RSA Motors told to pay Rs 40,000 for delay in repair work
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 12
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed RSA Motors, Industrial Area, to pay compensation for delaying repair of a Mohali-based complainant’s car. The forum has directed the opposite party to pay Rs 40,000 as compensation for mental agony.

Daljit Singh Gill, the complainant, alleged that he purchased Chevrolet Cruze car, which was covered under warranty for three years or 1,00,000/- kms, whichever was earlier from the date of delivery.

After about 21 months, he reported some problem in steering system of the car.

“The car was taken to the workshop of the opposite party and the workers told me to leave the car in the workshop to investigate the problem and come after two days,” the complainant alleged.

The opposite party averred that the parts were not readily available and the complainant was asked to come after a few days till the parts were received.

The complainant was given option either to leave his car till the parts were available or to take back the car.

However, the complainant said that he had another vehicle with him and he did not want to take the car, the opposite party stated.

“The fact remains that the defect in the steering was brought to the notice of the opposite party on November 2, 2013, and the car was delivered to the complainant after removal of the defect only on December 19, 2013, i.e. after one month and 17 days of pointing out of the defect.

If the owner of a car has to wait for such a long period for repair of his car, it clearly makes a case of harassment to the consumer,” the forum ruled.

Consumer court allows six appeals filed by institute
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 12
The National Consumer Court has allowed six appeals filed by the Regional Institute of Cooperative Management, Sector 32, here, holding that education was not a commodity and therefore, it was out of the purview of consumer courts.

Earlier, Naveen Kumar Chaudhary and five other students of the Regional Institute of Cooperative Management (RICM) had approached the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Chandigarh, alleging that the Regional Institute of Co-operative Management, Chandigarh, claimed that its Postgraduate Diploma in Management was equivalent to Masters of Business Administration (MBA) and recognised by the Association of Indian Universities. Placing reliance on these representations, all six complainants, took admission in its two years’ full-time PG Diploma in Management (Agriculture Business), for the 2010-12 batch.

They were issued certificates, which reflected that those certificates were recognised by the All-India Council for Technical Education, Ministry of Human Resources and Development, GoI. However, it was not mentioned that it was equivalent to the MBA degree.

The complaints were allowed by the UT State Commission directing the institute to refund the entire fee Rs 4,53,500 along with the compensation of Rs 1,00,000 each.

The institute approached the National Commission against the said orders by filing revision petitions through their advocate Pankaj Chandgothia.

Man gets jail in rape case
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 12
A local court today convicted a man in a case of rape. As per the prosecution case, the 30-year-old victim stated in her complaint that she was residing with the wife of her late brother. Arun Kumar, a resident of Ambala, was a son of her maternal uncle who died a few years ago. Arun came to Chandigarh in 2011 and started residing at the same place. The victim said the convict's mother assured her on many occasions that she would get her married to Arun as it was permissible in their society.

According to the complainant, the accused developed physical relationship with her. Later, the accused denied to marry her.

According to the complainant, the convict's mother also refused to fulfill her promise. Following which, a compliant was filed by the victim and a case was registered against the accused.

CRIME

Now, thieves target businessman’s house
Hina Rohtaki
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, May 12
The fear of mystery thefts in Panchkula went viral today when thieves struck at a businessman’s residence in Sector 7 that too inside the room where he was sleeping with his wife and decamped with lakhs. Ravinder Thakur, the owner of the house, and his wife did not come to know about any movement inside the room even while opening the cash box or cupboards.

Cash amounting to Rs 4 lakh and jewellery worth Rs 2 lakh has been stolen from the house. The grill near the drawing room was found broken by the family in the morning.

This is the eighth such incident. Already, the thieves with the same modus operandi have struck in Sectors 2 and 6 that too in the presence of the family leading to a panic in the city.

The police are suspecting that the miscreants may be using some sprays to keep the house owners asleep.

Inspector Malkiat Singh, Station House Officer of the Sector 5 police station, said: “We have got some clues and the cases would be cracked soon.”

Around 12 cases cracked

The police claimed to have cracked around 12 theft cases except these ones after arresting a mechanical engineer. Chandigarh Tribune in its columns on Monday had carried a report on how an unemployed mechanical engineer, Vikas, committed thefts at the houses in Sectors 11, 15,16 and 21. The police conducted a press conference as well.

Modus operandi shocks police

The police are shocked with the unique modus operandi of the miscreants as the family doesn’t even come to know about any movement in the house as the miscreants managed to break the window panes also.

Theft incidents in the recent past

• Councillor Mamta Mittal’s house struck in Sector 2 while the family was sleeping inside the house. The miscreants decamped with LEDs and gold and diamond rings.
• Two houses of officers in Sector 2 struck in a similar manner.
• Four houses in Sector 6, including the house of former justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court Amarjeet Chaudhary, were struck by thieves when the families were inside the house

Burglary at retd IAF officer’s house
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 12
A burglary was reported at the house of a former Indian Air Force (IAF) officer in Sector 21 last night. The house was locked since over a month as the retired officer had gone on a business trip. He keeps juggling between Delhi and Hyderabad, the police said.

The thieves fled with whatever they could lay their hands on in the house.

Harkamaljeet Singh Shonki, Air Commodore (retd), reported to the police that one geyser, three LPG cylinders, around 70 old-brass utensils, grocery items, four mixer grinders, cosmetic items, clothes, sewing machine, mattresses and quilts, all type of stationary, hit converter-2, kitchen instants geyser, two iron press, all crockery items, emergency light, two-in-one radio player, silver seven -piece kitchen set, towels, silver jewellery and warm clothes from his house between April 22 and May 11.

The police have registered a case of burglary under Section 380 of the IPC in the matter.

The police said the house was locked for over a month and earlier the officer’s mother used to stay here.

However, she too joined her son in Hyderabad resulting which the house was locked and the thieves thus took advantage of the situation, the police said.

Electric Shock to girl
Case registered against Sagar Ratna restaurant
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 12
Having dinner at a prominent South Indian restaurant in Sector 35, here, proved a harrowing experience for a family as a 16- month-old girl received an electric shock owing to loose hanging wires at the food joint.

The UT police have booked the owners of Sagar Ratna, Sector 35, under Sections 336, (Act endangering life of other person) and 337 (causing hurt as to endanger human life) of the IPC in a case registered at the Sector 36 police station.

The police booked Subhash Sethi, the owner of the Sector 35 outlet, and his son Nikhil. The manager, Santosh, was also arrested after the incident.

Later, he was bailed out. Surjeet Bhadu, an advocate with the Punjab and Haryana High Court, and a resident of Sector 39, had gone along with his family to have dinner at Sagar Ratna, in Sector 35 on Saturday.

When they were sitting in the basement area of the restaurant, the infant received an electric shock and had to be rushed to a hospital.

Surjeet reported to the police that as they sat down to have dinner, their daughter touched loose wires next to the chair. No sooner she touched the wire, the girl got a shock and also mild burn injuries.

The girl, Mehar, is stable and was discharged from the GMCH, Sector 32.

She was accompanied by her parents, elder brother and maternal grandmother at the restaurant.

She suffered a major electric shock on her right hand around 10.15pm.

However, the manager of the restaurant said: “The child pulled the wires while playing and that’s how she received the shock and they were thus not at fault.”

Morni Murder
Cousin held, another at large
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, May 12
One of the two cousins who murdered a 24-year-old youth in Morni in Panchkula on Saturday night was arrested this morning. The accused, Sanjeev, is on police remand. The police are yet to arrest the second accused, Shalinder, alias Shinda.

The police said, the two accused were in an inebriated state and committed the crime after heated arguments took place due to old enmity.

The Panchkula police are yet to ascertain the exact cause of the crime.

“We have taken him on police remand.

Though Sanjeev said that he did it in a fit of rage, but we will enquire about the exact cause,” said Inspector Arvind Kumar, Station House Officer of the Chandimandir police station.

On Saturday night, a 24-year-old youth, Manmohan, was allegedly murdered by his two cousins in Baladwala village in Morni. The victim died after he was hit by a sharp -edged weapon on his head. The police said, the two cousins, identified as Sanjeev, alias Sanju, and Shalinder, alias Shinda, dragged the body to an isolated area near the village after the incident.

After the incident, Sanju came and told the victim’s father Maam Chand that they had killed his son. The police was investigating the case.

Property dealer booked
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 12
The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) have booked a property dealer, Anil Kumar Sharma, and named some prominent personalities, including politicians and an active advocate, in an FIR for committing cheating and forgery.

The FIR was registered following the complaint of Puran Singh of Kansal village on May 9. The FIR was registered at the Sector 17 police station. The matter is related to cheating of a chunk of land situated in Dhanas village near Panjab University (PU).

The accused is a resident of Sector 38 and is yet to be arrested. Police sources said that Puran alleged that Sharma and others including officials of M/s Jai Mata Enterprises had fraudulently obtained 11 marlas of his lands from him and deleted his name from the general power of attorney (GPA). The complainant moved his complaint before senior officials in November, 2012, and the probe was marked to Economic Offences Wing (EOW). The case was registered after legal opinion.

Puran said that he had a share in the land of his maternal uncle Hari Ram Singh, who had sold a portion of land to Sharma. The complainant alleged that after the death of Hari Ram Singh, Sharma with the connivance of others had deleted his name from the GPA of land.

Two vehicles stolen in city

Chandigarh, May 12
Two vehicle thefts were also reported from the city in the last 24 hours. Subhash Chander of Sirsa reported that someone had stolen his Bolero Jeep HR-20P-4764 from the parking of Satya Narain Mandir, Sector 22-C, Chandigarh. Ashu Kaushik, a resident of Sector 46-A, reported that someone had stolen his Maruti/Zen Car PB-10R-3787, which was parked near Shiv Mandir, Sector 46-A. The police have registered separate cases of theft .

Thief arrested

The police arrested a youth, a resident of Indira Colony, for stealing a motorcycle and a scooter. The police nabbed Sanjay from Sector 20 on Sunday after the police got an information that the youngster had stolen a motorcycle from the Sector 19 market. He was arrested from Sector 20 and a scooty was recovered from him. — TNS

4 yrs on, hockey stadium awaits new AstroTurf
Deepankar Sharda
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 12
It has been more than four years since the AstroTurf at the hockey stadium in the Sports Complex, Sector 42, here expired. However, the authorities are still dribbling with the formalities required to lay a new artificial grass field at the stadium. Earlier, the UT Sports Department was planning to purchase an AstroTurf with blue turf and pink border. However, the idea was dropped later and the department decided to go for a green field, reportedly due to technical reasons and following the advice of coaches.

The present AstroTurf, which is now in tatters, was laid in January 2004 at the cost of over Rs 1 crore. It expired way back in the year 2008-09. However, the department decided to use it for two more years. Thereafter, another two years have passed but the new AstroTurf seems to be nowhere in sight. Notably, the funds meant for the new AstroTurf lapse every year.

According to the UT Sports Department's records, within a span of two years, the department has invited and re-invited tenders several times. However, the process of purchase did not move beyond that. "The process for buying a new AstroTurf field is under consideration," said JPS Sidhu, joint director, UT Sports Department.

Interestingly, the sports authorities have been claiming that the process is under consideration for a long time now. In 2012, the Director (Sports), UT, had given the similar assurance when he was contacted for his version on the issue then.

It is learnt that the turf laid at the stadium had expired during 2008-09 and after using it further for two years, the new field should have been laid by the end of year 2011.

Sources said later, the process was delayed due to review of the demand notice inviting tender (DNIT) specifications and till date, the project was witnessing only deadlines.

During the recent opening of tenders, a number of bidders had shown interest in the job. However, the exercise proved to be futile as the authorities decided to work on certain specifications and sought more time.

"If the department is taking so many years to purchase a field, which would be primarily used by the players of Chandigarh Hockey Academy (CHA), one could imagine the fate of other sports infrastructure in the city that either requires repairs or replacement. For the past three years, the complex is in a dire need of a new field and the authorities are still seeking more time to plan. The condition of the artificial grass field at the stadium is pitiable. The authorities must sit up and take notice of the dwindling sports infrastructure," said a parent.

Fact file

• The present AstroTurf at the hockey stadium was laid in January 2004 at the cost of over Rs 1 crore
• It expired way back in the year 2008-09
• However, the department decided to use it for two more years
• Another two years have passed since then but the new astroturf seems to be nowhere in sight

Officialspeak

Assn announces athletics calendar
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 12
The Chandigarh Athletics Association has announced its events' calendar. After successfully conducting selection trails for senior athletics team ahead of the National Inter-state Athletics Championship to be held from June 5 to 8, the association will now hold trails to select Chandigarh's team for the Federation Cup on July 15.

Earlier, the trails to select senior team for the inter-state meet were held at the Sports Complex, Sector 7.

Other events

July 15: Trials to select the city's team, which will participate in the Federation Cup National Senior Athletics Championship to be held from August 16 to 19 at Patiala. The trials will be held at the Sports Complex, Sector 46, Chandigarh.

September 10-11: Chandigarh State Sub-junior and Junior Athletics Championship to be organised at the Sports Complex in Sector 7. During this Championship, Chandigarh's junior athletics team will be selected that will participate in the North Zone Athletics Championship to be held on October 10 and 11 at Lucknow.

September 25: Selection trials for junior athletics team, which will participate in the Junior National Athletics Championship to be held from November 26 to 30 at Vijaywada. The trials will be held at the Sports Complex, Sector 7.

October 10-11: Chandigarh State Senior Athletics Championships to be organised at the Sports Complex, Sector 7.

November 15: Selection trials for junior/senior athletics teams, which will participate in the National Cross to be held in December. The trials will be conducted at DAV College, Sector 10, Chandigarh.

Tennis: Manjot, Prabhjot in semis
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 12
Manjot Singh and Prabhjot won the quarterfinals (boys U-18) of the ongoing Paragon’s tennis championship at Mohali today. In the first quarter-final, Manjot defeated Jaideep (6-1). In the second quarter-final, Prabhjot defeated Parmeet Deol at an identical score.

In the pre-quarter final stage, Manjot defeated Paras Sharma 6-1 while Prabhjot beat Siddarth Kanchustambam 7-5.

Results:

Boys (U-14): First round: Sarabjot bt Archit Juneja 7-5; Chirag Thakur bt Armaan Moudgill 6-0; Gurustat Makkar bt Swamin 6-1; Tushar Acharya bt Gursewak Singh 6-0; Ribhav Thakur bt Gurmohit 6-3; and Shrenik Bhalla bt Sahil Garg 7-5. Quarter-final: Sarabjot bt Chirag Thakur 6-4.

Boys (U-16): First round: Parmeet Deol bt Rahul Singh 6-3 and Sahil Yadav bt Aadish 6-1.

Boys (U-18): First round: Manjot Singh bt Paras Sharma 6-1; Nikhil bt Nishant Kakkar 6-1; Parmeet Deol bt Sahil Yadav 6-1; Prabhjot bt Siddarth Kanchustambam 7-5; Shivam Vij bt Sant Singh Bhinder 6-0; and Aniket bt Rishabh Mahajan 6-2. Quarter-final: Manjot Singh bt Jaideep 6-1 and Prabhjot bt Parmeet Deol 6-1.

Boys (U-10): First round: Jivaj Chawla bt Agam Preet 6-1; Arsh Kapoor bt Sweetu 6-5(5); Jaspreet Singh bt Mirnal 6-5(4); and Harnoor Singh bt Arshdeep Singh 6-0. Semi-final: Jivaj Chawla bt Arsh Kapoor 6-0; Harnoor Singh bt Mirnal 6-1. Final: Harnoor bt Jivaj 8-4.

Boys (U-12): Sarabjot Singh bt Ajay Singh 6-3; Tushar Kumar bt Madhav 6-1; Viren bt Vansh 6-3; Rohit bt Gurnoor 6-0; Jatin bt Harsimar 6-0; and Shrenik Bhalla bt Chirag Malhotra 6-1. Quarter-final: Sarabjot Singh bt Tushar Kumar 6-0; Rohit bt Viren 6-0; and Rishi bt Shrenik Bhalla 6-5(3). Semi-final: Sarabjot bt Rohit 7-4 and Rishi bt Jatin 7-2.

Chandigarh Police win T-20 tourney
Tribune News Service

Members of the Chandigarh Police cricket team in a jubilant mood after winning the MIA T-20 Championship in Mohali. Tribune photo: Vicky Gharu

Chandigarh, May 12
The Chandigarh Police defeated Mohali Industries Association (MIA) by two wickets to lift the MIA T-20 Championship trophy. In the final match played on the cricket grounds of YPS School, Mohali, the Chandigarh Police team won the toss and elected to bowl first. They restricted the rivals to 159 runs in the allotted 20 overs. For the batting side, Daman scored 58 runs while Gurbachan added 23 runs to the team's total. Raman from the Chandigarh Police claimed two wickets by conceding 30 runs while Balwinder scalped one for 16 runs.

In reply, the Chandigarh Police achieved the target at the loss of eight wickets. Gurpreet’s 58-run knock guided the team to victory. Sher Singh (37 runs) and Satnam Singh (19 runs) were among the other main scorers for the Chandigarh Police.

For the bowling side, Gurvinder and Ashish claimed two wickets each for 43 runs and 23 runs, respectively, while Sanjay Jain took one wicket for 22 runs.

Gurpreet Singh of Chandigarh Police was declared man of the match. Best batsman title went to Sher Singh of Chandigarh Police while Harvinderjeet from HK Enterprises was declared the best bowler.

Gurvinder Singh of the MIA was adjudged best all-rounder.

23 probables named for Punjab jr cricket team
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 12
The selection committee for Punjab's junior cricket team has announced a 23-member probable’s squad. The selected probable?s will undergo a preparatory camp at Dhruv Pandove Cricket Stadium, Patiala, from May 16 to 24.

Those selected are Shubhman Gill, Nirmal Singh, Abhishek Sharma, Kunwar Pathak, Prince Balwant Rai, Rahul Kashyap, Ibbadat Thaman, Resham Sharma, Akash Dahri, Amit Sharma, Kulwinder Singh, Shivang Saini, Prabhsimran Singh, Tejpreet Singh, Tavleen Singh, Navpreet Singh Chechi, Shivam Sharma, Gaurav Chaudhary, Deepin Chitkara, Vikas Yadav, Lovedeep Singh, Arshdeep Singh and Manthan Kumar.

Earlier, the committee met under the chairmanship of Pankaj Dharmani at the PCA Stadium, Mohali, and selected the probable?s squad for Punjab (U-16) for the upcoming domestic season. MP Pandove, honorary secretary, Punjab Cricket Association, had convened the meeting.

ML Markan Cricket trophy
Chandigarh defeat Ludhiana
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 12
Chandigarh defeated Ludhiana during a match of ML Markan Cricket Trophy for boys (U-16) played at Guru Nanak Public School, Sector 36, here today. After the overnight score of 77 runs for two wickets, the Ludhiana team was bowled out for 226 runs in 84.4 overs. Lavish Dhir scored 74 runs while Gurjot Singh made 38 runs. Together they scored 81 runs for the third-wicket partnership. Later, Vaibhav Kalra chipped in 47 runs off 66 balls. He hit nine boundaries before being stumped by Yogesh off Tavleen's delivery.

For Chandigarh, Tavleen hogged the limelight and remained the pick of the day. He claimed four wickets for 47 runs while Amandeep bowled out three batsmen for 47 runs.

With the loss, Ludhiana fell in Group B while Chandigarh managed to retain its position in Group A.

Brief scores:

Ludhiana: 198 and 226 runs.

Chandigarh: 429 runs

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