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Sunday, November 22, 1998
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C H A N D I G A R H & V I C I N I T Y |
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Sunday, November 22, 1998 |
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Paper setting changed in PU CHANDIGARH, Nov 21 — In a shift from the current practice, each paper of undergraduate classes in Panjab University will be set by three different paper setters. They will set two papers each for individual subject. 6 students
hurt in road mishap |
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Coop
Bank rules flouted, Rs 11 cr loan "cleared"
Environment
week concludes Probe
sought into gangrape Goof-up
in ad for ASIs Khalsa
College wins Natyotsava trophy Colourful
nagar kirtan procession Dances
mark end of PU youth fest Man
harassed by policemen 23
employees of co-op bank sacked CTYC
to revamp block units |
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Paper setting changed in PU CHANDIGARH, Nov 21 —In a shift from the current practice, each paper of undergraduate classes in Panjab University will be set by three different paper setters. They will set two papers each for individual subject. This was resolved at the Syndicate meeting here today. In the existing practice only one paper setter sets a maximum of four papers each out of which two are chosen for the annual examination in April and the supplementary examination in September. Raising the issue, Prof Charanjit Chawla said in the current practice, allegations were levelled against teachers in case of paper leakages. Under the proposed practice there would be six papers out of which the controller could choose any two.This was agreed to by the Syndicate and is likely to be implemented from the current academic session, sources said. Mr Rajinder Bhandari pointed out that a separate account should be maintained for the money sent in the form of donations for various scholarships. Mr Satish Kumar Sharma raised the issue of suspension orders served to a former principal of Guru Nanak College in Ferozepore.The matter of Principal R.L. Anand of DAV College, Hoshiarpur, who has been vindicated by the DPI(Colleges) also found mention.The Vice-Chancellor assured that he would refer the matter to the Dean College Development Council. The Syndicate allowed permission to Baba Jaswant Singh Dental College, Hospital and Research Institute ,Ludhiana, to start BDS courses with an intake of 100 students.Mr Rajinder Deepa and Professor Chawla asked the VC to look into the infrastructure and salary structure of the staff who, in turn, assured that he would personally visit the institute. The university allowed Government College for Girls, Ludhiana, to start MA (Punjabi) classes. Dr Anirudh Joshi said the local GGDSD College had been denied a course in M.Com despite the matter being discussed at the senate and the Syndicate.The Vice-Chancellor is understood to have assured a quick action. The Syndicate passed the item pertaining to the formation of welfare committee for mess and canteen workers and poor students.The proposal of Principal Joginder Singh asking reservation for retired teachers in faculties was rejected. The Syndicate referred back the committee concerned which pertained to 30 per cent reservation for women members in managing committees of women 25 colleges. The rates of translation per page have been enhanced from Rs 10 to Rs 30. The Syndicate felicitated Prof K.N.Pathak, Department of Physics, on having been awarded the Mehgnad Saha award for formulation of the well known "Pathak-Vashishta theory of effect of electronic motion on properties of matter". The Syndicate allowed the fellows of PU to change their assigned faculties by December 11 .Fellows can change their faculties after two years of the senate elections and this can be done only once during their tenure. Members also raised the issue of implementation of the notification of pay scales by the Centre. The Vice-Chancellor assured that he would meet the Chief Minister in this regard. A total of nine candidates
were awarded degrees of doctors of philosophy (PH.D).They
are Simmi Aggarwal, Rajesh Kumar Sani, Desha Sharma,
Lalita Rani, Parshant Kumar Batham, Suman Lata, Neena
Mehta, Rakesh Kumar Verma and Virender alias Vidhar
Singh. |
6 students hurt in road
mishap PANCHKULA, Nov 21 — At least six students of Shishu Niketan School, Chandigarh, were injured, two of them seriously, when a school bus in which they were travelling was hit by a truck near the BEL factory on the main road dividing Sector 15 and Industrial Area, Phase II, here this afternoon. The seriously injured students — Priyanka and Sarika — have been admitted to the PGI, Chandigarh. The condition of Priyanka, who suffered head injury, was reported serious. According to information available, the school bus (CH-01-A-7491), with more than 18 children on board, was hit by the truck (HP-20-1277) while it was negotiating a turn near the BEL factory. The other students injured in the accident — Pooja, Karan, Shoba, Chandan — have been admitted to the local general hospital. The driver of the truck fled. The police has registered a case under Sections 279 and 337, IPC, against the truck driver. Besides, two other persons were injured in separate road accidents in Panchkula and Mani Majra during the past 24 hours. Raj Kumar, driver of school van of D.C. Model School, Sector 7, here was injured when his vehicle was sandwiched between two buses of Haryana Roadways on the Chandigarh-Panchkula road near the Housing Board roundabout, Mani Majra. In another accident, Mr
T.N. Vermani, a scooterist, was injured when he was hit
by a car near the HUDA nursery in Industrial Area,
Phase-I here. |
Cattle tethered in classrooms CHANDIGARH, Nov 21 — If one can brave stench of animal excreta and dung heaps and reach Government Primary School, Palsora, the visitor is welcomed by bellows of buffaloes. Instead of children's chatter in the classrooms, drunken brawls of Sansis and migrant workers are common sights around 50 jhuggis which have sprung up within the school premises allegedly under political patronage. While teachers hold classes in one corner, half a dozen buffaloes graze in the ground meant for children to play. A few buffaloes who remain tethered in the backyard of classrooms, rub their heads against unplastered classroom walls. "We remain on our toes to see that students, around 1000, don't go close to ambling cattle or jhuggi-dwellers engaged in brawls after a binge," said a teacher. A shed and a jhuggi remain in the possession of the PWD and a contractor even after his completion of the school boundary wall an year ago. A structure constructed by the PWD before acquisition of the land for the school in 1992 remains under the control of a chowkidar. The number of passages made in the boundary wall speak about the short-cut methodology of jhuggi-dwellers. It is said these jhuggis have been constructed by those who had been rehabilitated by the UT Administration in a nearby colony. It is learnt that they sold off the tenements allotted to them. Understanding the
importance of temples in political one-upmanship, the
jhuggi-dwellers have constructed two places of worship in
the place of learning. |
Bond's humour enlivens function SAS NAGAR, Nov 21 — If one aims at perfection, one can reach a degree of excellence. There is always room for improvement and further achievement. This was stated by well-known writer Ruskin Bond after giving away the prizes at the 19th annual day function of Yadavindra Public School here today. Bond, the chief guest, giving a brief speech with a dash of humour, said prizes were an incentive to do bigger and greater things and helped one to excel in what one was doing. He underscored the need for humour and simplicity in life. Appreciating the exhibition put up by students, he said now if he wanted to get a book bound, he knew where to get it done, referring humorously to one aspect of the exhibition. And that went for the vacuum cleaner, too. As far as the fictional character James Bond was concerned, mentioned by the principal in his speech earlier, Ruskin Bond said he had an uncle by that name and he was a dentist. His (the uncle's) epitaph stated that it was the last cavity he filled. The school principal, Air Cmdre S.K. Sharma (retd), after giving a biographical sketch of the writer, said a long span of time was needed to prepare a child of today for life tomorrow and schooling was only one of the phase of that long preparation. Complete education, he said, should cover all three aspects of personality — cognitive, affective and psychomotor. The annual report was presented in parts by various students who spoke about how the institution was contributing to their growth. The exhibition covered a
wide range of subjects, including crafts and science. |
Coop Bank rules flouted, Rs 11
cr loan "cleared" CHANDIGARH, Nov 21 — In an unprecedented step, the Chandigarh State Co-operative Bank, disregarding norms, has "cleared" Rs 11 crore unsecured loan to Punwire, an SAS Nagar-based concern. Money has been given to Punwire without any security or pledging of property even as the policy for sanctioning loans of this amount has been suspended for the past several years. In the instant case the bank accepted only post-dated cheques (PDC) as collateral. The issue came to light only yesterday when the Secretary, Co-operation, Union Territory Mr S.K. Gathwal, was hearing a case seeking a stay on the dissolution of the Board of Directors of the bank. It was pointed out by the counsel of the bank that all loans were cleared after the bank had been served with a show cause notice pointing out numerous irregularities. Sources in the bank revealed that a CBI inquiry is already on to look into two earlier instances of advancing of loan worth a couple of crores of rupees. It was keeping these instances in view that the policy of giving loans was suspended. At present small loans for the purchase of buffaloes by villagers, building loans against land as collateral and loans to the banks employees for the purchase of conveyance are given. The restarting of advancing of loan began from September 10 when the bank received a letter from Punwire in reference to a short term loan of Rs 1 crore invested by the bank with the corporation in June which was due in September. The company "agreed" to take the loan for another period of 12 months on an interest of 17.50 per cent, quarterly compounding payable half yearly. Subsequently, the proposal was cleared by the then Managing Director(MD) of the bank. Similarly, loans of Rs One crore each were cleared by the MD on eight occasions— September 10, 18, 22, 25, 28, 30(twice)— and on October 7 on same terms and conditions. Many of the loans were cleared the same day when the letters referring to the short term loans and the post dated cheques were received by the bank from Punwire. Sources pointing to records added that such was the haste to clear the loans that the bank approved two loans of Rs 3 crore and Rs 2 crore in a single day, September 30. An additional condition in this case specifies that the PDC of Punwire would act as collateral, a condition absent from the other letters of references. While the former loan was for a year the latter was for a period of 91 days. The last loan of Rs 1 crore was cleared on October 7, a week before the BoD was dissolved for alleged irregularities. However, no mention of the present case was made in the show-cause notice given to the bank as the loans were cleared after the receiving date, sources revealed. Sources alleged that a huge sum had changed hands in the present "deal". The BoD was kept in the dark about the negotiations and the clearance of the loans. As per norms, the loans, irrespective of the amounts involved, cannot be cleared for organisations and persons residing outside Chandigarh. Moreover, the amounts have to be cleared by the Cooperative Department and final sanction has to come from the Registrar of the Cooperative Department. All agreements executed by the bank with the organisation were null and void as proper procedure had not been followed. Were Punwire to default the loss to the "limited" capital base of the bank, an estimated Rs 60 crore, would be used to offset the losses, sources added. Meanwhile, Mr Bhupinder
Singh Badheri, a member of the dissolved board has
demanded a thorough inquiry into the matter and action
against those found guilty. |
Sisters in suffering CHANDIGARH, Nov 21 — It is a story of two girls who are sisters in suffering. The girls do not have both their respective arms but one of them may be placed worse than the other in life. Due to paucity of funds and thanks to impractical schemes of the government a seven-year-old girl will not be able to enjoy the benefits of modern science. The seven-year-old is a Keralite, Zelu Maria Thomas, who, due to a genetic defect, was born without both her arms. Despite the electronic artificial arm being available in the country she cannot be fitted with one as she belongs to a poor family and her father, who owns less than an acre in Eduki district of Kerala, of course cannot afford the expenses. At the moment she is undergoing treatment at the internationally acclaimed Nevedac Prosthetic Centre at nearby Daulat Singhwala on the Chandigarh-Ambala road. The government schemes for such people are typically mired in a wide band of bureaucratic red tape. Only a sum of Rs 6000 is paid for fitment of arms and this can only buy cumbersome mechanical arms for the little one. She is here under a similar scheme. The electronic arms will cost around Rs 35,000 but will provide better quality of life and she will adapt faster, says Dr V.J.S. Vohra , Director of the centre. On the other hand, ironically, a 20-year-old Sri Lankan, T.M. Sunethra Karunaratne, was discharged from the centre today after receiving electronic arms. The Sri Lankan Government spent almost Rs 50,000 out of the President's Fund on her. Both her arms were crushed in a sugarcane crushing machine in her village. As the beaming Sri Lankan girl tried out her electronic arms in the presence of mediapersons, the little Maria Thomas looked in awe as she compared her own cumbersome mechanical contraption with the sophisticated electronic equipment being used by her "suffering sister" . The comparison ends there. Unless a donor organisation steps in it may be a fantasy for the little girl to have hands like that. As she grows up she will require at least five new fitments to suit the growth of her shoulders, explains Dr Vohra. The little girl has not lost courage, she writes beautifully by holding the pen between her toe and is studying in Class II. She always smiles and talks through an on hand interpreter, a Tamilian woman, working at the centre. The little girl demonstrated her skill by writing with her toe. Meanwhile Dr Vohra
informed that he would be training two persons from the
Sri Lankan Army for fitment of artificial limbs while the
equipment would be supplied from this centre. |
Environment week concludes CHANDIGARH, Nov 21 — The Enviro-week organised by the Nature Friendly Club of Kendriya Vidyalaya, Sector 47, concluded here today. Talks were organised to create environment awareness among students and the public.The programme was organised under the supervision of Mr Saranjit Singh as part of the national environment campaign launched by the Environment Society of India. There was mass participation in activities like essay writing, poster making, slogan writing and poster drafting. PANCHKULA: As many as 300 students of Government Senior Secondary School, Sector 6 participated in a two day quiz, essay writing and painting contests organised by the local Environment Society, which concluded here on Saturday. The Additional Deputy Commissioner( ADC), Mr Anurag Aggarwal, advised the students to spread the message of environment conservation in society. Dr K.K.Garg, Joint Director, Ministry of Environment and Forests, asked the school authorities to launch vermi-composting. Mr S.K. Sharma, President of the Environment Society of India, informed that a workshop on vermi-composting was being organised here on November 28. Mr Banarsi Dass, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Haryana, said trees absorb pollution and produce fresh air. A book "Paryavaran Shiksha" authored by Dr K.K. Garg and Dr S.C. Jain, was released by him. Mr C.L.Sehgal, President
of the Society, also spoke. |
Probe sought into gangrape CHANDIGARH, Nov 21 — Even as the police is still clueless about the gangrape of a woman two nights ago, political parties have reacted sharply to the incident. In statement issued today, the local unit of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has demanded an independent inquiry into the incident. The unit president, Mr Gurpratap Singh Riar, sought an immediate meeting of the police advisory committee. The spokesperson for the local unit of the Congress, Mr Sunil Parti, alleged that the crime rate had gone up since the installation of the BJP government. He suggested that representatives of political parties be invited to inspect the "thikri pehras" of patrol parties. A team of other Congress
leaders, led by Principal Gurbachan Singh, visited Khuda
Lahora village, where the incident took place. |
Goof-up in ad for ASIs CHANDIGARH, Nov 21 — In a classic case of goof-up, the Chandigarh Police has inserted an advertisement in the employment news for the week November 21 to 27, inviting application for the posts of Assistant Sub Inspectors (ASIs). The catch is that the last date for sending applications was November 20, while the issue of Employment News containing the advertisement also hit the stands last evening. It is not clear whether
the police is going to extend the date. The advertisement
appears on page four of the weekly. |
Khalsa College wins Natyotsava
trophy CHANDIGARH, Nov 21 — Sri Guru Gobind Khalsa College, Sector 26, won the running trophy in the Natyotsava-98, a theatre festival, organised by the Sambhang theatre group here today. St Stephens School, Sector 45, won the contest in the school category. Jasma and Neeru from Government College for Girls, Sector 42, shared the best actresses award. Amit from DAV College walked away with the best actor award. Among school children, Pritish Narula (St Stephen's) and Narindar from Khuda Lahora were chosen as the best actor and actress, respectively. A total of 10 institutions participated in the event. Dr G.V. Ajralingam, Finance Secretary, inaugurated the Natyotsav. Mr Vijay Sehgal, Editor of Dainik Tribune, was the chief guest. The theatre group honoured Neelam Mansingh, a renowned theatre personality. The 'utsav' is organised
in memory of Prabhat, a young artist who lost his life
while saving a child in 1987. He was 22. A product of the
Department of Indian Theatre, Panjab University, Parbhat
had staged 25 plays and directed eight. The university
has already instituted a gold medal in his name to be
awarded to the topper in the department. |
Colourful nagar kirtan procession CHANDIGARH, Nov 21 — A colourful nagar kirtan procession was taken out this afternoon to mark the martyrdom day of Guru Teg Bahadur. The procession which started from the Sector 22-D gurdwara moved through Sectors 22, 17,18, 8, 7, 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23 before terminating at the Sector 37 gurdwara in the evening. The police had made elaborate security and traffic arrangements. The entire route of the procession was decorated with special buntings.At a number of places, special refreshments were arranged for processionists. The major attraction of the procession was lazium display by school girls. A specially decorated palanquin carried Guru Granth Sahib. Meanwhile, "akhand
paths" started in most of the gurdwaras.
"Parbhat pheris" are also being taken out in
some parts of the city in connection with the martyrdom
day. |
Dances mark end of PU youth fest CHANDIGARH, Nov 21 — On the concluding function of the P.U. Zone ‘A’ Youth Festival the audience was treated to one dance perfomance after another. The mood for the day was set by the enthralling performances of two participants in the Indian classical dance category. Preeti Sukheja of G.C.G.-11 danced to "Hato chhoro mori baiyan", a Kathak recital. The 45 ‘toddas’ (going in circles) in a single go in three different speeds made her a clear winner. Kavita Rawat also presented Kathak with as much grace. Group dances were next in line. Dance forms of different states were presented. ‘Braj ki holi’ by the host college was a fusion of colours, recreating the ambience of the festival. The dance bagged the first prize. Dressed in green and pink, the Lavni of Maharashtra was an invocation by the girls to Lord Ganesha to bless them with suitable grooms. It was performed by Home Science College students and came second. The others dances were the Bihu from Assam and another from Manipur. Mr. D.S. Mangat, DPI (Colleges), was the chief guest. He stressed the need for participating in such competetions for the all round development. A gidha performance was also put up and was well received. This was followed by a show in which select prize-winning items were put up. Later, the prize distribution function was presided over by Mr Jagdish Sagar, Adviser to the UT Administrator. The host college also won 16 of the 27 first positions in the festival. A visibly satisfied Principal, Mrs Vijay Lakshmi Tewari, said, "The fact that things moved on oiled wheels was the result of a great deal of homework over the past two months." Utsav ends: On the concluding day of UTSAV, a youth festival, in Tagore Niketan College for Women, Sector 27, a folk dance and fancy dress competition were held. As many as 15 schools participated in the contests. Mr Ramendra Jakhu, M.D. of the Haryana State Federation Of Co-operative Sugar Mills, was the Chief Guest. Results: Folk Dance:
DAV-15(1); Army School, Chandimandir(2); Fancy Dress:
Jyoti-GSS School-27(1); Simranjeet and Sunaina(3)-Shishu
Niketan-22; Running Trophy-GSS School-8. |
Man harassed by policemen CHANDIGARH, Nov 21 — A man returning home in his car last night was harassed by policemen led by an ASI at a checkpost, near Burail village. Mr Rajesh Kumar Saidha was driving his car (CH-01-P-6888) when he was stopped and asked to furnish his particulars. The traffic cops also made him take a breath test to see alcohol levels. The balloon which he inflated did not show an indication of liquor. The cops allegedly said that it could not be negative and asked Mr Saidha to accompany them for a medical check-up. Mr Saidha said: "I submitted to the traffic staff that I should be allowed to write on the challan book that the test was negative." The car driver then refused to sign for an offence that had not showed up in the test. The policemen then
allegedly threatened to book him for an offence and even
wrote "refused to sign". Mr Saidha has lodged a
complaint against the policemen to the SSP, sources
confirmed. |
23 employees of co-op bank
sacked CHANDIGARH, Nov 21 — The termination orders of 23 employees of the Chandigarh State Cooperative Bank, who were recruited contrary to norms were served to them today. According to the order issued by the Administrator, who was appointed after the Board of Directors of the bank was dissolved, the services of the employees were hereby dispensed with as they were no longer required beyond the sanctioned strength with immediate effect. One months salary was being disbursed as compensation in lieu of notice. The illegal recruitments
were one of the reasons why the Board of Directors (BoD)
was dissolved by the Registrar, Cooperatives Department
on October 16. |
CTYC to revamp block units CHANDIGARH, Nov 21 — The Chandigarh Territorial Youth Congress (CTYC) will reconstitute all block-level units to mobilise the youth of the city. This was stated by Mr Chandramukhi Sharma, president of the unit, while nominating office-bearers of its Manimajra and Ward 14 units. According to Mr Manjit Sahdev, spokesperson for the organisation, Mr Chanchal Sahdev and Mr Bhagwan Singh Negi have been nominated presidents of the Manimajra and Ward 14 units, respectively.
2500 kids take part in annual
day CHANDIGARH, Nov 21 — More than 2500 children participated in the annual children's day function of St Xavier's Senior Secondary School, Sector 44, today. Mrs Nirmal Milkha Singh
was the chief guest. A cultural programme was also
organised. Parents participated in large numbers. |
CHANDIGARH, Nov 21 — The remains of a body were recovered from the forest near Bapu Dham colony by the Chandigarh Police today. The body is believed to be that of Chandrawati, a vegetable seller of Bapu Dham, who has been missing since September 23. Three persons — Sarnam, Dwarki and Lekh Raj, all residents of gwala colony in Mani Majra — have been arrested and booked for murder while medical reports to establish rape are awaited. The woman was a regular purchaser of lottery tickets, according to sources. One of the three arrested persons was an acquaintance of Chandrawati. A party led by Inspector Kultar Singh Kahlon today found the bones and ornaments, believed to be that of the woman, in the forest. The police explained that the foul smell emitted by the body was probably not detected as a large number of labourers defecate the area. The body was badly decomposed and only fragments of flesh were clinging to the bones, sources said. The body had probably been thrown in the forest after the murder, the police said. The police had initially rounded up Dwarki on suspicion. A case under sections 302, 365,201 and 34 of the IPC has been registered against the three. Attack alleged: The infighting in the local unit of the Congress has taken an ugly turn with Mrs Surinder Chaudhary of Sector 8 alleging that She Was attacked by two activists of the party in her home on Friday. Earlier, a complaint in Mrs Chaudhary's name had been lodged against the local Youth Congress president , Mr Chandermukhi Sharma. She, however, denied of having ever lodged any complaint against Mr Sharma. She has now alleged that she was attacked by Surinder Mohan Arora, who in a drunken state 'ransacked' her house. She has also named Pradeep Chhabra in her complaint, the SP (city), Mr Baldev Singh, confirmed on Saturday night. A medical examination was conducted on Friday night and the doctors at the General Hospital have confirmed that her injuries were "grievous" in nature. The Sector 3 police station has registered a case. Couple hit: A Sector 45 couple, who was out for an evening walk was allegedly hit by a scooterist on the road dividing Sectors 46 and 49. The couple, Mr Kailash Chand and his wife, Mrs Kailash Rani, were admitted to the GMCH. In a separate road accident, Mrs Prem Mehra of Panchkula's Sector 12 was injured when the motor cycle driven by her husband was hit by car. She was admitted to the PGI. Man held: The Sector 34 police arrested Sohan Lal on Friday night for allegedly selling cinema tickets on the black market outside the Nirman theatre. PANCHKULA (FOC): Burglars broke into four shops — dealing in sanitary and hardware material — in Rally village late on Friday night and decamped with cash. The burglars lifted shutters of the shops apparently with an iron rod to make enough passage for a person to gain entry. Similar incidents had recently been reported from Dhanas, Raipur Khurd, Dadu Majra, Khuda Lahora villages in Chandigarh and Mubarakpur (Dera Bassi). In Friday's incident, the burglars only targeted the cash boxes and did not touch any other item in the shops. The police claimed that its team went to the spot but the shopkeepers did not lodge any written complaint, describing the thefts as 'minor'. The shopkeepers, however, could not be contacted. Theft cases solved: The district police on Saturday claimed to have solved at least two cases of theft which took place at a religious place in the past over two months. According to the police,
Avtar Singh, a resident of Vishav Karma colony in
Pinjore, has been arrested. He, along with his two
accomplices — Gambhir and Vijay Pal — had
stolen Rs 10,000 from a donation box from a temple in HMT
Colony. Another incident, in which a priest of a temple
in Rathpur Colony, Pinjore, was injured when some
burglars had sneaked into the temple over a month ago,
was also the handiwork of this gang, the police said |
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