Order against PUDA official stayed

CHANDIGARH, June 17: The Punjab State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has stayed the orders of District Consumers Dispute Redressal Forum prosecuting Estate Officer, Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority PUDA, Ludhiana.

The commission has also directed that a cheque for Rs 3,000 be deposited by PUDA in favour of Surinder Kumar Soni to keep in safe custody of the secretary of the commission. The next date of hearing has been fixed for July 16. Earlier, District Forum Ludhiana had sentenced Estate officer of PUDA to one month imprisonment and also imposed a fine of Rs 2,000 for non-implementation of order passed on May 30, 1997.The forum in its earlier order, had ordered PUDA to include Surinder Kumar8217;s name in the draw of lots. PUDA was also asked to pay him Rs 3,000 as compensation within a month.PUDA filed a revision petition before the state commission Punjab, Chandigarh stating that quot;orders of district forum have not achieved finality as prescribed and orders are not liable to be implemented until and unless it achieves finalityquot;, according to a press release issued here today by PUDA.

The state commission admitted the plea and stayed the execution of orders of the District Forum Ludhiana, it added.