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Shivali of Shishu Niketan tops Class VIII exam
Sandeep of GSSS-27 gets 91 pc among non-model schools

Chandigarh, March 31 Shivali Jindal of Shishu Niketan Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 22, has topped Class VIII examination, conducted by the UT Education Department, by scoring 93.57 per cent, from among the model schools.

Sandeep Kumar          Shivali Jindal

Prevent in-laws from leaving country, woman urges police
Panchkula, March 31
Charging her NRI husband and his four relatives with dowry harassment, a resident of Ambala, Ms Ritu, today appealed to the police to prevent the accused from leaving the country.

Slum women triumph in first test of life

Chandigarh, March 31 It was indeed a red-letter day for 27 slum women from Chandigarh, who cleared the Class V examination, bringing to purpose the labour of five years. Least hopeful of passing the exams, most of the women who hail from economically weaker sections, were all smiles today as congratulations poured to them from all quarters. Triumphing against odds: Slum women from Sector 25 Janata Colony are all smiles after clearing the Class V exams conducted by the District Education Officer, UT. This was the first-ever test they took in their lives. — Tribune photo  by Parvesh Chauhan

Board employees come to blows, 2 suspended
Mohali, March 31
Two employees of the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) here were suspended today following a major scuffle that ensued between two groups of board employees, injuring one person. The board Chairman, Dr Kehar Singh, passed orders of suspension of Amrik Singh and Iqbal Singh today evening following a written complaint.

A doctor with a mission Chandigarh, March 31 A doctor with a mission — that is how employees of the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), describe him. And they are not wrong. Soon after taking over the charge of Director from Prof S.K. Sharma this evening, Prof K.K. Talwar promised to take steps for ensuring the institute’s growth. The outgoing Director, Prof S.K. Sharma, looks on as the new Director, Prof K.K. Talwar, takes over as Director, PGIMER, in Chandigarh on Wednesday. — Tribune photo by Parvesh Chauhan Warm farewell to PGI Director Chandigarh, March 31 The ninth Director of the PGI, Prof S.K. Sharma, was given a warm send-off by staff of the institute this afternoon. He had taken over as the Director in March 2000. A memento, along with bouquets, was also presented.

COMMUNITY

Helping the visually challenged

Chandigarh, March 31 Youths, by and large, take pride in being flashy. They are perhaps devoid of any definite ideology. Their belief in pizza and disco culture is growing by the day. Perhaps they have no clue to what can bring bliss to their lives. Their conduct sometimes makes old generation sad. Amar (extreme left), Tarun (in the middle with glasses) and Rajiv (extreme right) lends a helping hand to the visually challenged students

Corporation defers debate on Mani Majra housing scheme
Chandigarh, March 31
A meeting of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation was held here today in which an issue relating to a housing scheme was discussed at length. Later it was deferred on the plea that it was violation of the Model Code of Conduct. The meeting lasted about two and a half hours.

Heavy rush of depositors at city banks

Chandigarh, March 31 Today being the closing day of the financial year 2003-2004, heavy rush of depositors could be seen outside two leading public sector banks of the city, the State Bank of India and the Punjab National Bank (PNB). A heavy rush of depositors outside the Sector 17 Treasury Branch of the State Bank of India, Sector 17, at 10 pm as they come to deposit cash on the closing day of the  financial year.

65 club members to back Bhatia
Chandigarh, March 31
A meeting of 65 Chandigarh Club members, belonging to the banking and financial sector, was held here today. They decided to extend support to Mr Kulbir Singh Bhatia, contesting for the post of the member of the executive of the club.

Temple holds rath yatra Chandigarh, March 31 Melodious chants of “Hare Krishna” and “Hare Rama” filled the air as a rath yatra was taken by Sree Chaitanya Gaudiya Math in Sector 20-B. It was a part of the temple’s ongoing 34th annual function to mark the birth anniversary of its founder Acharya of All-India Sree Chaitnaya Gaudiya Math Srila Bhakti Dayita Madhav Maharaj. Elephants, horses, camels and schoolchildren were a part of the procession. It began from the math and passed through Sectors 21, 22, 17, 18, 29 and Sector 30 before culminating at the math around 7 pm. Children dressed as Lord Krishna and gopis participate in a rath yatra organised by Sri Chaitanya Gaudiya Math, Sector 20-B, in Chandigarh on Wednesday. — A Tribune photograph

Book festival from April 3
Chandigarh, March 31
Le Corbusier’s Chandigarh has emerged as “best place to live in” in a survey conducted by outlook to rank Indian cities. The City Beautiful is known for its planning, architecture, quality of life, high educational level, pollution-free environment, low crime rate and active citizens.

Bid to hush up lift case, say residents Panchkula, March 31 Panic has gripped residents of the Jal Vayu Vihar Awas Kalyan Samiti, a housing society in Sector 20, after the tragic accident in which Charan Das, an electrician with the society, was critically injured while rescuing four children trapped inside a lift yesterday. The lift of the Fourth Block of the Jal Vayu Vihar Awas Kalyan Samiti, Sector 20, Panchkula, in which Charan Das, an electrician, was trapped. — A Tribune photograph

Closed bill collection counters leave many in a tizzy
Chandigarh, March 31
Hundreds of people wanting to deposit electricity bills were left high and dry as the local Electricity Department observed an un-announced closed day citing closure of banks as the reason. This despite the fact that water bills were being accepted at various centres.

Sec 40 mishap: girl surrenders
Chandigarh, March 31
The 15-year-old girl, whose rash driving killed 55-year-old Kanta Devi in Sector 40-A on March 27, today surrendered before the police at the Sector 39 Police Station.

Council fails to get land’s possession
Mohali, March 31
Lack of coordination between the local Municipal Council and the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA) has put the council in a tight spot. PUDA was supposed to give possession of the land it had sold to the council to be used as a cattle pond. But according to council officials, despite an initial request and three reminders, there has been no move from PUDA’s side to even begin the process of possession.

Council fails to get land’s possession
Mohali, March 31
Lack of coordination between the local Municipal Council and the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA) has put the council in a tight spot. PUDA was supposed to give possession of the land it had sold to the council to be used as a cattle pond. But according to council officials, despite an initial request and three reminders, there has been no move from PUDA’s side to even begin the process of possession.

• ‘Kashmiri Pandits living like refugees’

CRIME

Pedestrian killed in mishap
Chandigarh, March 31
A Sector 29 resident working at Zirakpur was killed last night when a vehicle hit him between the Poultry Farm roundabout and Hallomajra.

BUSINESS

Stress on improving bank audit
Chandigarh, March 31
The local branch of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India organised a seminar on “bank audit and audit under computerised environment” here today.

Hutch plans to storm Punjab, UT
Chandigarh, March 31
Hutchison Essar plans to roll out its services in Punjab and Chandigarh within three months.

EDUCATION

Students flock PU for roll Nos; exams begin today
Chandigarh, March 31
Students continued to flock to the Examination Branch of Panjab University in search of their roll numbers as well as completion of formalities to have their admit cards issued a day before the examinations to the undergraduate classes begin.

Slum kids of Sector 25 Janata Colony pose for picture after clearing the Class V  examination, conducted by the UT Administration in March this year. While these girls help their families in the slums, the boys work as shoeshine boys. They work in the Sector 17 commercial area till about 3 pm every day after which they proceed to the Sector 24 Government High School to attend classes, taken by the volunteers working with Theatre Age, an NGO. — A Tribune photograph

Shan invited to Moscow congress on Asian Studies
Chandigarh, March 31
Dr Harnam Singh Shan, formerly Professor and Chairman, Guru Nanak Chair, and Head of the Departments of Punjabi Studies and of Sikh Studies, Panjab University, Chandigarh, has been invited to participate in the 37th International Congress of Asian and North African Studies.

Bhajans, giddha at school function
Chandigarh, March 31
The sixth annual prize distribution function of Vishavkarma Adarsh Vidyalaya, Khizrabad district, Ropar was held yesterday. Mr A.P. Bhatnagar, IPS, Director General of Police (Jails), Punjab, was the chief guest.

Dashmesh School annual function
Chandigarh, March 31
The prize distribution -cum-annual function of Sri Dashmesh Public School, Daddu Marja Colony, was held today. Mrs Kamlesh, Mayor, Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh, presided over the function. Mrs Shyama Negi, councillor, also attended the function.

HAMARA SCHOOL
Bal Niketan grooms children with mother’s touch

BAL Niketan Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 37 A, one of the oldest schools in the city, has made its mark in the field of quality education. Started in 1967 with just 30 students with the vision and guidance of its founder, the late Ms J.P. Kapoor, the school has blossomed into an institution of repute. Bal Niketan children enjoy a splash in the school’s pool

• ‘It is our belief that every child is gifted’
  

COURTS

Army coal scam: inquiry ordered
Chandigarh, March 31
A court of inquiry has been ordered into reported incidents of coal meant for Army establishments being siphoned off by transporters. The court of inquiry is being headed by a Colonel and its terms of reference include determining the modus operandi used to siphon-off coal supplies and the extent of involvement of the personnel at the coal depots and the possible connivance of military personnel.

CULTURE

Artistic tributes to Vincent Van Gogh

Chandigarh, March 31 Rashmi Singh had long nurtured the dream of paying artistic tributes to her idol, Vincent Van Gogh. A student of Ph.D in the history of fine art at Panjab University, Rashmi finally managed to lend shape to her dream, and that too on the most opportune occasion of Vincent Van Gogh’s 150th birth anniversary yesterday. Prem Singh inaugurates the exhibition, which pays a tribute to legendary painter Vincent Van Gogh, on the occasion of his birth anniversary, at Alliance Francaise, Sector 36, Chandigarh, on Tuesday evening. — A Tribune photograph

LIFESTYLE

The Big B’s choice THE moment Amitabh Bachchan entered the banquet hall of Hotel Northpark, Panchkula, the veneer of sheen on elite select guests wore off. Suddenly, the people who were waiting patiently for the star guest for nearly an hour were not the judges, ex-governors, bureaucrats or businessmen daintily flitting from here to there with cold drinks in their hands. Amitabh Bachchan greets guests at a party in Northpark Hotel, Panchkula.

HOME DECOR
A dream house everyone would love to own
A place of my own under the sky, amidst green mango trees and blooming flowers... the Cheemas’ home in Sector 18 is indeed a theme for a dream (house).

Promila Mahajan.

What you speak, speaks a lot about you
WHAT you speak speaks a lot about you. Let language not let you down; and learn the culture with the language — is the mantra of Ms Promila Mahajan of the Finesse Institute of Languages. The lady is out to promote the Queen’s English all over the country by franchising out their services.

Textile culture of Gujarat
RCS fashion store in Sector 17, has now opened its doors to other fashion designers. The store other than showcasing the beautifully crafted designs of its in- house designers under the Sukarma label, will now be exhibiting outfits- pret and party wear- by other designers.

Rani zips across city for Yash film

OVER the past few days it actually seemed as though the star-struck city was waiting more for Rani Mukherjee than her film director Yash Chopra. Earlier the rumours were that the charming actress would arrive with Shah Rukh Khan or at least with Preity Zinta, who was the first among the cast of Yash Chopra’s film to arrive in Chandigarh. Rani Mukherjee waves to her fans at Chandigarh airport on Wednesday. — Tribune photo by Pankaj Sharma

Morning Chatter
The ‘no’ and ‘yes’ generation
“MY kid doesn’t listen to me,” is a refrain that one hears so often. It seems harmless when the issues at hand are confined to things like not having milk, playing truant with home assignments or stubbornly refusing to use the toothbrush at night. No amount of cajoling and barter deals work as the child persists in having his way. The parent tries once, twice or thrice to use its authority but if the child is still insistent, the toughest parent gives in. Child is after all said to be the father of man!

HEALTH

New technique to remove brain tumour
Chandigarh, March 31
A new technique to remove brain tumour, which not only cuts down on surgery time and hospital stay but also drastically reduces the possibility of complications, has been introduced by the Western Command Hospital at Chandimandir.

SPORTS

Boys handball meet from July 31
Chandigarh, March 31
The city has been allotted the 27 edition of the Junior National Boys Handball Championship to be held from July 31 to August 5, said Mr Ravinder Talwar, secretary, Chandigarh Handball Association.

Campus sportspersons honoured

Chandigarh, March 31 The annual sports prize distribution function of Panjab University Campus was held in the gymnasium hall of the university today. Mr G.S. Randhawa, Arjuna awardee, was the chief guest. While applauding the efforts of the sportspersons in bringing laurels to the university, Mr Randhawa, a former ace athlete, lamented that no eminent sportsperson was present at the function.
Sportspersons of Panjab University Campus in a jubilant mood after receiving prizes during the annual prize distribution function in Chandigarh on Wednesday. — A Tribune photograph

ADMINISTRATION

Parks in a state of neglect; SDO to be suspended
Mohali, March 31
The Deputy Speaker of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha and Kharar MLA, Mr Bir Devinder Singh, who inspected various parks in the town this evening was highly disappointed as no proper maintenance had been carried out in them. He directed the PUDA authorities to chargesheet and suspend the SDO concerned as he had failed to perform his duty in a satisfactory manner.

Power board gets tough with bribe takers
JE fifth official suspended on graft charge
Mohali, March 31
In a bid to curb graft and bring about transparency in the working of the Punjab State Electricity Board, senior officials have caught a junior engineer (JE) red-handed while allegedly accepting a bribe from an industrial unit owner.

• Law officers get extension