Chandigarh/Panchkula, May 29
The teaching methodology and focus on higher order thinking skills seem to have worked wonders as a record number of Class X students have got above 90 per cent in the CBSE examinations, the results of which were declared today.

In the tricity, the top slot is being shared by Damini of Manav Mangal School, Chandigarh, and Tanushree of Mahatma Hansraj Public School, Panchkula, who have got 98.4 per cent.

With a mark short, the second place, too, is being shared by Uttkarsh Malhotra of St John’s School, Chandigarh, and Tushar Dogra of Manav Mangal School, Panchkula. Both scored 98.2 per cent.The third place has gone to Shinny of Bhavan Vidyalaya, Chandigarh, who has scored 98 per cent.

Panchkula was placed fourth region-wise with an overall percentage of 89.7 per cent. Chennai topped the list with 95.26 per cent followed by Ajmer (94.22 per cent) and Allahabad (89.10 per cent).

In the Panchkula region, girls outshone boys yet again with a subject-wise pass percentage of 90.84 as against the boys’percentage of 87.89. The overall pass percentage dipped by a miniscule margin. For the 2008-09 session, it stood at 89.07 per cent, against 89.9 per cent for the 2007-08 session.

School-wise, Kendriya Vidyalayas got a pass percentage of 96.29 per cent while government schools got 66.69 per cent. Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas and independent schools recorded a pass percentage of 97 per cent and 91.68 per cent, respectively.

“My principal has been my mentor. He gave me a slip that said, “Pray as if no work could help, work as if no prayer could help; you can create history some day”. I put it on my study table and it always motivated me”.
— Damini

“I attribute my success to my elder sister and like her, I want to pursue engineering. Her support was the main reason behind my success as my parents are doctors and stay very busy.”
— Tanushree

“I don’t think one needs extra tuitions. Just pay attention in the classroom. February onwards, I stopped hanging out with friends and devoted myself to my studies.”
— Uttkarsh

“I followed a systematic approach and devoted equal attention to all subjects. Having a proper schedule made all the difference.”
— Tushar

Pinjore, May 29
Close on the heels of the London-based Royal Society for the Protection of Birds getting a 20,000 pound bid for the name of a vulture chick born at the Vulture Conservation Breeding Centre, Pinjore, the centre has another reason to cheer.

Vibhu, the first vulture born in captivity four months ago, fledged its wings last week, giving a flight to the centre aiming at establishing a founder population of 25 pairs each of the three endangered species of vultures.

The centre is being run by the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), India, and the Haryana forest department.

The Bombay Natural History Society, an NGO, works with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.

The chick has brought a smile on the face of scientists. About 99.9 per cent of white-back vultures and 97 per cent of long-billed vultures have vanished from the world. Not more than 200 pairs of slender-billed species are present in the world.

The vulture conservation programme started at the Pinjore centre in 2001 when injured and dying vultures were brought for care from Haryana, Rajasthan, MP, Maharashtra and Gujarat.

It was upgraded to a breeding centre in 2004 when the reason for the death of the birds became known and diclofenac, the killer drug, was banned in 2006.

Four-month-old Vibhu, a white-back chick, has started taking feed itself. “Vibhu started fledgling last week and started taking feed itself even though it is still being looked after by its parents,” said Vibhu Prakash, principal scientist of the BNHS, whose name was given to the chick.

Chandigarh, May 29
LPG autos are finally on city roads. After completing the screening process, the State Transport Authority (STA) has granted permission to around 800 autos.

Thirteen yellow-green autos are already plying and other applicants are in the process of procuring the vehicles. The transport authority has given six months to the applicants to buy the autos.

Initially, the Chandigarh administration had decided to allow 500 autos. Later the number was fixed at 800.

The STA has written to the director of food and supplies to ensure that there were enough LPG outlets in the city.

Regarding the fares, sources in the administration indicated that the fare for LPG-run autos would be the same as for the other autos.

The rates were approved in 2001. The administration has decided to refit the 1,800 diesel-run autos with LPG kits within the next six months.

To check pollution, the authority has stopped issuing permits to three-wheelers with conventional engines.

Apart from phasing out 15-year-old autos, the STA has written to the transport department of Punjab and Haryana to ensure that these autos are phased out.

Mohali, May 29
Even after four days of sending the complaint against racial discrimination, the complainant George Adlana, could not furnish the evidence to the Punjab Police, which has initiated an inquiry on the basis of a complaint, yesterday.

The statement of the local officials of Wizcraft company, against whom the allegations of racism were leveled by the London-based dark-skinned cheerleaders, were recorded by the police.

As the officials completely denied the allegations, the police today sought evidences from Adlana, about which he had mentioned in his complaint which was sent to the SAS Nagar SSP R.S. Khatra through e-mail on Monday.

“In their statements, the local officials of Wizcraft Company had denied the allegations. So we contacted Adlana and asked him to send us the evidences. He did not send us any evidence,” said DSP City II Sarandeep Singh, who is conducting an inquiry in the matter.

Adlana is event manager of Fierce Company, which had hired Wizcraft to provide cheerleaders for Mohali team.

The cheerleaders include Ellesha Newton and Sherinne Anderson who alleged racial discrimination by the Wizcraft officials, who did not allow them to perform during the inaugural IPL match at the PCA Stadium on April 19.

Chandigarh, May 29
A senior IAS officer of the Haryana government has sought prosecution sanction against a member of the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

In a request to the financial commissioner, food and supplies department, chief administrator of the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) T.C. Gupta has sought the sanction.

Gupta has demanded that an inquiry should be conducted into the whole matter by a sitting or retired judge of the high court to bring out the truth in pronouncing of orders not only pertaining to HUDA but other departments whose cases are listed before the commission.

He alleged that the member had indulged in blatant misuse of “office and authority” by passing orders favouring individuals. These orders pertained to ensuring availability of HUDA plots and were passed in the absence of full quorum of the commission.

He added that the member passed the orders knowing that the proceedings in the state commission could be conducted by the President and at least one member sitting together only.

However, he alleged that the member violated these provisions though the member had, on one previous occasion, adjourned a case on grounds that the quorum was not complete.

Quoting instances in the letter, Gupta has said in some cases the member heard the cases singly and announced judgments dismissing the appeals of HUDA. He maintains that this amounts to misuse of authority as a public servant to procure gains for others.

The letter adds that there is a flood of applications seeking advancement of dates of cases, which the member is entertaining since the president of the commission, Justice R.C. Kathuria, retired recently.

Holding that the member too is shortly going to retire, Gupta claimed that this was one reason why the former was indulging in advancing the dates of cases and passing orders.

When contacted, Gupta confirmed that he had sought the prosecution sanction but refused to comment on the matter.

Chandigarh, May 29
Senior advocate J.C. Verma said today he would seek the review of the judicial order passed by a Punjab and Haryana High Court Division Bench in the Seth Bhagirath Dass's property matter.

The case had led to verbal spat between a High Court Judge and Verma, but the matter was amicable resolved with the intervention of Chief Justice Vijender Jain.

Addressing a press conference at his Sector 11 residence here this afternoon, Verma made it clear the hatchets had been buried, but he wanted the judicial orders to be recalled.

Insisting that he was not criticising the Judge, but simply assailing the order, Verma said he would seek review of the same on the ground that the appointment of trustee was not an issue before the court.

He added, otherwise also, he was not in a position to name a trustee. “I was representing only one trustee; it was neither my duty, nor was I competent to suggest a name,” Verma said, adding he had not stated anything against sitting judges.

Seth Bhagirath Dass had died issueless, and had donated his library to the High Court while leaving property worth crores to a Trust after his death on April 25, 1989.

Chandigarh, May 29
In a morale booster to union minister of state for finance Pawan Bansal in the run-up to the next parliamentary elections, Davinder Singh Babla, minister’s man Friday, was today elected chairman of the cash-rich market committee.

The victory of Babla, who is general secretary of the Chandigarh Territorial Congress Committee (CTCC), was all the more creditable as he was elected unopposed, with Anand Singh, candidate fielded by the opposition camp led by BJP general secretary Rambir Bhatti, withdrawing his nomination at the last moment.

In fact, BJP’s strategy to turn the contest into a battle of wits between the urban versus rural directors failed miserably with Anand Singh throwing in his lot with Babla and proposing his name.

The only saving grace for the BJP was that Bhatti was elected vice-chairman with six votes as against three votes of Congress’ Jeet Singh.

Interestingly, Babla’s victory marks the end of rural domination on the post of the chairman of the market committee.

Of the nine directors, six represented rural constituencies such as producers and cooperative societies.

Babla represents the commission agent constituency, which has two seats, with one seat being filled by the “palledar” constituency.

However, unfazed by the rural-urban controversy, Babla has a vision for the overall development of the grain market and UT villages.

“A blueprint for the development and sanitation of the grain market and villages would be prepared in the next 15 days,” Babla told Chandigarh Tribune.

Though a “non-political” body, the market committee wields considerable influence in the rural politics of Chandigarh and intense lobbying is usually witnessed for the post of the chairman.

Chandigarh, May 29
The naked body of an unidentified man, in his mid-30s, was found under mystery circumstances in the jungle area along the under construction Hallo Majra-Raipur Kalan road, here this afternoon.

The body was found in a ditch at a distance from the road. The victim’s hands and a part of face bore bloodstains.

The body also bore some injury marks, which the police said were non-fatal. The skin on the victim’s thighs was peeled off.

During examination of scene, the police found an empty liquor bottle and a tumbler. Besides, a dupatta and some women garments were recovered from the scene.

Marks at the scene suggested that the body was dragged to the ditch. The body did not emit foul smell, indicating that the death might have occurred last night, said an investigating officer.

A herdsman from Hallo Majra village, Charan Singh, was the first one to notice the body around 4:30 pm.

He ran back to the village and raised the alarm. Another villager, Amarjit Singh, informed the police control room about the incident.

The police got the scene examined from forensic experts and dog squad to gather clues. A team of crime branch officials also assisted the investigating officials.

Ruling out foul play behind the death after the preliminary investigation, Industrial Area police station SHO Jagir Singh said the body did not bear any visible fatal injuries. The post-mortem would be conducted to ascertain the exact cause of death.

The SHO stated that the victim might have been drunk and have had gone to the area to answer the nature’s call.

He apparently tripped and injured himself. Being drunk, he might have struggled to stand up.

As he apparently tried to crawl, the victim fell in the ditch, where he died, the police added. The police called people from the nearby village to identify the body, but in vain.

Meanwhile, the police has initiated inquest proceedings under Section 174 of the Criminal Procedure Code in this regard.

Chandigarh, May 29
Taking note of illegal activities of ICICI Bank, the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has stated that stricter action needs to be taken against the bank as it has forced a petitioner to pay an amount that was not due to her.

The forum has also imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh on the bank for harassing and intimidating its client, Harjeet K. Walia, a resident of Sector 40.

The non-compliance of the order will make the bank liable to prosecution under Section 27 of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986, which provides imprisonment up to three years.

The forum stated: “The bank has acquired notoriety in doing illegal activities in harassing and intimidating its customers. The bank can be an asset to public if it acts within the four walls of the law but they are becoming a curse to society who are being tortured.”

Harjeet, who had a credit card with the bank, was issued an insurance policy without her consent.

The bank debited the amount of insurance from her credit card. On contacting the bank, an official there advised her to write a letter for cancellation of the insurance. Yet the amount was debited from her account.

Chandigarh, May 29
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed the managing director (MD) of Sahara India to pay Rs 40,000 in compensation for deficiency in service to a Sector-22 resident.

The forum also asked the company to pay Rs 5,500 as costs of litigation. The petitioner, Rakesh Srivastava, had taken a certificate for Rs 10,000 of Sahara Rajat Yojna on December 31, 2003 and a coupon of Rs 5,000 was issued in his favour against the certificate.

However, the coupon was not received by him. On enquiring from the company, he was informed that the coupon had been delivered to the Chandigarh branch.

Thereafter, the complainant requested the company to submit an affidavit on April 26, 2007. He was again not provided with the coupon.

In December, 2006, the petitioner approached the company to refund the interest but the opposite party forced him to take a loan against the allowance.

The company stated that it had been always ready to settle the account of loan but the complainant had not submitted any application for the same.

Chandigarh, May 29
A number of former students of Punjab University today visited the site of the relay fast on the campus and volunteered to join it.

Prof L.N. Gupta, joint secretary, and Prof J.D. Sharma, executive member of the PU Panchkula Residents’ Association, visited the dharna site to express their solidarity with the agitating teachers and students of PU.

Dr Vinod Kumar, lecturer from PU Regional Centre, Mukatsar, also visited the fasting teachers and students and volunteered to sit on the fast along with his colleagues from the centre.

Those who sat the fast today among the teachers were PU fellow P.S. Gill, G.S. Gill from the department of geology, Krishan Mohan from the department of geography and among the students were Deepika Thakur and Sukhdev Kundu both from the environment sciences.

Meanwhile, the executive body of the federation will meet on June 1 to take stock of issues concerning the visually-challenged persons.

Mohali, May 29
Rahul Vij ofb the Shivalik Public School here has topped in Mohali securing 97.8 per cent marks.

The second position in the town went to Kushalpreet Singh of St Soldier’s International Convent School.

He secured 96.2 per cent marks. Kirandeep Kaur of DAV Public Senior Secondary School stood third getting 95.6 per cent marks.

An elated Rahul said he rushed to a cyber café in the morning to check the results. “I could not believe that I had scored that high as I was expecting a little over 90 per cent marks. I studied five hours daily after school and took tuition in science till December last year.”

Rahul wants to join an IIT for engineering. He gives credit for his success to his teachers and his mother.

Komal of Gian Jyoti Public School got 94.6 per cent marks. Amanjot Kaur and Harsimran Kaur of the same school stood second with 94 per cent marks. Ravinder Kaur is third with 93.6 per cent.

In Golden Bells Public School, Arshdeep Kaur got the highest marks with 94.6 per cent followed by Karishma who got 93.4 per cent. Neeraj Kumar Moudgil is third with 90.2 per cent.

Nancy Moudgil of Lawrence Public Senior Secondary School stood first in her institution and scored 94.2 per cent marks. The second position went to Sonakshi Rana who got 93.4 while Nancy Sharma is third with 91 per cent.

Ashmi Kad scored 94 per cent marks and stood second in DAV School. In St Soldier’s School, Jaspreet Singh Walia stood second with 93.8 per cent marks while Deepak Aggarwal is third with 92.8 per cent.

Sunil Kumar of Shivalik is third in his school and got 93.6 per cent marks. Amanpreet Kaur of Sant Isher Singh Public School stood first in her school with 92.4 per cent marks while Kamaljit Singh stood second with 90.2 per cent.

Chandigarh, May 29
They didn’t have chauffeurs to drive them to schools. Neither had they access to coaching centers or other luxuries of life but they surely had a dream in their eyes to succeed. And they have achieved it.

Whether its Poonam, Komal and Kamini of Sacred Heart Senior Secondary School, Sector 26, or Geeta and Divya of Government Model Senior Secondary School (GMSSS), Sector 33, all have proved that poor economic background can never come in the way of success.

Komal, daughter of a class IV employee, who scored 80.6 per cent marks, said, “Our parents and teachers always encouraged us to compete and their support encouraged us to feel second to none.”

Balancing studies with household chores, these girls study between six and seven hours everyday.

Kamini, whose mother is suffering from thyroid and diabetes, scored 82.8 per cent. “Due to my mother’s illness, I have to look after my home as well as my younger siblings but even then I spare at least four hours for studies everyday. I am happy that my hard work bore fruit,” said a beaming Kamini.

Despite Hindi medium of instruction, these brilliant students are raring to compete with other students at any level. Poonam, who scored 81.6 per cent marks, said, “I studied in Hindi medium but now I am opting for English in Class XI.”

When asked about their support system, it was the teachers’ name that came first on their lips followed by God and parents. “I scored 90.6 per cent and attribute this success to my teachers who are my role models,” said Geeta of GMSSS. Apart from being high scorers, these students are also well aware of the latest happenings.

“I don’t like the way news channels work. I think they should focus on spreading awareness on issues of public interest rather than sensationalising things,” said a confident Divya of GMSSS-33 who scored 90.6 per cent.

Their parents may have struggled hard to make two ends meet but these educationally empowered girls endeavor to be software and mechanical engineers, charter accountants and lecturers. Given their dedication, determination and discipline, this will not be a tall order.

Chandigarh, May 29
Osean, the 10-year-old daughter of Baljinder Singh Sandhu who is the prime accused in the Anuradha murder case, today got her statement recorded under Section 164 of the CrPC in the court of judicial magistrate P.K. Lal.

The confessional statement of model Noor Kataria was recorded last Saturday.

According to sources in the police, during interrogation Osean stated that Baljinder and her mother, Anuradha, used to fight frequently.

She added that her mother used to insist on going to disco with Baljinder on Saturday but he never took her along.

Osean added that her mother used to object to special treatment given to one of the servants.

She also confirmed that Baljinder had fired gunshots at Harish few days ago.

It has been learned that the name of Ram Niwas is likely to be recommended by
the Centre.