EDUCATION

38 NCC cadets honoured
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, September 12
As many as 38 NCC cadets, including eight girls, who represented Haryana at the Republic Day parade and at the Prime Minister’s rally were honoured by Haryana Governor Babu Parmananad at Haryana Raj Bhavan today.

The function was jointly organised by the Higher Education Department and the NCC Directorate. The strength of NCC cadets in Haryana had been raised to over 33,000 keeping in view of the growing number students, it was informed at the function.

While speaking on the function the Haryana Governor called upon the youth to participate in the nation building activities. The strong defence of a nation was essential to safeguard its freedom, unity and integrity. The NCC, which was said to be the third line of defence, had contributed a lot in the wake of wars, natural calamities and other social activities. People should follow the motto of ‘’Unity and Discipline’’.

The Commissioner and Secretary, Education, Mr P K Chaudhery, said that the diet money of NCC cadets had been doubled. The Higher Education Commissioner, Mr Dhanpat Singh, said that the NCC cadets in Haryana were imparted training in defence. About 170 cadets donated blood, 2,834 cadets pledged not to accept dowry and 188 cadets pledged to donate their eyes during this year.

The cadets were presented mementoes, commendation certificates, pen sets and cash awards. One of the cadets Amit Malik of Faridabad was given an extra cash prize of Rs 500 for participation in the guard of honour at the Republic Day.

7 students honoured
Our Correspondent

Panchkula, September 12
Seven students, Robin Kumar, Ashwani Sarin, Dinesh Batra, Agam Sharan, Meha Malhotra, Krotika Bhardwaj and Renuka Sharma, of Satluj Public School, Sector 4, were honoured with gold medals on the inaugural of a two-day seminar on “Personal and professional growth of teachers” here today.

Father Thomas V. Kunnunkal, an eminent educationist and former chairman of the Central Board of Secondary Education and National Open School, New Delhi, who was the chief guest at the inaugural function distributed the medals. He also presented a cheque for Rs 11,000 to the Director of Helpage India on behalf of the school principal.

PU student poll likely to be indirect
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 12
The Chandigarh Administration will take a decision on holding elections to the Panjab University Students’ Council next week. Sources said the Inspector General of Police, The Deputy Commissioner and the PU Vice-Chancellor had submitted all reports in this regard.

A decision on the PU polls was expected today; however, it was deferred till next week. The elections were to be held before the end of September. The Administration may not allow direct elections because most colleges of Punjab are doing the same.

The indirect method would mean that each department would elect its representatives depending upon the student strength. In direct elections, all college and university students vote to elect a panel. In the days of militancy, direct elections were discontinued, to be reintroduced, later, in 1997. This year, the Administration may revert back to the indirect system.

None of the PU colleges in Punjab are allowing direct elections. Even when direct elections were reintroduced in Chandigarh, these remained banned in Punjab. Now, principals of local colleges, too, have told the Director Public Instructions (DPI) that they would want to see indirect elections.

PU results
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 12
Re-evaluation results (second lot) of BA II and BA III examinations conducted by Punjab University in April 2002, have been declared, an official press note said here today.

Copies of the result gazette will be available at the enquiry counter during working hours on all working days. No telephonic result enquiry will be entertained, the release added.

COURTS

HIGH COURT
Contract staff’s pay parity claim allowed
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 12
The Punjab and Haryana High Court, in a significant judgement, has allowed the claim of contract employees seeking “equal pay for equal work” vis-a-vis regular appointees.

Delivering the verdict on a petition filed by Mr Kamal Kumar and other petitioners appointed by Faridabad’s Deputy Commissioner on a contract basis, Mr Justice H.S. Bedi and Mr Justice Viney Mittal of the High Court also directed that they “would be entitled to the minimum of the pay scales being given to the regular employees similarly situated as the petitioners”.

In their petition, Mr Kamal Kumar and others had asserted that they were appointed on a contract basis by the Deputy Commissioner till regular appointees came in their place as there was a ban on fresh recruitment.

After going through the record and hearing the arguments, the Judges observed: “We find that the claim made by the petitioners is well founded and is based on the principles of equal pay for equal work. It is not disputed that the petitioners are working as stenotypists-cum-clerks and are performing a full-time job and doing all duties being done by the regular appointees on the similar posts”.

Speaking for the Bench, Mr Justice Mittal added: “The working hours of the petitioners are also similar to those of regular appointees. The only reason the petitioners were appointed on a contract basis and on a fixed salary of Rs 2080 with no other benefit was that there was a ban on fresh recruitment. However, since there was need to appoint persons for the smooth functioning of the Deputy Commissioner’s office, the petitioners were appointed on a contract basis.... In these circumstances, we allow the writ petition and allow the claim of the petitioners for equal pay for equal work vis-a-vis regular appointees”.

Notice on Pakistani’s extended detention

If allegations in a writ petition are to be believed, a Pakistani national has not been released from jail even though he completed the sentence of seven years’ imprisonment in 1997.

In a petition filed against the state of Punjab and Amritsar’s Deputy Commissioner, besides other respondents, the World Human Rights Protection Council maintained that Mukhtiar Ahmed could not be detained any further as he had already completed his sentence. Counsel for the Council added that the liberty of an individual could not be curtailed, no matter what the reason was, even for an hour after the completion of his sentence.

Taking up the case, Mr Justice S.S. Nijjar of the High Court observed: “Counsel submits that the alleged detainee was sentenced to seven years imprisonment sometimes in 1990. He completed his sentence in 1997, but till date he has not been released from jail. Issue notice of motion for September 26”.

Present cases to school board

Disposing of a petition filed by clerks working with the Punjab School Education Board, a Division Bench of the High Court today directed the petitioners to approach the board, holding its meeting on September 18, and present their individual cases.

The Bench, comprising Mr Justice Swatanter Kumar and Mr Justice S.S. Saron, also directed the board to consider their cases after taking into account their service experience and other factors. If aggrieved by the board’s decision, the petitioners could approach the court again, the Judges added.

The Bench, on the last date of hearing, had directed that the order terminating the services of the petitioners shall not be given effect to till further orders. Challenging the order passed on August 2, the clerks had contended that the order was issued without independent application of mind and was “patently illegal”.

CULTURE

Suhasini — an actress of substance
Parbina Rashid

Chandigarh, September 12
Suhasini Mulay is a person who can charge up the atmosphere even without making a conscious effort to do so. The sheer strength of character of this national award winning actress, when combined with the enthusiasm of four other members of “Virasat” team that landed up at a local hotel in Sector 35, the impact was dazzling, in spite of incessant rain.

“This is the most enjoyable team I have worked so far and I am absolutely enjoying playing ‘mataji’ roles,” says Suhasini, looking dignified in a sober salwaar suit. Suhasini plays the role of a mother of five grown-up children that has a lot of emotional conflicts and challenges. And this is the role she has been playing in most of the projects ever since she came back to the silverscreen after a gap of 20 years.

What had kept her away from films for so long? “I was tired of running around the trees, so I took a break and instead got involved in production,” says Suhasini. She has produced a few controversial documentaries like “Bhopal beyond genocide” and “An India story” which had bagged a Press Documentary Award.

Suhasini who had steeped into the filmdom with Mrinal Sen’s “Bhuban Shome, which was the debut film for both Suhasini and Utpal Dutt, had never lost her initial spark that established her as an actress of substance. Making her comeback with Gulzar’s “Hu Tu Tu Tu”, she won the national award in best supporting actress category and also made an impact as Amir Khan’s mother in Lagaan. Among the commercial ventures, Suhasini has played Bobby Deol’s glamorous grandmother in “Humraj”.

“I am also working for Nitin Mohan’s film “Deewangi”, Tinu Verma’s “Baaz” and Rohan Sippy’s “Kutch na kaho”. Suhasini, who once had an opportunity to assist Satyajit Ray for his Bengali film “Jana Aranya”, harbours a dream to direct a movie some day.

Shining equally bright along her side was Anupam Bhattacharya, who has already proved his mettle as an actor through mega serials like “Koshish”, “Swabhiman”, “Kalash” and “Kitty Party”. “Virasat is all about the family bond in which I am playing the over ambitious son of Suhasini that tends to get both positive and negative shade,” says the young actor. Anupam, who still cherishes the role he played in “Koshish”, does not mind playing negative role if it is rational and there is a flow in it.

Malavika Shivpuri, another budding actress, was also present in the venue today. Malavika who has become a household name after she played ‘Manasi’ in “Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki” is a passionate actress who started her acting career since her childhood. “I was only seven when I acted in a telefilm titled “Durga” and after that I spent six years of my life in stage acting. Malavika plays the role of the youngest daughter who is simple, innocent but ‘not dumb’ as she puts it.

The Virasat team also included Rajiv Kumar and Vaqar Sheikh who are playing significant roles in the serial. Produced by Sahara India Media Communication Ltd., the serial is written by Sonjhay Kohli and directed by Sachin Khot.

NEW RELEASES
Lucky Ali plays himself

PRITISH NANDY Communications presents a Fish Eye Network production ''Sur", introducing singer Lucky Ali and Gauri Karnik in the lead roles. The ''Sur'' budget is small and the lead actors are relatively new. The film opens tomorrow at Neelam, Chandigarh.

The film also stars Sharad Kapoor, Mukesh Rishi, Deepak Tijori, Anjan Srivastava, Johny Lever and new find miss Mauritius Viveka Bawaji. It has music by Sandeep Chowta, lyrics by Nitin Raikwar, screenplay and dialogue by Adesh K. Arjun, cinematography by S. Pappu, choreography by Chinni Prakash and Rekha Chinni Prakash and action by Andalib Pathan. Vinit Handa is the executive producer. — DP