Consumer court slaps Rs 10,000 fine on SBI

Chandigarh, October 28
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has slapped a fine of Rs 10,000 on the State Bank of India for mental agony and harassment suffered by former DGP Punjab Dr AA Siddiqui.
District forum comprising PD Goel and members Rajinder Singh Gill and Madanjit Kaur Sahota observed that undisputedly the opposite party has redressed the grievances of the complainant after filing of the complaint, therefore, the complainant is certainly entitled for compensation for mental agony.
The complainant averred that he had availed the services of the bank through primary credit card and duly paid the amount through cheque drawn on the SBI after the opposite party dispatched the bill for the services in May 2010. He said he was shocked to find the monthly statement, wherein the amount of Rs 5764.32 was reflected. He informed the bank about the irregularity and the primary Credit Card which was cut into half and returned the said card to the bank.
The bank also charged some financial charges and late fee of Rs.350. He tendered an amount of Rs 9934.85, which was debited, from his account on June 30, 2010. He said even though amount of Rs 5765 stood debited from his account he received a letter from the bank about the outstanding amount.
The counsel for the SBI admitted that cheque amount was debited from complainant’s account on May 26, 2010 but due to unavailability of correct card number, it was in suspense account.
It was pleaded that amounts due were not paid to the bank by the due and payable date and hence overdue and late payment charges were payable.
It has been further stated that opposite party has given the benefit as per one time settlement and the amounts as demanded have been reversed. The grievance of the complainant has been redressed as the credit card account of the complainant has already been zeroised and the requisite no due certificate has already been issued. The account of the complainant has already been closed as settled.

LAYING OF RISHIKESH-KARNPRAYAG RLY TRACK

Nod to project a historic initiative of Centre: MP

Satpal Maharaj, Lok Sabha MP from Pauri Garhwal, addresses a press conference in Dehradun on Thursday.

Dehradun, October 27

Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence Affairs and Garhwal MP Satpal Maharaj said today that the nod to the laying of the Rishikesh-Karnprayag railway track was a historic initiative of the Central Government.
UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi would lay the foundation stone of the Rishikesh-Karnprayag railway track on November 5.
Addressing a press conference at the state Congress headquarters here, he recalled that Sonia Gandhi had always maintained a close relationship with Uttarakhand, particularly Garhwal. He said after the coming up of the railway track, the state would head towards unprecedented development.
He said various projects like the start of Ramnagar-Haridwar Link Express, the setting up of computerised reservation centres in Kedarnath, Gwaldam and Karanprayag were in the pipeline.
Meanwhile, he accused the state government of adopting a negative attitude towards development schemes. 

Want to Learn driving? Check out the school

Chandigarh, October 29
Planning to learn driving from a driving school? Ensure that the driving school has a qualified instructor and a classroom for theory classes.
While there are a number of driving schools operating across the city, only 20 are registered with the State Transport Authority (STA) and have a valid licence to teach driving.
One can find a driving school in every corner of the city, but how many of these have the licence is yet to be found by the STA.
To run a driving school, there is a need to obtain a licence from the STA after completing various requirements, one of which is to have a classroom with a qualified instructor.
The instructor should have a diploma or a degree in mechanical engineering or a diploma in motor mechanics. These rules are hardly followed, with operators running from parking lots and markets.
According to rules, one needs to pay Rs 500 as licence fee every year to register a driving school and Rs 1,000 for pollution check.
Vehicles used by driving schools need to have controls on the left side as well. Before enrolling a student, the driving school should ensure that the applicant has a learner’s licence.
STA secretary Mahavir Kaushik has said they will hold special checks to ensure that driving schools operating across the city have a valid licence.
“We regularly penalise schools running without STA permission and ensure that the rules are being followed,” he has stated.
Official sources say the STA is also preparing a list of driving schools with licence and those being run without permission.

Conditions that are a must

• Classroom with instructor having diploma or degree in mechanical engineering or diploma in motor mechanics
• Valid licence from State Transport Authority
• Vehicle used should have controls on the left side as well
• Boards on vehicle displaying ‘L’ clearly so that other commuters are aware that the driver in under training

3 cops get 5-yr jail for misbehaving with warrant officer

Abohar, October 29
A district court has sentenced ASI Sohan Lal Tanwar, former in charge of the Seetogunno police post in this sub-division, head constable Balwinder Singh and home guard Darshan Singh to five-year imprisonment for misbehaving with Punjab and Haryana High Court Warrant Officer Gyaninder Ahlawat on January 25 last year.
The cops were accused of keeping the Warrant Officer in illegal detention and restraining him from performing his duty.
The Seetogunno police had allegedly picked up some followers of a dera run by Swami Brahm Chaitanya of Chak Radheywala village during investigation of a complaint. The villagers were divided over the status of the dera. One faction wanted the police to get it shut while others defended the chief asserting that some vested interests were conspiring to implicate him in false cases.
A follower of the dera chief had approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court alleging that some followers had been kept in illegal custody at the Seetogunno police post. The HC on January 25 dispatched Warrant Officer Gyaninder Ahlawat to investigate.
According to the complaint, he, along with Devi Lal - complainant from Dhaani Nayianwali - and car driver Ram Phal, reached the police post early in the morning and spotted the detainees there.
The Warrant Officer alleged that he and the duo accompanying him was detained by the police till 8.30 pm and humiliated. He was forced to sign a statement that no one was found in illegal custody there.
After high drama, the Sadar police finally arrested the accused cops under Sections 342, 353, 460, 467, 468, 471, 506 and 186 of the IPC on January 26, 2010.

Nankana Sahib jatha’s departure postponed

Amritsar, October 29
The jatha of Sikh pilgrims that will be going to Nankana Sahib to celebrate 542nd birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev will now leave for Pakistan on November 8 instead of November 5 as announced earlier.
In a statement released here, SGPC secretary Dalmegh Singh said the jatha would leave Amritsar on November 8 and reach Nankana Sahib the same day.
The jatha will also visit Gurdwara Sacha Sauda on November 9, Gurdwara Panja Sahib on November 11, Gurdwara Dehra Sahib in Lahore on November 13, Gurdwara Rori Sahib on November 15 before returning on November 17.