B A T H I N D A    E D I T I O N

SGPC starts process, holds first meeting
Muktsar, March 24
After ignoring the proposed martyrs’ memorial dedicated to Mai Bhago and 40 Muktas for almost seven years since its foundation stone was laid on the Tibbi Sahib road, the recently formed committee lead by SGPC officials held its first meeting here on Friday.

Introduce moral education at primary level: ex-CBI director
Abohar, March 24
While concluding the debate over the recommendations of the National Knowledge Commission, headed by Sam Pitroda, veteran scholars from six states observed that, the regulatory arrangement of higher education in India was very complex and dysfunctional.

Members of various Sikh organisations holding a march in protest against the proposed hanging of Balwant Singh Rajoana, a convict in Beant Singh assassination case, in Bathinda on Saturday. Tribune photo: Pawan Sharma

HC justice inspects courts complex, sub-jail
Muktsar, March 24
Justice Sabina of the Punjab and Haryana High court today visited the local courts complex, sub-jail during a routine inspection.

Jail dept’s recruitment test on March 27
Patiala, March 24
The Punjab Jails Department would recruit assistant district attorney, law officers and assistant law officers. A test in this regard would be held on March 27 from 12.30 pm to 5.30 pm at Sri Aurobindo International Senior Secondary School, Rajpura Road.

Tenders for brick lining of Gang canal cancelled
Abohar, March 24
There will be no brick lining of the Gang (Bikaner) canal during the 40 day-closure beginning April 10.

Construction of martyrs' memorial in Muktsar
SGPC starts process, holds first meeting
Archit Watts/TNS

Muktsar, March 24
After ignoring the proposed martyrs’ memorial dedicated to Mai Bhago and 40 Muktas for almost seven years since its foundation stone was laid on the Tibbi Sahib road, the recently formed committee lead by SGPC officials held its first meeting here on Friday.

On May 4, 2005, the then president of the SAD, Parkash Singh Badal along with the then SGPC president Bibi Jagir Kaur, had laid the foundation stone of this martyrs' memorial, but even after the lapse of such a long period, the foundation stone stands alone and not even a single brick has been installed.

Those who attended the meeting included its head Dr Jaspal Singh, Vice-Chancellor, Punjabi University, Patiala; Dr Gurmohan Singh, Director, Directorate of Education, SGPC; Prof Sukhdial Singh, Punjabi University, Patiala; Prof Sukhjot Singh, Department of Architecture, GNDU; Harbhajan Singh, Additional Secretary, SGPC; Sukhminder Singh, SDO, SGPC and Karan Singh, Manager, Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, Muktsar at Guru Nanak Girls’ College.

They also visited the site, where the memorial is proposed to be built but could not come to any decision and even discussed shifting the site to some other nearby place.

“The process to start the construction has begun, as we discussed the issues regarding the availability of a large chunk of land for the memorial. A few sites were also visited, but all on the premises of the gurudwara. Shortly, the design will be prepared and the work will start,” said Karan Singh, manager, Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, Muktsar.

It may be recalled that when the foundation stone of the project was laid, it was announced that the design was approved and the amount required would also be sanctioned shortly, but since then, nothing has come up.

Introduce moral education at primary level: ex-CBI director
Raj Sadosh

Abohar, March 24
While concluding the debate over the recommendations of the National Knowledge Commission, headed by Sam Pitroda, veteran scholars from six states observed that, the regulatory arrangement of higher education in India was very complex and dysfunctional.

This is due to highly detailed, time-consuming and non-transparent regulations, not allows higher education institutions to respond to changing needs of the society. As a result, there is standardization in higher education in India but there is no maintenance of standards.

The two-day seminar, first of its kind in the state, sponsored by the UGC, today concluded at the DAV College of Education here.

CBI former Director Joginder Singh regretted in his inaugural address that most of the commissions and committees had failed to meet the goals. The Commission recommended that the country should have 1,500 universities by 2015 currently the number is 350.

The former CBI Director suggested that religious/moral education should be a compulsory subject from primary level, hard steps be taken to check economic exploitation in the field

of education. The central government should assist the private schools and colleges in exploring adequate resources to implement the Right to Education.

Convener Dr Venita Singh said most of the educationists to whom she spoke about the seminar feigned ignorance over the National Knowledge Commission. Panjab University fellow Dr Emanuel Nahar pointed out there were contradictions in the guidelines issued by the University Grants Commission and recommendations of the National Knowledge Commission.

NCERT field advisor Prof MR Chilana, Council of Teacher Education chief Dr D.R. Vij, Dr Shireesh Pal Singh (Bhopal), Dr Tara Singh Gill (Sadulshehar), Dr Sawinder Pal Kaur (Lopon), Dr Girdhar Lal Sharma (Rawatsar), Dr Sarabjit Kaur (Jalalabad), Dr RS Yadav (Kurukshetra), Dr KM Bhandarkar (Nagpur) and Dr Jitender Sharma (Jodhpur) were among the speakers. Dr Vijay Grover, Dr Mandeep Kaur and Ajay Khosla conducted the sessions.

HC justice inspects courts complex, sub-jail
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, March 24
Justice Sabina of the Punjab and Haryana High court today visited the local courts complex, sub-jail during a routine inspection.

She interacted with a number of jail inmates and listened to their demands and took their applications of seeking speedy trial.

She found that the quality of sugar being used on the jail premises was not up to the mark and directed the officials concerned to look into it.

Accompanied by district and session judge, JS Kular, other judges and senior officials of the district administration, Sabina also paid obeisance at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib here.

Jail dept’s recruitment test on March 27

Patiala, March 24
The Punjab Jails Department would recruit assistant district attorney, law officers and assistant law officers. A test in this regard would be held on March 27 from 12.30 pm to 5.30 pm at Sri Aurobindo International Senior Secondary School, Rajpura Road.

Meanwhile, physical test for recruitment of assistant superintendent (Jail) would be held from April 5 to 13 on Punjabi University campus. Candidates can log on to www.recruitment.cdacmohali.in to verify their allotted roll numbers and download their admission cards. — TNS

Tenders for brick lining of Gang canal cancelled
Our Correspondent

Abohar, March 24
There will be no brick lining of the Gang (Bikaner) canal during the 40 day-closure beginning April 10.

The Water Resources Department officials based at Sriganganagar confirmed Saturday afternoon that the tenders opened yesterday have exceeded the estimates, so the same stands cancelled. The department had sought budget worth Rs 100 crore from the Rajasthan Government to take up the second phase of brick lining starting from RD 82500 but it has fallen short, sources said.

“It is a mockery of the system,” observed Subhash Sehgal, spokesperson, Rajasthan Kisan Sangharsh Samiti adding that the process for tenders should have been initiated in December last.

The authorities must have sought closure from the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) after finalising the tenders and issuing work orders as per the norms. The way these officials are functioning, we cannot expect brick lining even in the next ten years, he said.