St Kabir School win debate contest
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, April 29
St Kabir School, Sector 26, the host team of “Frank Anthony Memorial All India Inter School Debate Competition 2002”, won the preliminary round in category II, which was meant for students of Class X and below, beating four other schools today.

Manbir Singh Tandon and Yachika Dhawan, members of the winning team put forward interesting and thought-provoking points both for and against the given topic “It is not attitude but aptitude that determines the altitude in life”. Udit Narula and Devashish Sardana from St. Stephen’s School, Sector 45 were the runners up. Manbir Singh Tandon from the winning team was also adjudged the “Best Speaker”, and by Udit Narula as the first runner up.

The other teams which participated in the debate today were from Frank Anthony Public School, New Delhi, DAV Centenary Public School, Nilokheri and St. Xavier’s Senior Secondary School, Chandigarh.

An annual event for the ICSE schools in India, the debate is conducted in memory of Frank Anthony, who is known as ‘a man of many parts’ — a veteran Parliamentarian, a senior Supreme Court advocate, founder of several schools and champion of minorities rights. But most of all he is remembered as the founder of the Council for the ICSE Board Examination which he established in 1958 with the help of Sir Ivor Jennings, the then Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge University.

The panel of judges for the event included Dr Meera Malik, Senior Professor of English, Department of Distance Learning, Panjab University, Ms K Tayal, Senior Lecturer, MCMDAV College, Sector 36 and Mr A. Moitro.

Dr Malik, who also gave away the prizes emphasised the need of introducing “animated reading” habit among students at the school level to produce good orators. Besides being focused on the subject matter, one needs to concentrate on right punctuation, clarity of words and proper tone texture while arguing one’s point, she said.

Dev Samaj ‘honours’employees
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 29
“Employer-Employee day” was celebrated on Dev Samaj campus, Sector 36, here yesterday. The day is celebrated to honour employees for their credible service to the society and is a part of the philosophy of promoting human relationships.

The programme began with the inaugural address by Vikas Dev ji, former secretary of Dev Samaj. He talked about the importance of the day.

The Principal, Dev Samaj College of Education, Mrs Satinder Dhillon, lauded the work done by each employee towards the smooth functioning of the college. Principals of other Dev Samaj institutions also spoke on the occasion.

The sabha ended with a garlanding ceremony wherein the employees, teaching, non-teaching and supporting staff were garlanded by the head of the institution and honoured with gifts.

Annual ‘sanman samaroh’
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 29
The Guru Harkrishan Educational Society organised its 10th annual ‘sanman samaroh’ at the Rotary Club Hall, Sector 18, here yesterday. As many as 37 students from various universities and institutions were honoured for topping in the fields of engineering, medicine and other professional courses.

Mr D.P. Singh managing director, Sara International Limited, was the chief guest. He stressed the need for vocational education and appreciated the role of the society in promoting the cause.

Mr A.S. Rawel secretary, said society had given financial assistance to 3,225 students amounting Rs 40.94 lacs.

Manav Mangal School win trophy
Our Correspondent

Panchkula, April 29
Manav Mangal School, Sector 11, has won the inter-school declamation trophy and on-the-spot painting competition conducted by the Sathya Sai Seva organisation at Sector 7.

The school has won the trophy for the second consecutive year. The team comprising Prince Pahwa and Ashish Ahlawat defeated 14 other school teams from Panchkula.

In the painting competition, Shifali Goyal got the first position in the six to eight years category whereas the second prize in the eight to ten years category went to Rohit Dhanda.

COURTS

HIGH COURT
Notice to CM on probe panel
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 29
Taking up a petition challenging a notification issued by the Punjab Government, appointing a one-member commission for looking into the allegations of “irregularities, illegalities, corruption and other misdoings” of the previous government headed by Mr Parkash Singh Badal, a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today issued notice of motion to the Punjab Chief Minister and the state of Punjab, besides another respondent. The Bench, however, showed no inclination to issue notice to Justice A.S. Garg, who was heading the commission, following which the petitioner undertook to delete his name from the array of parties.

In his petition, Mr Rupinder Khosla had earlier stated that under the Punjab Lok Pal Act a specific machinery had been provided for looking into the allegations against public men, but through the notification a parallel body had been constituted for performing the same functions.

Giving details, he had added that a bare perusal of the provisions of the Punjab Lok Pal Act, 1996, would make it clear that the allegations of misconduct were to be probed by the Lok Pal himself and as such there was no necessity of appointing a parallel body. If the commission was allowed to continue with its probe, it would not only be against the provisions of the Lok Pal Act, but would also hamper investigation. He concluded that concurrence or recommendation of the Lok Pal had not been obtained.

After going through arguments, Mr Justice G.S. Singhvi and Mr Justice M.M. Kumar ruled that the question which required a detailed examination was whether in the face of existing institution of Lok Pal, can the government appoint a commission under the Commission of Inquiry Act, 1952.

Registrar told to probe leak

Mr Justice G.S. Singhvi and Mr Justice M.M. Kumar of the High Court on Monday asked the Joint Registrar (Judicial) to make a thorough probe into the receipt of a copy of the order by the Punjab Advocate-General’s office even before it was placed before the Chief Justice.

The Bench ruled that the Joint Registrar was required to give the names of all the employees who had dealt with the file on the days in question. The Judges added that they were surprised that the copy was made available to the AG’s office even before being placed before the Chief Justice as directed by another Bench. The directions were issued when state counsel told the court that she already had a copy of the order passed by another Bench in a suo motu case pertaining to the PPSC scam.

DISTRICT COURTS
Three get bail in illicit liquor case
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, April 29
The UT District and Sessions Judge, Mr H.S. Bhalla, today granted bail to Surjit Singh, Ramesh and Azad, in a case of manufacturing an illicit liquor. The accused were granted bail on the furnishing bond of Rs 1 lakh each with two surety of the same amount.

The main accused, Harinder Pal Singla, a well-known contractor, had already been granted bail by the Supreme Court.

As per the prosecution, on July 24 a fire that broke out in a factory in Industrial Area, Phase I, revealed that the factory owned by Harjinder Singh was allegedly an illicit liquor manufacturing and bottling plant.

The police had seized around 3,500 litres of illicit liquor in the form of pouches, while thousands of litres of rectified spirit (ethyl alcohol used for making liquor), artificial flavours and labels of famous brands were also seized the factory.

Attempt to murder case: A city resident, Gurinder Singh, was granted bail by a local court on Monday in a case of attempt to murder. He was granted bail by the UT Additional and Sessions Judge, Mr R.C. Godara, on furnishing bail bond of Rs 15, 000 with one surety.

As per the prosecution, the accused had attacked the complainant, Mr Ranjit Singh, with a ‘kirpan’ when he had gone to meet his cousin, Anju Sharma, at her residence. The complaint against the accused was registered under Section 307 of the IPC on March 8, 2002, on the complaint of Mr Ranjit Singh.

Kansal case: The UT Assistant Excise and Taxation Commissioner, S.P. Kansal, who was arrested by the CBI on charges of misuse of official position and possessing assets disproportionate to known sources of income, was further remanded in judicial custody by a local court on Monday till May 10.

The CBI alleged that the accused had acquired various properties, both in his own name as well as benami, which were beyond his known sources of income.

CONSUMER COURTS
Institute told to pay Rs 5,400 to student
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, April 29
A consumer court has directed Software Solution Integrated Limited, Sector 9, to pay Rs 5,400 to a student for deficiency in its services. Mr Varun Katyal, a city resident, stated in a complaint that he had enrolled in the Software Solution Integrated Limited Institute for a 10 weeks’ course commencing on June 29, 2000, for one-and-a-half hours’ duration daily.

The complainant stated that he had deposited Rs 5,400 with the Manager of Software Solution Integrated Limited. The Manager informed him that the classes would be held for six days a week, theory and practical coaching being on alternate days. The Manager also informed him that the course content and the reading material would be provided by the institute only.

The complainant alleged that no proper arrangement had been made for practical training and no instructor provided. Even the reading material was not provided to him. Thereafter, the complainant submitted a written complaint to the institute on July 17, 2000. But the authority concerned informed him that he had to conduct the practicals on his own, but he could take the help of the lab coordinator. The complainant alleged that even the lab coordinator was not available for help.

He further alleged that despite two more complaints, the Manager had failed to do anything. He, then, filed a complaint against the institute through its Manager.

The complainant pleaded before the court that the institute be directed to refund Rs 5,400 with interest at the rate of 18 per cent per annum from July 1, 2000, to the date of refund, pay compensation for the loss of time in pursuing the course and Rs 10, 000 for harassment and cost of litigation to him.

The court has directed Software Solution Integrated Limited to pay Rs 5,400 to the complainant. The court had also ordered that as the complainant had received some instructions from the institute therefore interest and cost of litigation can not be allowed.

A man devoted to music
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 29
He may not have earned the fame which Hans Raj Hans did, but he has managed to earn the honour of being rated as the “most melodious singer of Punjab.” Least affected by the fact that fame keeps eluding him, Sabar Koti still devotes most moments of his day to music.

The striking fact about this Jalandhar-based singer is his commitment to music. On a personal visit to the city today, he talked of how people with meagre grounding in the field of music are making it big. On the contrary people with a sound base are languishing for work. True to his salt, Sabar has never compromised on the quality of the music he presents. From lyrics to singing, everything about Sabar’s singing is soothing and serene. He is most famous for rendition of sufiana qalaam.

That people of Punjab have accepted him and his melodies became clear sometime back when he released ‘Gulabo’, his first audio album. Now he is all set for a second release in May. Comprising four sad and four happy melodies, the cassette will have music by Charanjit Ahuja; lyrics by Shyam Dhudeja, Vijay and Lal Athoriwala.

Hopeful from his forthcoming album, Sabar said, “It is painful to see the kind of work being done by these so-called Punjabi singers who do not depict the conditions of Punjab through their songs. Punjab farmers are dying and they are happy to present delightful songs. The singers who have entered the pop bandwagon are mostly from outside Punjab. They will never be able to empathise with the woes of Punjabis.”

Sabar added that he is still sticking to his salt. “That is why we have not risen so high. But in our own eyes and in the eyes of the Goddess of music, we hold a greater esteem than any other singer on the block today.”

Music cassette of ‘Shaheed-e-Azam’ released
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 29
The music of “Shaheed-e-Azam”, a film based on the life of Sardar Bhagat Singh, was released by SAS Nagar-based Catrack music company. The cassette comprises eight songs by singers Sonu Nigam, Kavita Krishnamurthy, Udit Narayan, Jaspinder Narula, Sardool Sikander, Sadhna Sargam and Naseeba Lal.

While the musical scores are by Maqbul Khan, Sardool Sikander, Pakistan-based Sabar Ali, lyrics are by S.M. Sadiq and Khwaja Parvez. Produced by Iqbal Dhillon, the film is being made under the banner of Surjit Movies.