Bathinda, May 29
Lawyers here have been fighting a lone battle for the past two years to get their chambers constructed in the new judicial complex, which is presently under-construction, and continue to work from temporary shelters in the open. 

The judicial works too lack sufficient space after construction of the multi-storey judicial complex was started. The lawyers, the litigants and even the judicial officers in the old district courts complex here, located in more than 50-year-old buildings, are a harassed lot. 

The buildings, which were declared unsafe a long time back, house 14 courts of the judicial magistrates. An estimated 2,000 to 3,000 litigants among others visit the courts daily.

The saddest part is that the work on construction of new judicial complex has almost halted or at the best, is progressing at a snail’s pace. No early reprieve seems to be in sight for the lawyers, litigants and members of the judiciary.

Sources said construction was always done in bits and spurts depending upon the availability of funds. This has only increased the construction cost manifold.

Meanwhile, funds have apparently been the bane of the complex. The sources said funds were released piecemeal on most occasions, due to which construction could not really take on. 

The District Bar Association had tried its best to hasten the construction work and had also approached Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal several times so that work could be quickened. However, it did not elicit a desired result.

Jasvir Singh, president, District Bar Association (DBA), Bathinda, said the delay in completion of the new judicial complex had been causing inconvenience to the advocates, litigants and the judges since its foundation stone was laid by the CM in July 2007.

Advocates said they had a harrowing time in summer and during monsoon, their entire seating place become slushy for which they were not able to perform their duties effectively.

At present, Jasvir said, around 700 advocates were registered with the Bar Association and that many could not be adjusted in the little space available at the present site.

He said there was a provision of chambers, booths and dormitories in the new building, which could cater to all practising lawyers in the city.

Early completion of the new complex would make the administration of justice more honourable, he added.

As if the total lack of basic amenities like drinking water, sanitation, public utilities and waiting rooms for visitors, was not enough, the haphazard location of lawyers’ chambers, chaotic parking of vehicles and encroachment of passages and vacant places by unauthorised rehriwalas selling eatables and soft drinks and others like typists, petition writers and stamp vendors, have added to the misery of the visitors to the old courts complex and lawyers alike, rues former president of the District Bar Association, Jatinder Roy Khattar

Surjit Kaur, a litigant, maintains, “This is totally inhuman. I keep standing in verandah outside the courtroom for hours together to wait for my turn, as there is no proper seating arrangement here.”

Kapil Kumar Bansal, a lawyer, said, “The entire court complex does not have a single urinal. While men make use of secluded corners to empty their bladders, the absence of toilet blocks creates an embarrassing situation at times, for the women visitors. The general level of cleanliness and sanitation is also far from what is desired.”

Citing indifference and apathy of the government as the main stumbling block, Bansal laments that despite judiciary being a vital part of the country; it is accorded a low priority as far as allocation of funds is concerned.

Bathinda, May 29
In a first of its kind initiative in the country, a Punjab farmer with big landholding has launched an exclusive 'call centre' for small farmers to provide solutions to their agriculture-related problems.

While talking to media here today, Vikram Ahuja, owner of the call centre named Zamidara Farmsolutions in Fazilka, said that he was aware of the problems faced by the farmers and tried to ease their problems by making the expensive machines available to them on 'pay for use' basis.

He said that call centre would offer latest updates to the farmers on agricultural techniques and developments.

Farmers can confer with agriculture scientists through a toll-free telephone call to the call centre. The centre will work from 7 am to 8 pm and scientists from the state's agriculture university will offer solutions to specific agriculture-related problems.

Besides discussing their problems with the call centre executives, the farmers can get expensive farming instruments on rent which they otherwise cannot afford.

“We have tried to make the expensive machinery available to the farming community on 'pay for use' basis rather than 'pay for ownership'. In this, the farmer has to pay for what he uses and not for what he owns," said Ahuja. 

Elaborating on the use of the call centre, Khushal Chand, a farmer from Begawali village, who recently hired a machine for water levelling, said it made more sense in hiring these machines rather than buying them.

"The main reason for taking this machine on hire was that it is very expensive. It costs about Rs 30 lakh and it becomes very impractical for small farmers like us to shell out such a huge amount for single use and after that this machine becomes a liability," informed Khushal Chand.

Ahuja said that this experiment will bring together the farming community and is expected to yield major benefits for the agriculture sector in the state. He has also approached farmers with a big chunk of land in other districts of the state to open such call centres and help the small farmers in their day-to-day agriculture-related problems, he added.

Muktsar/Bathinda, May 29
In a four-month-old alleged case of female foeticide in Muktsar, the Punjab State Human Rights Commission (PSHRC) has sought the report from the state government, SSP, Muktsar and director Health Services, Punjab before the next date of hearing on June 15.

Earlier, in this case the Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PNDT) cell, Bathinda and an NGO, Beti Bachao Manch, had accused the civil surgeon, Muktsar, for his callous attitude towards saving the foetus.

The complaint was lodged in writing to various dignitaries including National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, deputy chief minister, chief secretary, state family welfare department and deputy commissioner, Muktsar.

Later, Bimal Garg, general secretary, All India Women’s Conference, had lodged the somewhat similar complaint with the PSHRC. He had sought prompt action against the civil surgeon, Muktsar, accusing him of callousness as a reason for the killing of a girl child and also an attempt to save the culprits.

He had alleged that with malafide intentions, the civil surgeon did not make the pregnant lady, her kin and the lady doctor in question a party in the complaint filed in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM).

In his complaint, it was alleged that acting upon the tip-off provided by the PNDT cell, Bathinda, joint teams of the medical staff of Bathinda and Muktsar districts nabbed a couple belonging to village Manak Khana, accused of the female foeticide, in the early hours of January 28, 2009 in Bathinda.

Then the patient and her kin confessed that sex determination had been done on January 26 at Madho hospital, Muktsar and abortion had been done on January 27 at Paramjeet hospital, Muktsar.

It had been alleged that despite being given the whole information, neither the civil surgeon nor the police took any prompt action.

After examining the contents of the complaint, the commission prima facie took cognisance of the matter. In the order, it has been mentioned that the complaint be registered as a case.

Further, the order states, “In this connection, a report under section 17 (i) of the Act may be called for from the state government, department of home affairs & justice, Senior Superintendent of Police, Muktsar and director health services, Punjab before the next date hearing June 15, 2009.”

Hanumangarh/Abohar,May 29
Advocate Jagjit Singh (55) and his nephew Satyender Pal Singh alias Veera, who were killed in a road mishap on Thursday, were cremated in their native village 52 GG Gulabewala late last evening in the presence of many relatives and friends.

As per the information, Jagjit Singh, a resident of Baba Shyam Singh colony, along with his wife Parwinder Kaur, a member of the Municipal Council in Hanumangarh, son Amolak Singh and nephew Satyender Singh Veera were returning home from Bikaner by a car.

The vehicle collided head-on with a speedy jeep near Loonkaransar on the National Highway 15 resulting in the death of Jagjit and Veera. Parwinder and Amolak sustained injuries and were rushed to the PBM hospital Bikaner. The councillor was supported by the ventilator system since her condition continued to be alarming while her son is stated to be normal.

The Bar Association expressed shock over the death of Jagjit Singh and his nephew and expressed heart-felt sympathies with the bereaved family. 

Sriganganagar/Abohar, May 29
As the meteorological department predicted that prevailing heat wave conditions in some parts of west and east Rajasthan are likely to continue during next few days, the state government has chalked out plans to tackle with famine like situation. Notably, highest maximum temperature of 46.1°C was recorded at Sriganganagar yesterday.

The district authorities in Sriganganagar and Hanumangarh are believed to have received a blue print on the multi-prone plan from the office of the Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot today. The CM office while monitoring the situation emerging out of scarcity of drinking water has informed that 3534 tankers for 38 towns/cities and 7264 for 4575 villages/dhaanis had been pressed in to service to transport potable water. As many as 52 towns and 8,000 villages are to be covered under this scheme by next month.

The collectors in 12 districts have been released Rs 16.25 crore for transportation of water. Two special water trains having 142 wagons each are being run from Pali and Bhilwara. The district collectors have been authorised to utilize up to Rs 20 lakh for emergency projects besides purchasing material up to Rs 15 lakh.

Senior IAS officers who had been designated as in-charge of some districts have started sweating in the famine-prone areas to streamline works under the Centre sponsored NREGA scheme.

One of them Arpana Arora along with Dr Arushi Malik was found braving scorching heat in Dhambola, Ghuved, Ladsaur, Venja villages. They interacted with NREGA workers to have first hand information on the bottlenecks. In Ghuved, they were surprised to know that no woman mate had been appointed even when scores of women were on work. 

They approved appointment of three educated girls on the spot to work as such immediately. They pulled the officials in a Community Health Center over insanitation and poor state of female ward. They also examined quality of green fodder being served to cattle in the famine affected villages.

Meanwhile, the state government has directed the whole sale dealers to preserve 500 quintals of grains in reserve stock while the grassroot cooperative societies will stock 20 quintal of wheat each for emergency management and assistance units. 

The petrol pumps have also been asked to increase the quantity for reserve stock. Fodder depots are also to be opened in some districts, sources indicated. Veterinary Medical camps and Farmers camps are also being held. 

Ferozepur, May 29
With sheer hard work and determination, a local boy, Akash Gupta has topped the Combined Entrance Test (CET) for getting admission to engineering colleges conducted by the Punjab Technical University, Jalandhar.

It is for the first time that a student from the Ferozepur cantonment has topped such a competitive exam.

A student of the local DC Model Senior Secondary School, Akash, who is the son of a local grocery shop owner owes his success to his parents and the school teachers.

He has already cleared the entrance tests of IIT, JEE and BITS Pilani examinations. Speaking to The Tribune, Akash said that he did not go for any coaching outside the school and concentrated on self-study. "I took help from my class teachers whenever I faced any difficulty," he said.

About his first reaction after getting the news that he has topped the CET, a delighted Akash said, "It is like a dream came true for me."

Avinash Singh, vice-principal of the school, said that they knew that Akash would do well in all the competitive exams as he was amongst the brightest of students. "He is an intelligent and hardworking boy," he added.

Bathinda, May 29
“Regular study with proper time management has brought me the success,” said Bathinda boy, Kapil Goyal, who has made the city proud by securing third position in the Combined Engineering Test (CET) conducted by the Punjab Technical University (PTU).

Kapil, who passed class XII from the local SSD School, said that just after completing class X, he had started preparing for several engineering entrance tests. “I have been studying around seven to eight hours a day,” Kapil told TNS on Friday evening.

He said he relied on self-study. However, he had been getting constant guidance from his school and teachers.

Giving credit of his success to his teachers and family, Kapil said his parents and his school teachers had always been encouraging and supportive to him in his endeavour. He revealed that he aimed at becoming an IAS officer.

Talking about his hobby, Kapil said he was a cricket buff. “In leisure time, I enjoy batting as well as bowling,” he said.

Son of Puspa Devi, a housewife, and Sukhdev Raj Goyal, a lecturer at the Government Secondary School, Jhumba in Bathinda district, Kapil has been a hardworking and self-motivated student. “We never told him to study as he has been a sincere and hardworking student,” said the proud parents.

Bathinda, May 29
The Guru Hargobind Thermal Project (GHTP), Lehra Mohabbat, has set a new record by completing annual maintenance of unit II in a short period of less than 14 days against approved shutdown of 20 days, thereby saving about Rs 15 crores.

G.S. Sra, member (generation), PSEB, stated that by cutting down the maintenance period, this unit will generate additional 310 lakh units of electricity that would save about Rs 15 crores on purchase of power from outside sources. 

The GHTP is credited with completing annual maintenance and capital maintenance of its units much ahead of the planned shut down periods in the past also.

Annual maintenance of units is carried out every year on completion of 12 months of operation but it is noteworthy that the maintenance of unit II has been carried out after completing 17 months of operation thereby contributing to increased productivity. Unit II that was shutdown on May 14 again started generation yesterday.

The chairman of PSEB, H.S.Brar, himself reviewed the planning and preparation of the annual maintenance before the shutdown.

During this shutdown, additional works on the generator and gas distribution test on electro static precipitators have also been carried out. The saving in time has been achieved through meticulous planning by the project engineers.

Mansa, May 29
District Congress president Ajeet Inder Singh Moffer, Sher Singh Gagowal MLA and Punjab Ishtari Sabha welcomed Parneet Kaur in the Union Council of Ministers as a minister of the state for external affairs.

In a statement, district Congress president said that it is a matter of great proud that Preneet Kaur has been inducted in the Central government for a responsible seat.

With this step, problems of people of Punjab would be solved and development schemes would be brought for the state.

District president of Punjab Ishtari Sabha, Rekha Sharma congratulated Parneet Kaur for her induction as minister of the state in the Central government.

She hoped that Preneet Kaur would work to uplift the status of women and children belonging to poor economic background.

She demanded that the welfare schemes related to welfare of women and children should be implemented in letter and spirit. Woman leader Snehlata and Charanjeet Sharma said that all the women MPs should raise voice for the 33 per cent reservation for women.

Bathinda, May 29 
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum here has found a beer manufacturer and a local seller guilty of selling a defective product to a consumer and slapped on both a penalty of Rs 10,000 as compensation to the consumer along with Rs 1,000 as litigation charges to be paid jointly and severally.

As per the facts of the case, one Dinesh Kumar of the Power House road here filed a case with the Forum against the Mount Shivalik Breweries Limited, Mohali, and a local wine shop located near railway station, the English Wine & Beer Shop. 

He alleged that he had purchased a bottle of Thunderbolt beer for Rs 52. But the beer was inconsumable as he noticed an oval-shaped foreign particle of about an inch inside the sealed bottle. 

He issued a legal notice to the manufacturer and the vendor for paying him Rs 20,000 as compensation. But, the legal notice was ‘vaguely’ replied. Later, he sent a rejoinder, which only fell on deaf ears. Then, he filed a case with the Forum seeking compensation along with the litigation charges. 

During the hearings, the manufacturer denied any direct link with the consumer and argued that since the brewery was at Mohali the district Forum had was not authorised to entertain the case. The manufacturer pleaded that since the consumer did not consume the beer so there was no question of compensation.

It was also stated that there was no expert evidence whether the particle in the bottle was unhygienic or inconsumable. However, this contention was set aside by the quorum, which said it could not be expected that consumer should consume the defective material first and approach the Forum later.

After considering all circumstances and the arguments, the Forum found both the manufacturer and the local seller guilty of selling a defective product.

The quorum of George, president of the Forum, Phulinder Preet and Amarjeet Paul, members of the Forum, ordered the ‘guilty’ to compensate the plaintiff with Rs 10,000 along with Rs 1,000 as litigation expenses.

Bathinda, May 29
District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Bathinda, has ordered Nokia India Private Limited to replace a defective mobile set of the same model with one year warranty or in the alternative, return the entire price of Rs 7,350 along with 9 per cent interest per annum from September 2008 within 45 days to the complainant Gopal Krishan of Bathinda.

George, president, Phulinder Preet and Amarjeet Paul, members of the Forum, respectively, also ordered to pay an amount of Rs 5,000 as compensation on account of inconvenience, harassment and mental torture to the complainant. The complainant shall also be entitled for an amount of Rs 500 as litigation expenses, the forum stated in its order.

It may be mentioned here that Gopal Krishan, the complainant, had purchased the Nokia set 6300 from Nokia Company in April, 2008. But the mobile set stopped working just five months after its purchase.