant for the privately managed government aided colleges. 

According to the move, the principals of these colleges have been asked to furnish certificates certifying payment of retrial benefits to the retired employees. In a press release, association’s general secretary Dr Jaspal Singh Randhawa termed the decision ‘illogical’ and said it was merely an exercise by the bureaucrats to divert the attention.

Batala, January 13
It’s a winter passion, which peaks in the the month of January. Come Makar Sankranti and the skies are full of colourful kites of all shapes and sizes. The kite flying craze was in full swing in the town on Sunday with a large number of residents, especially kids, celebrating Lohri with traditional fervour.

“The kites flying throughout the day present a wonderful show. I am really passionate about kites and love to fly them, especially during festivals like Lohri, Makar Sankranti and Basant Panchmi,” said a resident, who was seen fulfilling his passion, along with kids.

The markets here are flooded with kites ranging from Rs 1 to Rs 70. While a good quality locally made kite is available for Rs 20, the ones imported from Uttar Pradesh are priced at Rs 40. However, giving them a tough competition are Chinese variants. “Many people prefer Chinese kites, as they are cheaper and of better quality. The most favoured are those made up of nylon/polyester material,” said a kite seller.

The locally-made kite string (dor) fetches a price of Rs 70 per reel (1,000 mts), while those imported from UP, have a smaller length. The strings are polished with glass shards and lead to make them strong enough for kite fights and powerful wind currents. The mixture is known as manja. It’s a part of the ritual to present ‘dor’ and ‘kite’ to the near and dear ones on festival. 

Hoshiarpur, January 13
One person was killed while two others were injured when the lorry in which they were travelling rammed into a parked truck near Piplanwala in the wee hours today.

The three were residents of the Central Town in Jalandhar.

The deceased Joginder Ram, hailing from Bihar was killed on the spot. Rakesh Kumar, hailing from Uttar Pradesh and Ram Kumar, a resident of Bar Khandi, Dera Sahib, HP were injured and admitted to the Civil Hospital.