& V I C I N I T Y
Thursday, November 12, 1998
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C H A N D I G A R H & V I C I N I T Y |
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Thursday, November 12, 1998 |
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spotlight today's calendar |
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Engg
seats go abegging Woes
of a hero’s widow |
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 Employee leaders go 1800
houses outside 'lal dora' to get power connection |
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Potato
price declines |
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Engineering seats go abegging CHANDIGARH , Nov 11 — The overall merit for admission in Punjab Engineering College has witnessed a disturbing downfall over the past couple of years. The college, which in the early 90s refused admissions to candidates placed about 300th position in the merit list of the entrance test, has been left with eight seats vacant even after candidates up to 3000th place in the open category were called for interview. Sources point out that this is probably for the first time that seats had remained vacant in the process of counselling, although there were cases of students leaving the college after joining it. Till date there are 10 seats vacant in the civil engineering branch and one each in the mechanical and metallurgy streams. This is despite the fact that the college has achieved a nearly 100 per cent placement record over the past couple of years. Talks with a cross section of teachers revealed that the main reason behind the exodus was the opening up of a large number of engineering colleges in the region. A teacher said that till about six years ago there were only four engineering institutes in the region, including Haryana, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. Now there were as many as 39 colleges. Dr S K Aggarwal, officiating principal, said students moved out because they were lured by what they thought better branches like electronics and computer in other institutes. Little did these students realise that the placement level of such institutes was almost negligible. Dr Aggarwal said seats in even various colleges of Punjab were going abegging, particularly those who were offering paid seats. At the end of October the Punjab unaided technical institutions had pointed out that there were 400 seats vacant in the paid category. Colleges had requested the state to waive the conditions of domicile and the merit in the entrance test. The rat race for selected branches was unfounded. Even civil engineering would have big employment opportunities after a couple of years. The institutes of repute would always stand out at the time of selection for jobs, Dr Aggarwal added. Another reason cited for the fall in the merit, which stood at about 1400 in the previous session was the scenario of uncertainty created in the wake of goof up in the results of the entrance examination of Punjab Technical University. Panjab University does not allow admissions after the fixed date to maintain the examination schedule. It is noteworthy that
there were still about 50 seats vacant in the B.Sc
(Honours School) of Panjab University after more than
four rounds of counselling. Admissions to these courses
are also held on the basis of an entrance test. |
Woes of a hero’s widow CHANDIGARH, Nov 11 — It was on November 2, 1996 that Lieut-Col Shanti Swrup Rana of 13 Rashtriya Rifles in a display of indomitable courage, patriotism and gallantry of the highest order destroyed two terrorist camps in Haphruda forest of Kupwara district in Jammu & Kashmir. In the process he lost his life. His effort was rewarded with Ashok Chakra, the highest peace time gallantry award. Ever since he made the supreme sacrifice for the country, his family, including a mentally retarded son, has been shuttling various government offices and organisations with the hope of getting at least one of several promises made to the family fulfilled. But after a little more than two years, the family feels exhausted, disappointed and dejected. So much so that appeals for personal hearings with the President, the Prime Minister and the Defence Minister have fetched no encouraging response. Last year, when the then Defence Minister, Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav, visited here a group of widows of the officers who had sacrificed their lives while fighting mercenaries from across the border in different parts of the country, promises of their proper "rehabilitation" were made. Mrs Savita Rana, widow of Colonel Rana, says she has sent letters to the President, the Prime Minister, the Defence Minister, the Union Petroleum Minister, the Governor of Punjab-cum-Administrator of Chandigarh, the Chandigarh Housing Board and a few others but nothing tangible has been done . "We are where we were at this time two years ago, after a week of Colonel Rana's death," says Mrs Savita. In April this year, she claims, she wrote to the prime Minister seeking a personal interview. Instead, Private Secretary to the Prime Minister Shakti Sinha wrote back that "in view of the other pressing preoccupations, the Prime Minister may not be able to meet you personally. However, you are welcome to meet me whenever you visit the Capital." Similar "routine" response was received from the office of the President, she adds. In February this year, she says,the Directorate-General Resettlement of the Ministry of Defence issued her an eligibility certificate for the allotment of an LPG agency in Chandigarh by giving her top priority. But that too has not helped her. Her application is still pending with the Indian Oil Corporation. Talking about her problems, she says, the Defence Minister had assured her that she would be given accommodation at Chandimandir for two years. "I have received a bill running into thousands of rupees from the Western Command. They have charged me Rs 3600 per month as rent for the time I stayed there. It may be a genuine mistake.But how do I know. I have shifted to private accommodation in Mani Majra which is cheaper than the Army accommodation." Her application for a Chandigarh Housing Board dwelling unit was responded by an interview call in December last year where the then Chief Executive Officer of the Board found her "ineligible". Since then that chapter has also closed. Since her husband belonged to Badla village in Hoshiarpur district, she wanted a suitable memorial made for him.The Punjab Government, too, has cited paucity of funds as the reason for not complying with her plea. Air India offers two tickets to any destination in the world to which it flies to the families of PVC winners, an equivalent to Ashok Chakra (peace-time gallantry award). But here, too, she was told that recipients of Ashok Chakra were not eligible. Mrs Savita Rana says that
because of a mentally retarded son, Chandigarh was the
only place where she could work and look after him and
ensure his proper treatment. "But the way the things
are turning out, it is becoming increasingly difficult
for me to sustain and look after my children and myself.
I have a teenaged daughter also," she adds. |
Sack orders delayed CHANDIGARH, Nov 11 — The termination orders of 23 employees of the Chandigarh State Cooperative Bank, who were recruited contrary to norms by the bank, are yet to be served on them. The illegal recruitments were one of the reasons for the dissolution of the board of directors (BoD) by the Registrar, Cooperatives on October 16. The appointments had been done without taking sanction from the department and were also violative of the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High court in this context. Sources in the bank revealed that some of the appointed persons were working as cashiers at 10 branches of the bank in various parts of the city, including villages. A couple of days ago a circular was issued and the respective bank managers were asked to depute these employees on duties other than handling cash. During this period, Mr Vinod Sharma, General Manager, who had been brought from NABARD to replace the previous GM, had also resigned. The recruitments had been carried out between April and June. While a clerk and 10 peons were appointed in April, 10 clerks and two peons were recruited in April by the MD although his term had expired. All this staff had been appointed on a regular basis and the plea taken for the recruitment was that the bank needed more employees to handle the increasing workload. The Sources said the exercise to issue the necessary orders had been delayed as Mr S.C. Goel, a Haryana cadre officer, who was appointed Administrator was reverted to his parent state. Mr R.K. Rao, Registrar,
Cooperative Societies, could not be contacted for his
comments. |
Employee leaders go on fast CHANDIGARH, Nov 11 — Leaders of the Joint Action Committee of Punjab and UT Employees began fast in support of their long-pending demands began in Sector 17 today. Four leaders of the committee were escorted by the protesters to the venue of the protest. Before this, the employees gathered near the venue and raised slogans against the state government for backtracking on its promises. The employees were urged to reach Adampur on November 18 in large numbers to participate in a state-level rally called to protest against the indifferent attitude of the government towards their demands. The issues of the rising prices and the inaction of the government to do something in the matter were also highlighted. The main demands of the protesters include implementation of the recommendations of the Fifth Pay Commission, promotions after four, nine and 18 years of service, grant of bonus on the Central Government pattern, enhancement of the HRA, the CCA and the medical allowance, besides regularisation of daily wagers. The further course of action, if the government failed to accept their demands, would be chalked out at the Adampur rally. Meanwhile, rallies were
also held at district headquarters and memorandums were
submitted to the authorities. |
1800 houses outside 'lal dora' CHANDIGARH, Nov 11 — Around 1800 houses that have been built outside the "lal dora" of the villages in Chandigarh are to be provided with regular power and water connections. A survey in this regard was complete, said the local MP, Mr Satya Pal Jain, while inaugurating the 10-day-long de-addiction camp at Palsora village here today. He, however, urged people not to construct new houses without taking permission from the Chandigarh Administration. Talking about addicts, he said they could be treated through persuasion and love. He said prohibition failed in Haryana and Andhra Pradesh because social organisations did not participate in it wholeheartedly. Mr Jain appreciated the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) for organising the camp in a village, thus helping in treating the patients under a cordial atmosphere. The Director-Principal of the GMCH, Prof V.K. Kak, said emulation of foreign culture had given rise to the problem of addiction in our country. It had also resulted in a rise in cases of AIDS and hepatitis. Last year, a similar camp was held in which 22 patients were treated. The GMCH is also running a clinic in the village where specialists provide treatment to drug addicts and persons suffering from mental disabilities. During the camp, free treatment, including medicines free of cost, would be given to patients. Arrangements for their stay and food, all free of cost, are being made by the Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee, Palsora. The Home Secretary, Mrs Anuradha Gupta, said no programme or scheme could succeed without the wholehearted involvement of people. She urged the youth to utilise their energies for the betterment of their villages and society and not fall prey to addictions of any kind. Meanwhile, a study
conducted by the Department of Psychiatry, GMCH, found up
to 60 per cent of the rural population of villages in the
union territory was abusing drugs or alcohol. The common
drugs used include heroin, smack, brown sugar, proxyvon
capsules, tidigesic tablets, corex and phensedyl syrup.
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Telecom staff strike today CHANDIGARH, Nov 11 — Employees of the Chandigarh Telecom Department will take part tomorrow in the nationwide strike, the call for which has been given by five national-level class III and IV employee unions. The strike is being held to protest against the non-implementation of the agreement reached between representatives of the unions with the Telecom Commission in 1997. The demands of the
protesters include scrapping the proposal to convert the
Department of Telecom (DoT) into a corporation,
upgradation of pay scales, regularisation of casual
labourers and part-time employees services, fresh
recruitment and time-bound promotions. |
Wreaths laid at memorial PANCHKULA, Nov 11 — Wreaths were laid at the Capt Rohit Kaushal memorial by Maj-Gen R.S. Shahrawat on behalf of the Western Command to commemorate his third martyrdom anniversary at Jalauli village near here today. The father of the martyr, Mr S.N. Kaushal, and his other family members besides officials of the district administration also paid floral tributes. Captain Kaushal sacrificed his life while fighting insurgents in Jammu and Kashmir in 1995. General Shahrawat while
speaking at the function said the youth should be ready
to sacrifice their lives for the unity and integrity of
the country. |
Potato price declines CHANDIGARH, Nov 11 — The price of potato has started coming down, while those of other vegetables are almost stable. The good quality 'pahari' variety of potato which was available yesterday at Rs 16 to Rs 18 per kg is now priced at Rs 12 to Rs 14. The price of the local variety of potato today came down from Rs 10 and Rs 12 to Rs 8 per kg. However, in some markets the same quality was being sold at Rs 10 to Rs 12. The vendors attributed the fall in prices to the arrival of the fresh crop of potato in the market. Similarly, there was a minor fall in the prices of tomato as they have come down from Rs 35 to Rs 30. However, according to sources, a major fall was unlikely till the end of November when the fresh crop of local variety of tomato starts arriving in the market. The price of lemon has
also started registering a downward trend. Against Rs 25
a kg yesterday, lemons were being sold for Rs 20 a kg in
some city markets. |
CHANDIGARH, Nov 11 — Even as the water supply to various parts of the city was severely affected on account of the one-day strike by the staff of the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh (MCC) today, the civic body, taking a tough stand, has decided to issue show-cause notices to the striking employees. The strike, the call for which was given by the joint action committee of employees and workers of the municipal corporation, besides having adverse impact on the functioning of streetlights last night, seriously hit the water supply to various parts of the city. Though, in the light of advance warnings by the civic body, a large number of residents had stored water, yet the residents were put to a lot of inconvenience with the water pressure varying from nil to very low. While the pressure was low in a majority of the sectors, residents of many sectors, including Sectors 2, 3, 7, 19 and 27 had to go without water. Residents of Sector 7-B could be seen fetching water from a tap located at a lower level. Even ground floor residents of Sector 27-C got water only for a few minutes with the upper floor residents not getting any. People living in upper floors were a harassed lot. "The water came for only a few minutes in the morning with the result that we have to manage with much less quantity of water", alleged Mrs Kamlesh, a first floor resident of Sector 28-D. The crisis management strategy of the corporation came under strain today with incidents of sabotage reported from Sectors 7, 19 and 27. While residents around these sectors thirsted for water, water flowed freely on the slow carriageway in the sectors along Madhya Marg, allegedly due to sabotage to the water pipelines by the striking staff. The situation was no better near the Police Lines in Sector 26. The water leakage, which started in the morning, continued till late in the afternoon when a Tribune team visited the spot. Water gushing out from the sabotaged pipelines could be seen right from Jat Bhavan in Sector 27 to a temple in Sector 19 along Madhya Marg. There was, however, no major sabotage to any water works as elaborate security arrangements were made. More than 75 of the Military Engineering Service personnel were summoned last night for rendering help in maintaining the water supply at the local water works. Meanwhile, adopting a tough posture, the MCC authorities decided to issue show-cause notices to the striking staff. Sources said besides invocation of "no work no pay" action under the service rules for abstaining from work could be taken against the staff. The notices were likely to be issued tomorrow, the sources added. Hundreds of corporation employees held a rally near the Chandigarh Housing Board chowk in support of their demand for treating them on deputation with the civic body. Various speakers held the Chandigarh Administration responsible for forcing them to go on strike as it had completely ignored the peaceful trade union actions and correspondence during the past over two years. Sources said the demand of
the staff had been taken up by the UT Administration with
the Union Home Ministry and issue was pending with the
ministry. The employees had not suffered any financial
loss and all over the country government staff was
transferred to the civic bodies, the sources added. |
CHANDIGARH: To satiate one's passion for photography, one needn't go on expeditions in search of appropriate subjects. We are always surrounded with these, what is needed is a keen eye propelled with a passion. Routine classroom activities must be boring for many, but a few find them so interesting that they capture them in their camera. Jagpreet, a student of final year of B.F.A., College of Art, Chandigarh, falls in that rare category. Fond of the environment in which he is spending time, this young lad has focussed on clicking his immediate surroundings. Using black-and-white as his medium, he has attempted to take the viewer into the interiors of his classroom. He particularly seems to be found of the sculpture room where various forms and shapes magically come into being through nimble fingers. Painting class with stacked canvasses, window panes being cleaned by students, unfinished sculptures wrapped in plastic sheets, all give a glimpse of the activities of this college. The artist has also tried to give a feel of his personal world. We find photographs of the hostel rooms where he has spent his maximum time. Scenes of messy rooms with clothes hanging are clearly depicted. This is Jagpreet's second
show. This one is definitely better than the last one.
But it would do him good if he pays some attention
towards composition. The potential to become a good
photographer is there. He should try to exploit it to the
maximum. The exhibition will be open at Alliance
Francaise, Sector 36, till November 18. — Preeti
Verma |
CHANDIGARH , Nov 11 — The Panjab University Teachers Association will organise a rally at Gandhi Bhavan on November 13 . Members of all universities of Punjab are expected to participate , an official press note of the association said here today. Dr M. Rajivlochan, secretary, said the rally was being organised to protest against the indifferent attitude of the government towards the long-standing and legitimate demands of teachers. Teachers, while appreciating the centre's modifications in the pay scales urged the Punjab Government to implement the new pay scales immediately. Mr Gautam said they would like to remind the Chief Minister of the "earlier assurances that the Punjab Government will not delay the implementation of the revised pay scales for university teachers once the package is finalised by the Central government." National symposium: The Department of Microbiology, Panjab University , will organise a national symposium on the role of microbes in the management of pollution on November 13 and 14, an official press note of the university said here today. Approximately 78
scientists from all over the country are expected to
participate. The thrust areas include pollution from
electroplating units, textile dyes, agro-pollutants and
biodegradable plastics. |
CHANDIGARH, Nov 11 — Nine shops in Charaga market, Dhanas village, were burgled last night. Shopkeepers claim they lost cash and goods in excess of Rs 1 lakh. Shocked shopkeepers were aghast to find shutters of their shops lifted at least two feet from the middle this morning. The shutters had been lifted with some object that provided easy leverage. The thieves took away a sum of Rs 6000 in cash and a gold ring kept inside the cash box of karyana store, owner Pawan Kumar. Similarly, Mohammed Furqaan, a tailor, lost readymade garments worth Rs 10,000. The owner of a footwear shop, Mr Surjeet Rana, said expensive shoes were stolen from his shop. An empty shoe box was found near a choe near Dhanas while a pair of old shoes was found inside the footwear shop. The police said the motive was to mainly take away cash. The in-charge of the Sector 11 police station, Inspector Vijay Kumar, when contacted said the police was questioning suspects who had a criminal record and resided near the scene of crime. A search is also going on, he added. A case under Sections 457 and 380 of the IPC has been registered. Killed: Seven-year-old Ankul, was crushed to death when a truck ran over him near his residence in Modern Housing Complex on Tuesday evening. A case under Sections 279 and 304-A of the IPC has been registered. Nabbed: Three persons have been nabbed by the police from separate places in the city while carrying liquor. Sunil Kumar, a resident of Sector 14, was arrested while carrying 12 bottles of liquor. Ram Nihal was nabbed on the road dividing Sectors 14 and 25 and 50 pouches of countrymade liquor were seized from him. Sunil Kumar Chadha of Sector 22 was nabbed by the police and 26 bottles of whisky and 36 bottles of liquor were seized from him. Stolen: A motor cycle (CH-01-W-2884) owned by Ashok Kumar of Sector 32 was stolen from his residence. Meanwhile, in a separate case four persons — Sheroo, Shyam Lal, Prakash and Mukesh — were nabbed by the police for allegedly gambling in a public place. Pedestrian hit: A pedestrian, Mr Ramesh Sareen, of Sector 7 was injured when he was hit by a car while he was walking near his Sector 7 home. He has been admitted to the PGI. PANCHKULA Dead: A motortcyclist died after being hit by a truck on the bridge over the Tangri river near Barwala on Tuesday. The police had registered a case under Section 304-A on the basis of a statement given by Rajesh Kumar. Five booked: The
district police had booked five persons, including a
former municipal councillor of Kalka Municipal Committee,
for assault, trespass and theft. The case has been
registered on the basis of a complaint lodged by Mr
Chantimani Bansal of Kalka. He alleged he had taken a
piece of land from Snatan Dharam Sabha on lease and was
carrying out some construction activity. The five
allegedly objected to the construction activity and
"intimidated"him. The police has registered a
case. |
CHANDIGARH, Nov 11 — A Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court has admitted a writ petition challenging the contract appointments of professor and heads of the departments of various faculties of the Sant Longowal Institute of Engineering and Technology, Longowal village, Sangrur. The petition was filed by Mr N.P. Singh and four other assistant professors of the institute. They alleged that the Director, Mr R.C. Chauhan, who is substantive Superintending Engineer of the HP Electricity Board, was making contract appointments against non-existent posts to accommodate his favourites from U.P. and Himachal Pradesh. It was submitted that under the rules, the Director could appoint only ad hoc lecturers up to six months only, and that non-academic staff could not be appointed for the posts of Chairman (Training and Placement), senior engineers and sports officers etc. It was further alleged that the appointees had been given hefty salaries and that most of them are retirees from different organisations. The stand taken by Dr Chauhan, Director of the institute, was that powers to make appointments had been delegated to him by the Board of Governors of the institute and that there was no response from candidates in spite of repeated advertisements for various posts. He further justified the high salaries on the ground that had these persons been in service in other institutions they would have been receiving the same pay. The petitioners rebutted the contention of the Director that there was no response from candidates to advertisements. The Bench comprising Mr Justice V.K. Bali and Mr Justice Rai fixed the petition for final hearing on January 7 and restrained the respondents from making further contract appointments. It was further ordered that the institute would advertise all these posts for regular appointments within three weeks and the selection would be subject to a decision of the writ petition. Disability pension plea allowed Mr Justice T.H.B. Chalapathi allowed the writ petition of Mrs Kanta Devi, widow of an ex-serviceman, claiming disability pension of her husband, who was discharged from service on medical grounds. The petitioner pleaded that her husband, while in service developed a disease known as "non-organic psychosis". He made representations to the authorities for grant of disability pension. He later died in a railway accident. The pension was later denied on the ground that the disease was not attributable to military service. The judge observed that
the ex-servicemen had no history of mental illness. He
also obtained a law degree during service. A person may
get frustrated due to strict disciplines and get
afflicted by mental illness. It was held that the disease
was solely attributable to military service and she was
entitled to disability pension of her late husband. |
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