The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Strict AICTE allows few to start new colleges Deepkamal Kaur Tribune News Service Jalandhar, March 24 The All-India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has been a stickler for rules this time. Only 21 of 116 applications for starting new colleges received a go-ahead from the AICTE till now. The figures were mentioned by SK Jena, regional officer of north-west region, AICTE, during a prize distribution function held at Apeejay Institute of Management today. Jena said 80 per cent of applicants did not receive an approval, as they were deficient in one aspect or the other. “They can seek a second opportunity for approval, if they think that they can satisfy our inspection teams this time.” “Seeking approvals is not easy. The teams visit colleges and make video records of everything that is instructed. A checklist is given to the teams, who use the list to check the presence of all items. The regional office as well as Delhi office then assesses the VCDs prepared by the teams. It is after the central team gives a nod that the clearance is given,” the officer divulged. Answering a question on why Rs 1 lakh per stream charges levied by the AICTE, the regional officer said, “Since the team members come from different parts of the country, they are usually take flight to their destination. Their lodging cost us Rs 8,000 per day. That is one inspection costs us Rs 1 lakh. Plus there are often double inspections. Sometimes when the teams reject the application for the second time, the applicants go to the court. Following which another inspection has to be conducted.” Asked about sanctions being given to more colleges despite about 20 to 25 per cent seats were lying vacant, he said, “It is the right of every group to set up an institute. How can we deny more players from starting a business? It is an open market. May be the new entrant has better inputs to offer. Besides, it creates a healthy competition, keeping the existing colleges on toes to improve themselves or perish.” The officer said the AICTE had also planned to start low-cost skill development certificate courses for the students of Classes IX onwards. He said polytechnics and ITIs would be roped in for the project. “We have already sought proposals on the matter,” he said while adding that the courses would run from levels one to six. Jena said the idea was to ensure that as many as 60 per cent school dropouts were at least armed with some professional skills as they moved out to seek jobs. He said he hoped that some of the courses including those in theatre and stage craft, acting, retail marketing, building technology, jewellery design, printing technology, and tourism and service sector would receive a good response.
	Two court complexes inaugurated to provide faster justice Bipin Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Jalandhar, March 24 In an effort to provide timely justice to litigants, two judicial complexes were inaugurated in Nakodar and Jalandhar today. Justice Ranjit Singh, from High Court, inaugurated a court complex, which come up at a cost of Rs 14.28, at Nakodar. Justice Jasbir Singh opened a litigation centre in Jalandhar that is constructed at a cost of Rs 3.67 crore. These two prestigious projects were dedicated by Punjab and Haryana High Court authorities to the public. Justice Ranjit Singh said more public persecutors would be recruited to clear backlog of court cases. He said the newly-constructed judicial complex contains four courtrooms and four houses for judges with separate libraries for judges and advocates, conference hall, bar room, three computer rooms, judicial centre, separate canteens for lawyers and litigants and a record room. A modern hall has also been constructed for the convenience of the litigants. Making efforts to conserve water, the complex has also been provided with rain harvesting system, he added. The litigation centre in Jalandhar houses a meeting hall, canteen for the lawyers and the litigants and a library. Three other judges of the High Court Justice Paramjit Singh Dhaliwal, Justice Ranjit Singh, Justice RC Gupta and District and Sessions Judge Inderjit Singh were also present on the occasion. Additional session judges, Chief Judicial Magistrate and Judicial Magistrates, senior and junior divisions, Jalandhar Police Commissioner Gaurav Yadav and his team members were also present. Judge inspects courts Nawanshahr, March 24 Justice Jitendra Chauhan, administrative judge of the district, today conducted inspection of the civil and criminal courts at Nawanshahr and Balachaur. Justice Chauhan interacted with the litigants and the members of the District Bar Association and heard their problems. He assured that the new court complex would start functioning at Nawanshahr within three months. ––OC
	Train to Himachal will resume from March 28 Our Correspondent Pathankot, March 24 Rail service to the hilly areas of lower Himachal Pradesh from the city railway station is likely to be resumed from March 28. Giving this information, the station superintendent of the city railway station, KD Sharma said all the arrangements had been completed to put the rail on Pathankot-Baijnath-Paprola narrow gauge rail track. Directions in this regard have also been given by the divisional railway manager, Ferozepur. The northern railway has decided to restart the train following the reconstruction of the bridge on Chakki River. Sharma said the bridge has been reconstructed in a record time of seven months. The rail link between both the states remained paralysed after the collapse of the bridge due to incessant rain. The rail service was discontinued on August, 12, last year. The people of both the states, especially from the Himachal Pradesh, were facing great difficulties. The people had to pay exorbitant bus fares in order to communicate. Mostly the people from the weaker section of society used to travel in this train. Now, the people of both Pathankot in Punjab and Kangra in Himachal Pradesh will be a happy as affordable rail is back on track.
	One dies in mishap Our Correspondent Phagwara, March 24 One died and another injured in a road accident here today. A motorcyclist identified as Ram Murti of Loharan village was killed on the spot, while his cousin Surjit Ram sustained serious injuries when their motorcycle collided with another bike coming from opposite direction. The incident took place on Phagwara-Hoshiarpur road. The injured was admitted to the local Civil Hospital. Two held with stolen bikes Batala, March 24 Two people with stolen motorcycles were arrested here today. SSP Gurkirpal Singh said Nihal Singh and Hunny were arrested while their third accomplice, Hardeep Singh, managed to escape. The incident took place on the Fateh Garh Churian Sangat Pura road. The accused will remain in police custody.––OC
	4 booked in assault case Tribune News Service Amritsar, March 24 The police has booked four persons for allegedly thrashing one Kulwinder Kaur and her husband Dalbir Singh and kidnapping the latter. Two of the accused were identified as Bikramjit Singh and Shahi Vakil, residents of Nadala village, Kapurthala. Harkrishan Singh, SHO, Beas police station, said Kulwinder informed the police that the culprits had kidnapped her husband. She said the accused came in a vehicle and forcibly entry their house. She alleged that she was molested by the accused. They bundled Dalbir Singh in their vehicle and sped away. “Fearing arrest, the miscreants released Dalbir near Subhanpur and fled away,” said Harkrishan. A case under Sections 364, 323, 452, 354 and 34 of the IPC has been registered.
	Jail authorities on alert after inmate’s ‘suicide’ bid Ravi Dhaliwal Tribune News Service Gurdaspur, March 24 The Gurdaspur Central Jail staff has gone into overdrive after an under-trial perched himself atop a tank minutes before a Punjab and Haryana High Court judge was slated to inspect the prison’s facilities. The incident sent shockwaves among the jail staff and judicial officers. The judge had to delay his visit by three hours, Jail Superintendent Shammi Kumar said. The jail staff has written to the Gurdaspur (City) police station to register a case under Section 309 of the IPC (attempt to commit suicide) against inmate Lakhwinder Pal Singh. In an attempt to prevent the reoccurrence of such as incident, the authorities have not only constructed an 8 feet high concrete wall around the tank but have also dismantled the staircase leading to the top of the tank. Shammi Kumar said the credit for diffusing the situation should go to the High Court Judge Justice M Jeyapaul, District and Sessions Judge KK Garg who urged him to exercise restraint when Lakhwinder Pal refused to come down. “The SSP Varinder Pal Singh and DSP (City) Ajinder Singh also played vital roles,” he added. He added that frustration among prisoners in the over-crowded prison was of the reasons as to why inmate took such an extreme step. “The judges hold lok adalats on monthly basis in the jail premises. Such ventures should be held more regularly. In this way, the strength of the inmates will decrease giving ample breathing space for other prisoners. There is enough space for 750 inmates but we are housing nearly 1,200 of them,” he said. Out of the 70 security personnel stationed to manage the affairs, nearly half remain on leave at one time or the other, sources said. There has been no recruitment since 1992.