NEIGHBOURHOOD

Senior citizens’ health meet held at Dera Bassi
Our Correspondent

Kalka, November 23
As many as 683 persons availed benefits of the National Lok Adalat in Kalka court today. The cases related to loan defaulters, cheque bouncing, recovery case, driving licences, were settled down in the court of Sub-Division Judicial Magistrate, Amit Sahrawat. Various chronic loan defaulters of State bank of Patiala, State bank of India and of other banks were waved off from the huge interest amount and were asked to deposit only principal amount.

Some of the loan holders were given 90 days by the bank to deposit the loan amount. — OC

Chandigarh, November 23
A day after the Central Administrative Tribunal directed the Chandigarh Administration to issue a corrigendum in newspapers and call for written test all candidates eligible for the post of conductors with the Chandigarh Transport Undertaking, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today made it clear that the authorities could go ahead with the examination of short-listed candidates, but the answer sheets would not be evaluated. The Bench made it clear that the answer sheets would be kept in a sealed cover. The directions came a little before the scheduled time to hold the written examination.

Taking up a bunch of petitions filed by the Administration and other petitioners, the Bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Surinder Gupta asserted: “With the view to strike a balance and no prejudice is caused to either of the parties, the operation of the impugned order passed by the CAT is stayed, subject to the condition that if the Administration decides to hold the written examination of the short-listed candidates, in that event neither the answer sheets shall be got evaluated, nor the result shall be declared. “The answer sheets shall be kept in sealed cover. In other words, the selection process shall remain stayed. If the original applications are accepted by the tribunal, the written examination of the short-listed candidates shall stand scrapped and a fresh written examination for all the eligible candidates shall be held, subject, of course, to the legal rights of the Administration.”

Paving way for the selection of candidates for the posts of conductors, a Division Bench of the CAT had on Friday directed the Administration to issue a corrigendum in the newspapers and call all candidates eligible for the post, who were not called earlier due to the impugned criteria. The written test is scheduled to be held tomorrow. An exam aspirant, Amanpreet Singh, after not being called for interview, had moved the CAT. The candidate had claimed he was eligible but the UT Administration changed the criteria while calling the candidates.

The Chandigarh Administration had called those candidates whose percentage of marks in class 10+2 was 72 per cent and above in the general male category, but did not issued the call letter and admit card to the candidates scoring below 72 per cent. But, such criterion was not mentioned in the advertisement.

Unaware of the legal proceedings pertaining to the conduct of test for 246 posts of conductors, around 3,100 candidates appeared for the exam conducted at four different exam centres in Sector 26.

Chandigarh, November 23
You have always addressed Chandigarh, Mohali, Zirakpur and Panchkula as local. But guess what? The postal authorities do not agree. The charges for speed post facility are different, as these areas do not come under the category of local. And, the Punjab and Haryana High Court sees no merit in arguments for issuing directions to the postal authorities to bring them under local cover.

The issue was raised before the HC by Aseem Takyar. In his petition before the HC against the Union of India and other respondents, the Gurgaon resident had raised the issue of speed-post tariff regarding areas adjacent to Chandigarh, including Panchkula, Mohali and Zirakpur. He told the Bench of Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice Augustine George Masih that the postal authorities had informed him vide letter dated October 31 that the areas did not come under the definition of local for purposes of speed post. His counsel submitted that a policy decision was taken on August 3, 2006, on uniform rate for speed post for neighbouring areas of cities. Takyar added that courier companies were being encouraged, and business diverted.

It asserted: “A decision was taken in August 2006 that speed post and express parcel post articles booked in and destined for Delhi, New Delhi, Ghaziabad, Noida, Gurgaon and Faridabad would be treated as local for the purpose of determining the tariff. "The petitioner also sought information through the RTI which was received on October 31, wherein it is clearly stated that speed post mail destined to and from Panchkula, Mohali and Zirakpur does not come within the definition 'local'. There can be little doubt that the aforesaid is a policy matter”. Dismissing the petition, it added: “As to which area can be treated as local is, thus, within the domain of the authorities concerned. No doubt, it was decided to obtain the opinion and then take a final decision qua different areas while deciding to treat certain areas as local areas vis-à-vis Delhi, but it is obvious that the same decision has not been taken vis-à-vis the areas qua Chandigarh, defining them as local. “Thus, the petition is completely merit-less and is not liable to be entertained as a PIL apart from the merits already discussed”.

Chandigarh, November 23
The National Lok Adalat organised at the District Courts in Sector 43 disposed of nearly 34,750 cases on Saturday.

It was an all different scene at the District Courts in Sector 43 on Saturday, the judges at the courts played different roles during the National Lok Adalat, while many helped the litigants in settling the property dispute cases, some played the role of councillors to get separated couples re-united.

In the Lok Adalat, 21 benches were constituted, in which cases of different categories like Motor Accident Claim Cases, Hindu Marriage Act Cases, Civil Cases, Rent Cases, Executions, Civil Appeals, Compoundable Criminal Cases, Bank cases, Labour cases, Pre-litigative cases of financial institution, Traffic Challans etc, were taken up for settlement. Around 5,347 cases were decided in the court of Rajnish Sharma Chief Judicial Magistrate.

The District and Sessions Judge, SK Aggarwal, stated that the general public should come forward to resolve their disputes through the Lok Adalats as this mode of justice provided quick and economical justice to them. “It also saves the valuable time, money and energy of the litigants. Every award of the Lok Adalat is final and no appeal shall lie to any court against the award of the Lok Adalat,” he stated during the Lok Adalat.

highlights 608 cases were settled under Section 138 of Negotiable Instruments Act involving around Rs 4.12 crore. Compensation of Rs 36.20 lakh was awarded in the settled 17 MACT cases. 2752 civil suits, rent cases, HMA cases, appeals, complaints, arbitration matters etc involving an amount of around Rs 3.29 crore were settled. In 431 execution petitions, an amount of around Rs 11.74 crore has been disbursed to petitioners/claimants. 209 labour cases were settled in which an award of Rs 44.79 lakh was passed. 30,183 traffic challans were settled and around Rs 1.85 crore were imposed and realised as fine. Other than that, 550 pre-litigative stage cases of financial institutions were also settled in the Lok Adalat.

Lok Adalat settles 17,269 cases
Our Correspondent

Mohali, November 23
A National Lok Adalat was organised today by the District Legal Services Authority in Mohali district in pursuance of the directions of the National Legal Services Authority of India.

Justice Suryakant of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, who is also the Administrative Judge of the Sessions Division, Rupnagar, supervised the functioning of the Lok Adalats in the entire district.

Various kinds of cases, including matrimonial, cheque bounce, recovery, traffic, telecom, banking (pre-litigative and pending in courts), were taken up at these Lok Adalats. A total of nine benches in regular courts were set up for the convenience of the public at Mohali and three each at Dera Bassi and Kharar. Besides, one bench each of the Permanent Lok Adalat, Mohali, DTO, Mohali, and of Revenue Courts was set up in Mohali.

According to details provided by Tarn Taran Singh Bindra, Chief Judicial Magistrate-cum-Secretary, District Legal Services Authority, Mohali, a total of 19,344 cases were taken up and 17,269 cases were disposed of at today's Lok Adalats. The amount involved in these cases was Rs 31,49,26,856.

Justice Suryakant told mediapersons that the aim of such Lok Adalats was to reduce the pendency of the court cases. He said even with the disposal of cases at the pre-litigative stage, it could reduce the burden on regular courts as those cases do not come to the regular courts thereafter.

He called upon the public and lawyers in particular to avail themselves of the benefits of the Lok Adalats as both parties, after decisions at this forum, went home with a feeling of winning. Litigation came to an end because no appeal lay from the verdicts of the Lok Adalats. He thanked all concerned for participating in the National Lok Adalat and for making it a success.

Panchkula, November 23
The Panchkula police claims to have arrested two persons, Tony and Monty, in the Gurvinder murder case. They were allegedly seen throwing the body at the General Hospital. According to the police, the victim and the accused used to take drugs and it could be a case of drug overdose as well.

In view of a forensic expert’s revelation that the victim died due to an injury as the spleen was damaged and there were injury marks on the body, the police are again looking into the case. — TNS

Chandigarh, November 23
The Lake Sports Complex authorities have requested the UT Administration to check the alleged irregularities in the privately run Chandigarh Horse Riding Society (CHRS), on the premises of the complex.

As per a letter submitted to the UT Administration, a total land of 90 yards X 200 yards appx. was allotted to the CHRS during 2004 on total lease money of Rs 1,500 (per month) for three years (till 2007). The temporary land was approved by the then finance secretary and after 2007, the lease was not renewed.

As per the submitted document, the agreement was purely on a no-profit, no-loss basis. Also, the CHRS will not be entitled to make any additions on the premises and should vacate the place whenever the administration needed.

In their submission, the authorities have also submitted that the club has extended their area (without permission), not renewed their lease and are also charging money from the amateur riders.

“I would not like to comment on this issue. The matter has been projected in front of senior officials and rest is the administration’s call. I do not want to comment as the issue is sensitive,” said TS Dhillon, general manger, Lake Sports Complex.

Members of the CHRS said the club was paying the regular lease money every month, through cheque addressed to the UT Sports Department.

If the lease of the club is over after 2007, then why cheques have been accepted by the Sports Department till now.

“We are submitting the lease money after every three months through cheque. The last payment was made in September 2013. We are the only club filing income tax and also maintaining the premises of the CHRS. Our trainees are doing well and playing at international levels. We are charging a nominal amount of Rs 3,500 per month from amateur riders. Any official can come and check our records,” said SS Bala, joint secretary, CHRS.

When asked about the lease period, the member added that “We have not received any notice from the administration till date.”

Chandigarh, November 23
Eves of Sacred Heart School, Sector 26, defeated St Kabir School, Sector 26, in the ongoing Rao Jai Singh Memorial Basketball Tournament for Girls being held at New Public School (NPS), Sector 18, here, today.

The team registered a 30-8 victory over their rivals.

For the winning side, Ramya scored 12 points to ensure the team’s victory while for the losing side, Vanshika contributed 4 points.

In the second match, the team of Guru Nanak Public School, Sector 36, beat New Public School, Sector 18, 40-6.

Akshita netted 16 points for the winning side while Anubha collected 6 baskets for the NPS.