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A cultural extravaganza at PU
Chandigarh, October 21
A colourful cultural evening, marked by myriad forms of songs and dances, had a capacity crowd swaying right till the end of “Aagaz”, the annual welcome function held for freshers at Panjab University here today.

Students perform at “Aagaz-2003” at Panjab University, Chandigarh, on Tuesday. — Tribune photo by Parvesh Chauhan

PU to restructure honours exams
Chandigarh, October 21
Panjab University has decided to restructure the examination in the honours classes of undergraduate courses in the affiliated colleges. The changes pertain to the science and the arts streams.

PU flouting quota norms in jobs, says Wangyal
Chandigarh, October 21
Panjab University is flouting the reservation norms in campus recruitment with impunity. This was said by Mr Tanzin Wangyal, director of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, while talking to The Tribune here today.

Accused in drug case let off as sample fails test
Panchkula, October 21
In a major setback to the police, a local court has discharged an SAS Nagar resident in a case of drug peddling, after the sample of drug seized from him failed the test at Forensic Science Laboratory, Madhuban.

Accused may benefit from amended Act
Chandigarh, October 21
In less than two years after amendments were made in the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act enabling the accused possessing small quantities of drugs to get bail, the suspects in at least some of the cases are attempting to get the benefit after suggesting the division of quantity among themselves, thereby reducing the quantity from commercial to non-commercial.

St. Anne’s new uniform irks parents
Chandigarh, October 21
It’s a new dress code for the students of the junior wing this winter at St Anne’s School, Sector 32, and it has already come under fire from angry parents. Forced to buy the changed uniforms from school, the parents are resenting the orders, alleging that the school is overcharging and, in turn, giving inferior stuff.

Device to reduce train accidents
Chandigarh, October 21
In a step to reduce accidents, the Indian Railways has initiated an expansive project to install hi-tech electronic devices in locomotives to monitor the alertness of drivers and take preventive measures in case the driver fails to respond to its signals.

Canadian PM to fly by private jet
Chandigarh, October 21
Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien will use a chartered jet of a private airline during his visit to Amritsar and Chandigarh on October 25. The Challenger Jet is being chartered from Sahara Air and will be used by the visiting Prime Minister’s entourage for his New Delhi-Amritsar and Amritsar-Chandigarh sector flights.

• Purse snatched from girl

COMMUNITY

Approval of building plans to be simplified from Nov 3
Chandigarh, October 21
Getting building plans passed in the city will be simplified from November 3 under a new system announced by the Chandigarh Administration today. The Chief Administrator-cum-Finance Secretary, Mr Karan Avtar Singh, has given nod to the new system.

UT employees stage dharna Chandigarh, October 21 The Federation of UT Employees and Workers today gave a call asking employees not to observe any special duties in case their demands are not accepted before “Divali”. The Administration will be responsible for any inconvenience to the public during the festival season, claimed the federation at a dharna held here today.
Members of the Federation of UT Employees & Workers protest at Matka Chowk, Sector 17, Chandigarh on Tuesday. — A Tribune photograph

Traffic disrupted Chandigarh, October 21 Traffic management on the busy Madhya Marg went haywire for more than 30 minutes as a local employee union protesting against the Chandigarh Administration burnt an effigy right in the middle of the important intersection near the Government Press Sector 18 this afternoon. The Chandigarh UT Subordinate Services Federation held its protest demanding bonus, among other things.

Activists of the Chandigarh UT Subordinate Services Federation burn an effigy of the Chandigarh Administration at the Government Press Chowk in Chandigarh on Tuesday. — Tribune photo by Pankaj Sharma

• 4 hurt in mishap

• HUDA extends deadline

• UT IGP interacts with cops

• Police Day Parade

EDUCATION

Overwhelming response to college contests
Chandigarh, October 21
“Lakshya 2003”, an inter-college cultural competition kicked off with a colourful start at DAV College in Sector 10 here today. Competitions in fine arts, quiz and music categories saw overwhelming response from students of city-based colleges as well as colleges from Punjab and other states.

Conserve groundwater, Gujral urges students
Chandigarh, October 21
The Adviser to the UT Administrator, Mr R.S. Gujral, today emphasised the need to conserve and protect the precious groundwater resource and said the administration was making all efforts to provide sufficient water to the residents of the city.

Appeal to shun crackers
Chandigarh, October 21
Students of Anchal International School, Sector 35, here today appealed to the residents of the sector to shun crackers this Divali and, instead, donate the money meant to be spent on crackers for charity.

Poster-making contest
Chandigarh, October 21
The Environment Club of the Government Polytechnic for Women, Sector 10, organised an anti-cracker campaign by holding a poster-making contest on “Say no to fire works”.

COURTS

Full court reference to mourn Tandon’s death
Chandigarh, October 21
For mourning the death of former Punjab and Haryana High Court Judge, Justice J.M. Tandon, a full court reference was today held in the court of the Chief Justice, Mr B.K. Roy.

3 acquitted of murder charge
Chandigarh, October 21
Three persons, including the main accused, Budh Sain, involved in a murder that took place at Shanti Nagar in Mani Majra in 1999 were today acquitted by a local court as the prosecution failed to prove the allegation levelled against them.

CULTURE

Hues of nature in her paintings Chandigarh, October 21 The geometrical patterns inspired by Le Corbusier’s dream city and the nature at Shanti Niketan have been combined together by Namita Roy, an upcoming artist from the city, to bring out a series of cityscapes both on glass and canvas, bearing the eccentricity of Corbusier and serenity of Tagore. Artist Namita Ray explains her paintings at Art Folio in Sector 9, Chandigarh, on Tuesday. — A Tribune photograph

Toilet charges in PGI resented
Chandigarh, October 21
Thousands of patients coming to the PGI will now have to pay to use the refurbished toilets, complete with tiles and hand driers, as Sulabh International has reportedly been entrusted with the task of maintaining the toilets in the Nehru hospital.

• Talk on Ayurveda

SPORTS

Neelu, Dhillon win Captain’s Day Golf
Chandigarh, October 21
Neelu Chopra and Brig PPS Dhillon won the title in the Captain’s Day Golf Tournament at the Chandigarh Golf Club. Captain’s Day is a major event in the Golf Calendar of the Chandigarh Golf Club. Not only is a one-day tournament for club members played on this day but contests like nearest to the pin, longest drive, bunker play and ladies putting are held.

ADMINISTRATION

PUDA reminders fail to move forest officials
SAS Nagar, October 21
Officials of Punjab’s Department of Forests, Ropar district, have failed to assess the cost of dried-up trees here in order to enable the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA) to put them to auction.

Admn decision on kerosene
Chandigarh, October 21
The Chandigarh Administration today decided to allow people whose dwellings were demolished during recent anti-encroachment drives to draw kerosene for two more months.

29 police personnel promoted
Chandigarh, October 21
Twentynine police personnel were today promoted, three as inspectors, nine as assistant sub-inspectors and 17 as head constables. Sub-Inspectors Nanak Chand, Mangi Ram and Gulshan Kumar have been promoted as Inspectors.