Amritsar, June 8
To safeguard the future of an aged couple, Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Sandeep Rishi today ordered one of their sons to accommodate them in his house and the other one was given the responsibility to arrange for their maintenance expenses.

Exercising the provisions made under the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act-2007, the SDM pronounced the judgement in the matter after hearing both the sides. Victim Karam Singh (90), founder proprietor of Giani tea stall, a famous joint for the last 58 years on the Cooper Road here, had submitted a complaint to Deputy Commissioner (DC) K.S. Pannu some days ago that his sons had refused to keep him and his wife in their houses and that they had taken shelter at their widowed daughter Mohinder Kaur’s house.

The DC forwarded the case to the SDM, who summoned all the four children of the victims - Harinder Singh, Gurmeet Singh, Satnam Singh and daughter Mohinder Kaur.

After hearing both the sides, the SDM ordered Gurmeet Singh to take his parents along with him to his house and ordered Harinder Singh to pay, before fifth of every month, Rs 10,000 per month for their living expenses.

The SDM has also ordered to implement these orders with the help of the police, if need be. The SDM, Sandeep Rishi, said in case the sons did not follow the orders, their whole assets could be seized, as per law.

Meanwhile, narrating his tale, Karam Singh said he basically hailed from Una district in Himachal Pradesh and migrated to Amritsar about five decades back. “The tea stall was established. I had put in my earnest efforts right from 5 am till 10 pm daily and did all petty jobs, like washing utensils, myself to raise it for the sake of my children’s well being. Whatever capital I could generate through this stall, I divided it among my children, so that they should not get into any tussle over property issue. Now, when we have grown old and need their cooperation, they ditched us,” he said.

On receiving the complaint, the DC had sent them to the Old Age Home for immediate relief, but they could not get themselves adjusted there, apparently because of their old age and being suffering from chronic diabetes and heart ailment.

Jalandhar, June 8
Two stool samples taken from the diarrhoea-ridden patients of the Bathaan village tested positive for the Vibrio Cholerae, a causative agent of the deadly cholera disease.

The report findings recently received by the district health authorities revealed that of the eleven samples collected from the village, two resulted positive for cholera, the reason enough for the department to worry.

Sources in the department revealed after the outbreak first reported on May 22, six samples were collected and sent to Government Medical College, Amritsar. After one sample was tested positive for cholera, five new samples were again sent to the same laboratory to rule out any error in the result. However, one sample again tested positive for the disease, said an official. Jalandhar district is witnessing cholera cases for the second time in less than a year. Earlier, cholera claimed life of a 12-year-old girl and made over 90 individuals ill in Shamshabad village in July last year.

Over 120 patients had fallen ill after the outbreak occurred in the village on May 22. Although, a patient named Sukhdev died after remaining admitted for acute diarrhoea, the authorities maintained that Sukhdev did not die of diarrhoea.

Confirming the results, Dr HK Singla, Civil Surgeon, Jalandhar, said all measures have been taken by the authorities to prevent further spread of cholera and other waterborne diseases in the village. 

Nakodar, June 8
Water samples of Kasupur village, where 60 cases of gastroenteritis were reported, failed potability test.

District Health Officer RL Bassan confirmed the development and added they had instructed villagers not to drink from regular water source until the authorities clear the samples.

Environmentalist Baba Seechewal visited the village on Tuesday and blamed diluted water of Chitti Bein for the spread of gastroenteritis at the village. Samples were taken from the water source of one Jeet Ram’s residence and from village gurdwara.

Resident Santokh Ram said eight members of his family suffered from diarrhea, vomiting and breathlessness. He requested the authorities to clean the water source of the village to prevent the occurrence of such disease. SMO Veena Paul, Shahkot Civil Hospital, said, five new cases of gastroenteritis were reported on Tuesday. She said the condition of patients was stable.

Amritsar, June 8
Guru Nanak Dev University has decided to offer BA (Honours School in Punjabi), MA (Honours) in Punjabi and MPhil (Punjabi) courses free of cost to the aspirants.

While the BA (Honours) course is being run by the School of Punjabi Studies on the main campus here, the MA (Honours) as well as MPhil (Punjabi) courses are being taught by the Punjabi Department at its Regional Campus, Ladhewali, Jalandhar.

For online submission of forms for admission to these courses, a helpline has also been set up in the Punjabi Department in Amritsar.

Dr P.S. Sidhu, Head of the School of Punjabi Studies, said the process of online submission of forms for admission would continue till June 15 for BA (Honours) and up to June 30 for MA (Honours) in Punjabi courses.

He said persons interested in joining MPhil (Punjabi) course could submit their application forms online from July 5 to 22. The entrance test would be held jointly for both the places for MPhil (Punjabi) on July 30 on the school premises in Amritsar and counselling would also be held at the same venue on August 4.

By introducing MA (Honours) in Punjabi, the university, under the patronage of its Vice-Chancellor Prof A.S. Brar, had taken another initiative for the development of Punjabi language, said Dr Sidhu. On the main campus, two courses - computer application in Punjabi and Knowledge of Shahmukhi script - had also been included in MA (Honours) in Punjabi, he said.

Amritsar, June 8
Deputy Commissioner K.S. Pannu today dismissed the services of a patwari, Manjeet Singh, for being deficient in performing his duties.

According to information, Manjeet Singh was found to be involved in illegal transaction and tampering with the records.