Body of woman found
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, Aug 18 — The police have found the body of an unidentified woman from a opening full of wild vegetation near the Sector 28 petrol pump (on the Madhya Marg) here this morning.

According to police sources, the woman, in a semi-nude condition is about 40 years of age and seems to be a migrant. She reportedly bears faint strangulation marks on her neck and the lobes of her ears are torn. The police pressed a dog squad into action, but to no avail. No clues have been found as yet. The police is working on the theory that she was probably waylaid and robbed before being murdered.

The rape angle is also being examined and a medical report is being awaited. While a case under Section 302, IPC, has been registered at the Sector 26 police station, further investigations are on.

Held for assault
The police has arrested Jarnail Singh, a resident of Sector 42, for assaulting and threatening Sri Ram, a salesman of a country wine shop in Sector 52. A case under Sections 323\427\506, IPC, has been registered.

Arrested
The police has arrested a burglar, Amit Kumar a resident of Sector 22-D, who was caught red-handed while stealing gold and silver ornaments worth Rs 82, 000 from a house in Sector 35.

The case was registered on the complaint of Mrs Kanchan Bala, the house owner. A case under Sections 454\380\411, IPC, has been registered at the Sector 36 police station.

Case registered
The police has registered a case on the complaint of Mr Rulda Singh, the father of Kuldip Singh, a Punjab police constable who was found dead near the sector 45\46 roundabout on January 1. He has complained that he has some suspicions about the death of his son. A case under Section 304, IPC, has been registered at the Sector 34 police station.

PANCHKULA

Scooterist killed
An unidentified man died on the spot after a truck, HYH 1789, driven by Titu Ram, hit a scooter, PB-39-6729, near Kakrali village. A case has been registered under Sections 279, 337, 427, 304-A of the IPC, following a complaint by Kuljit Kaur at the Raipur Rani police station.

BBA, BCA courses for all
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 18 — Panjab University has decided to admit all students who had appeared for the entrance test for the BBA and BCA courses against the vacant seats, provided they fulfil the minimum eligibility conditions. However, if seats still remain vacant, they will be declared open and even those who did not appear for the entrance test will be considered, provided they have the minimum required 50 per cent marks in Class XII examination.

A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting held today under the chairmanship of the Dean University Instruction (DUI), Prof I.B.S. Passi, to take stock of the poor response to the BBA and BCA courses in the colleges of Punjab affiliated to the university. However, the decision is subject to the approval of the Syndicate.

There have been few takers for these three-year courses in most colleges in Punjab which have vacant seats. These courses were introduced only last year. However, all 180 seats in BCA Part I and 240 seats in BBA Part I have been filled in Chandigarh colleges.

According to the figures available, 383 seats are lying vacant in the BCA Part I course. Of the total 600 seats in various colleges, only 217 have been filled. Even in BBA Part I, there have been only 156 admissions against a total of 510 seats. Major D.P. Singh (retd), Co-ordinator for BBA admissions, said while 148 seats were filled in the first counselling, only eight seats were filled in the second one.

The response to the BCA course has been no better. Only 15 students were admitted in the second counselling which ended at Ludhiana yesterday. Earlier, 202 students were admitted against a total of 600 seats in these colleges.

Certain members, including the former Secretary of the PCCTU, Mr Charanjit Chawla, and the Principal of MCM DAV College, Sector 36, had opposed the idea of introducing these courses in the Syndicate itself. They had said that sufficient homework should be done before introducing these. Also, these courses should not be offered to every college, without checking the viability.

Some principals attribute the poor response to the BBA course to a lack of its scope. Graduates who aspire to join the MBA courses will not join the BBA course, unless they are given weightage for the same at the time of admission to the MBA courses. The BCA course has also been affected by the introduction of the Bachelor of Information Technology course by the GNDU this year, besides other information technology degree-level courses in engineering colleges.

The meeting was attended by principals of some colleges, the two co-ordinators, the Dean College Development Council, the Registrar and the Controller of Examinations.

Good response to farm course
By Sanjeev Singh Bariana
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, Aug 18—The recently started vocational course in agriculture in Panjab University has become popular this year, going by the number of applicants.While only 15 students joined against 30 seats last year, the number of applicants rose to above 90 for the new session.

The course has become popular particularly among students with a family background in agriculture, says Dr R.K. Kohli, Department of Botany. Although the minimum qualification for the diploma is plus two, the applicants include very senior students. One of the applicants for the new session is a Ph.D, says Dr Kohli.

The highlight of the course is stress on practical aspect of agriculture. Nearly 70 per cent of the results are declared on the basis of work on the field. Another highlight is that the diploma covers four agriculture-related areas :mushroom production, apiculture (bee keeping), fisheries and rabbit keeping and silviculture (trees keeping).

Dr Kohli says an important part of the course as compared to the UGC sponsored courses in colleges is that all possible aspects of agriculture are covered. Colleges offered only one field and the course was conducted without actual fieldwork in case there is no season for the subjects opted.

Dr Kehar Singh, Dean of the faculty, says the students were given the option of Hindi, Punjabi and English to pursue their course. The first batch has passed out successfully .The seats are divided under three categories — sponsored, open and nominated. While in the open category students pay Rs 6,000 , they pay Rs 12,000 in the sponsored category and Rs 15,000 in the nominated category.

The faculty has been allocated 10 acres of land for imparting training. Dr Kohli says the land was given recently, and was still under development. The bulk of the curricula is carried out on the land although the faculty faces minor problems particularly with regard to availability of space for teaching. The class has half the sitting facilities available as compared to the number of students. Work on a pond in the available land is currently under way.

Dr Kehar Singh says that training programmes are the most important ingredient of the course and the main aim is to cater to occupational needs.There is scope for employment in the mushroom industry, bee-keeping and related fields.There was, however, greater scope for self-employment because a sizeable component of the class belong to the landed class.

Dr Kehar Singh said that the course might be extended to a two-year venture for the students . Dr Kohli said that the component of marketing was missing in the course and needed to be addressed.

Second counselling for admission
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 18 — The second counselling for admission against vacant seats, if any, in the nine social sciences departments, will be held on August 20 in Arts Block IV of Panjab University. In a release issued by the Coordinator, JAC, Prof K.C Kaistha, it is stated that the candidates on the already approved first waiting list, who marked their presence on August 16 and were not offered admission, will have to mark their presence between 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The admissions against the vacant seats would be offered between 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in order of merit and the candidates are required to deposit the fee receipt with the cell on the same day.

The candidates in the reserved categories ( without subject) have been placed in the second waiting list, which have been displayed in the respective departments. The admissions in this case would also be purely on merit basis, provided they present themselves on August 20 before 3 p.m. for the vacant seats, if any. All candidates are required to collect the admission slips personally from the admission cell, after signing the undertaking.

Entrance test
The entrance test for admission to MA Part-I ( English) only for NRI students will be held on Monday, August 23, at 10 a.m. in the Department of English, Panjab University, according to a release issued by Dr Shelley Walia, Chairman, Department of English.

Sanskrit entrance
The written test of candidates for admission to MA Part-I ( Sanskrit) for the session 1999-2000 will be held on August 27 at 10 a.m. in the Department of Sanskrit, Panjab University, for a few vacant seats. The chairman has in a release issued here today specified that the test is strictly for those candidates who could not appear in the test on August 2, 1999. The candidates, who have already failed in the test need not apply again. The candidates who have not submitted their applications for the aforesaid examination should contact the department on or before August 25.

SOPU dharna
The dharna of the Students Organisation of Panjab University (SOPU) in front of the VC's office here entered its third day today since no action has been taken by the authorities so far for the provisional promotion of science students to the next class. Mr Dyal Pratap Singh Randhawa, President, said that they had started a token hunger strike for 24 hours. Mr Arun Rana of the Physics Department and Mr Manshendra Singh of the Microbiology Department were sitting on the token hunger strike from today. He also threatened to start an indefinite hunger strike if no action is taken at the earliest.

Joint admission
On the second day of counselling for joint admissions to BE/ B Arch courses in Panjab Engineering College, Chandigarh College of Architecture and Department of Chemical Engineering and Technology, all the general pool seats in aeronautical, civil, computer science and engineering, electrical, electronics and electrical commercial engineering, mechanical, metallurgy, production and chemical engineering were filled today. However, in the UT pool, one seat is vacant in aeronautical, six seats in civil engineering and 11 seats in metallurgy.

Meanwhile, all the 18 seats of B. Arch course in the Chandigarh College of Architecture have been filled, according to a release issued by Dr D.K Vohra, in charge of the joint admission for engineering courses.

Company told to pay compensation
Tribune News Service

PANCHKULA, Aug 18 — The Disrict Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has ordered MN Dastoor and company computer division of New Delhi to pay a sum of Rs 1000 to Mr Joginder Singh on account of mental agony and harassment for non-deliverance of the corrected UTI branch growth scheme certificates within one month of the order of the court.

The complainant, Mr Joginder Singh, stated that he had sent 400 units of the certificates to the company to issue new certificates in the name of his son in July 1996, but received a response to submit a death certificate with the company. At this, the complainant sent another letter after which he received a blank form to be filled and returned to the company. However, the certificates were not sent in spite of repeated reminders.

The company, on its part, has stated that the whole problem cropped up due to a computer error and that there was no wilful delay or negligence. The bench, however, observed that this amounted to “gross negligence and utmost deficiency’’ since the certificates were issued only in November, 1998. The bench also ordered a compensation of Rs 250 to the complainant for the cost of proceedings.

Edible oils become costlier
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 18—There is bad news for housewives. The prices of edible oils have started shooting up in the local market during the past one week.

During a survey of the markets, it was found that barring a few, all edible oils have become costly during this period and the situation is bound to affect the budget of housewives.

A litre of sunflower oil, which was priced at Rs 42 last week, could be purchased today after shelling out Rs 46. The wholesale price of the same has increased from Rs 33 to Rs 42 a litre. The case of vanaspati ghee, too, is no different. If a litre of the same was priced at Rs 36 during last week, it could be purchased today for Rs 40. As far as the wholesale price is concerned, it has increased from Rs 29 to Rs 33 a litre.

Groundnut oil has witnessed a considerable hike during this period. A litre of the commodity, priced at Rs 56 last week, was available today for Rs 60. The wholesale price of groundnut oil has increased from Rs 52 to Rs 56 a litre. Cottonseed oil has also gone the groundnut oil way as its price has increased from Rs 42 to Rs 46 in the retail market and from Rs 33 to 42 in the wholesale market.

There was no hike in the price of vegetable oil as a litre of the commodity could be purchased for Rs 40 in retail and for Rs 37.50 in the wholesale market.

Similarly, the price of mustard oil has increased from Rs 36 to Rs 40 a litre in the retail market, but there was no change in the wholesale market.

Desi ghee too has become costly during this period. A litre of the commodity, priced at Rs 145 last week, could be purchased today for Rs 150. The wholesale price has increased from Rs 140 to Rs 145 per litre.

Giving reasons behind the hike, Mr Satpal Singla, a Sector 46 trader, said the hike in the prices of palm oil in the international market had pushed up the prices in the domestic market as the government had to increase the prices of the commodity here also. He predicted that the prices of edible oils were bound to increase further because now traders were busy clearing old stocks.

Chess titles for Sakshi, Nabhi, Ramanpreet
By Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, Aug 18 — Sakshi Bawa, Nabhi Sahni in the sub-junior and junior girls' sections, respectively, and Ramanpreet in the sub-junior boys' section became the title holders on the penultimate day of the 9th Chandigarh State Chess Championship here at St Stephen's School, Sector 45 today.

In the sub-junior section, Sakshi Bawa crushed Eveleen, 25-00, 25-05, while Ramanpreet outclassed Sumit Chakarvorty, 25-01, 25-12.

In the junior girls' section, Nabhi Sahni had a tough time against Puneet Lamba before winning the match, 25-04, 5-19, 25-4. Nabhi Sahni also entered the final of the women's singles event by beating Veena Dumra, 25-08, 17-15. Other finalist in this section was Anjali Negi who got the better of Sushila Prasad, 25-06, 25-01.

In the men's section, top seed Tejinder Harry and second seed Mohammad Tanveer justified their seedings by reaching the final. The final will be played tomorrow at 3.30 pm.

The results at the end of fourth day's play were as follows: Men's singles (quarterfinals) — Tejinder Harry b Charukh Goyal, 25-09, 25-22; Gagandeep b Rozerio Sampson, 25-23, 25-19; Ramanpreet b Ajay Gupta, 25-14, 25-15; Mohammad Tanveer b Sanjay Negi, 23-25, 25-06, 25-07.

Semi-finals — Tejinder Harry b Gagandeep, 16-25, 25-11, 25-16; Mohammad Tanveer b Ramanpreet, 02-25, 25-18, 25-16.

Junior boys singles (quarterfinals) — Devinderjit Gill b Dhruva, 25-07, 25-04; Ramanpreet b Baninder, 25-08, 25-23; Sumit b Randhir Kalsi 25-05, 25-05; Charukh Goyal b Rozerio Sampson, 25-24, 20-25, 25-24.

Sub-junior boys (semi-finals) — Ramanpreet b Taranpreet, 13-14, 25-10, 24-11; final — Ramanpreet b S. Chakarvorthy, 25-01, 25-12.

Men's doubles (quarterfinals) — Mohammad Tanveer and T. Harry b Sudhir Sidhu and SP Janjua, 25-00, 25-04; M. Piplani and V. Vashisht b R. Sharma and N.K. Arora, 25-13, 25-11; Gagandeep and Charukh b A. Papneja and Gurinder, 25-22, 25-18; Ramanpreet and Baninder b K.S. Patwal and B.S. Negi, 15-25, 25-17, 25-21.

Women's singles (semi-finals); Anjali Negi b Sushila Prasad, 25-06, 25-01; Nabhi Sahni b Veena Dumra, 25-08, 17-15; junior girls singles (semi-finals) — Nabhi Sahni b Eveleen, 25-06, 25-00; Puneet Lamba b Bhavna Sachdeva, 24-09, 25-00.

Final — Nabhi Sahni b Puneet Lamba, 25-04, 05-19, 25-04; sub-junior girls singles (semi-finals) — Eveleen b Shikha Nanda, 22-08, 25-10; Sakshi Bawa b Nidhi Patwal, 13-17, 23-08, 25-15; final — Sakshi Bawa b Eveleen, 25-00, 25-05.

Junior girls doubles (semi-finals) — Nabhi Sahni and Puneet Lamba b Amanpreet and Neelam, 25-00, 25-00; Pallavi Piplani and Eveleen b Neha Chowdhry and Raminder Kaur, 25-12, 25-08.

Ball badminton
Shivalik Public School, Sector 41 teams, in both boys and girls sections, entered the semi-finals on the second day of the Chandigarh Mini State Ball Badminton Championship being played here at Government Senior Secondary School, Sector 37, today.

The semi-finals will be played tomorrow at 8 am and the final at 3 pm.

Results: Girls (quarterfinals) — GMSSS-37 b GHS-41, 29-22, 29-18; SPS-41 b GSSS-38, 29-10, 29-12; GMSSS-21 b MMS-21, 29-26, 29-22; GMSSS Club b GHS-37, 29-25, 29-15.

Boys (quarterfinals) — SPS-41 b CC-41, 29-10, 29-12; GSSS-38 b GHS-41, 29-25, 25-29, 29-22; GMSSS-19 b GMHS-28, 29-17, 29-27; MDAV-22 b GHS-37, 29-16, 29-17.

Shivalik Trophy
SD Public School, Sector 32, and Government Senior Secondary School, Sector 21, today won their respective matches with ease in the Shivalik Trophy tournament for players under the age of 17 being played here at the Sector 17 football grounds.

Results: SDPS-32 b GSSS-19, 4-0; St Stephens' School-45, b GMSSS-22 (A), 4-0; GNPS-36 b GMSSS 22 (B), 2-0; GMHS-38 b St Xavier's School, Sector 44, 2-1; St Soldier's School-28 (B) b GSSS-15, 2-0; GMSSS-21 b GSSS-20, 1-0.

Selection trials
The Panchkula District Cricket Association will hold the selection trials for the inaugural Major Sandeep Sagar Memorial Cricket Tournament, to be held from August 21 to 28, at Hansraj Public School, Sector 6, Panchkula, on August 20 at 4 pm, according to Mr Sandeep Moudgil, Secretary of the association.

Guneet, Hardvin win
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 18 — Guneet Rekhi and Mrs Hardvin Johal won the Independence Day Golf Cup for ladies defeating Mrs Harinder Sandhu and Mrs Kuljit Suri, the final clash finishing on the 15th hole.

Both finalist pairs won cliff-hanger semi-finals each on the 18th hole. Rekhi and Johal beat Mrs Sheena Sekhon and Tanya Garewal while Mrs Sandhu and Mrs Kuljit Suri beat Mrs Binny Bath and Mrs Harbhajan Suri.

Guneet is a student of DAV School, Sector 15, and has just turned 16. Mrs Hardvin Johal is the wife of the renowned professional golfer, Amandeep Singh Johal.