Government college teachers await new grades
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 10 — Though last week the Chandigarh Administration announced that the seven private affiliated aided colleges in the city would be granted the revised University Grants Commission (UGC) pay scales, the UT Government college teachers are still waiting to get their revised pay scales. The revised UGC grades are as per the ratification and adoption of the Punjab Government's notification issued this year on March 24.

Some of the UT Government colleges did get the salary bills processed as per the new grades, but since the same have not been implemented this month, the colleges had to revert to the old grades, delaying the salaries in the process. In fact, all teachers were asked to furnish a written undertaking that in case of any fixation errors, the lecturer would refund the excess amount.

Mrs Mohini Sharma, Principal, GCG, Sector 42, said, "The new grades are rightfully ours, and once the verification is done, does any one really think that a government employee would be left alone in case any excess amount is given to him by the government? The teachers are certainly unhappy at the delay".

Meanwhile, in a letter issued to all government colleges of the city, the principals have been asked to furnish details for the additional financial requirements for implementing the revised UGC grades.

Mr D.S. Mangat, DPI (Colleges), said, "It is a matter of salary fixation. The department wanted that teachers and principals of all colleges receive the revised grades simultaneously. I would not have been able to justify if we had given the new grades to some colleges first and then later to the rest. And why did these colleges make their salaries according to the new grades when the department had not fixed the pay according to the new grades? We have now completed all the cases of pay fixation as per the new grades for Sector 46 colleges and sent it across, and are doing so for each college".

Mrs Vijay Lakshmi, Principal, GCG, Sector 11, said, "We are waiting for the new pay scales. But look at the huge number of staff members. These things obviously take time".

Mr S.N. Singla, Principal, Government College, Sector 11, whose college, incidentally, paid the salaries to the teachers a week late because of the bills that had been processed as per the new grades and then had to be reverted to the old grades, said, "We are following up the new-grade matter with the department. All cases have already been sent to the department ".

Some principals and teachers of these colleges have also alleged that the pay fixation is being deliberately delayed and the fixation formulae are being formulated on whimsical grounds to harass them. Those in the Rs 3,700 to Rs 5,700 pre-revised scales with five years of experience on January 1, 1996, would be fixed at the minimum of Rs 14,940 basic pay. But reportedly, this Reader's grade of Rs 14,940, in which at least two principals fall, is not being agreed upon. Said Mr Mangat, "The lecturers fall in the Group B posts, and till date I have got no representations about any sort of discrepancy in the salary fixation. Either way we are following the Punjab Government's notification".

In Punjab, as per the sources, since some principals have not completed the said five years of service, their case has not been fixed under the Rs14,940 grade. A letter to this regard has been issued, but the same reportedly is yet to be endorsed by the Chandigarh Administration, and so is not being agreed upon.

As per the revised pay scales, the lecturers who were in the pay scale of Rs 3,700 to Rs 5,700 have been put in the scale of Rs 12,000 to Rs 18300, those in the pay scale of Rs 3,000 to Rs 5,000 will now be in the Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,200 scale and those in the scale of Rs 2,200 to Rs 4,000 will now be put in the scale of Rs 8,000 to Rs 13,500.

Reacting to the query whether the delay in implementation of the revised grades was also because of the fact that the teachers would be placed higher in hierarchy than even the DPI, and in some cases higher than the Adviser? Said Mr Mangat, "This certainly is not the case, as the grades would be as per the Punjab Government's notification".

New sector sites draw bidders
Tribune News Service

PANCHKULA, June 10 — As many as 44 sites were sold for over Rs 8.25 crore at an auction of commercial sites in the Urban Estate here today. HUDA was able to sell 44 of the 71 sites put under hammer. At least 71 more sites would be auctioned tomorrow.

Terming the auction to be successful as compared to the one held in March 26, when all sites had to be withdrawn in the absence of buyers for the sites, the officials said the sites in the new sectors attracted the maximum bidders.

The maximum bids were attracted by a double-storey shop site with basement in Sector 21. A site (no. 187) was sold for Rs 22.70 lakh against a reserved price of Rs 7.92 lakh. A corner shop site in the same sector was sold for Rs 23.60 lakh against a reserved price of Rs 9.08 lakh.

Another double storey shop with basement site in Sector 21, which attracted the lowest bid was sold for Rs 20.90 lakh against a reserved price of Rs 7.92 lakh. However, the booth sites put under hammer in Sector 21 attracted few buyers. As a result only one booth site was sold for Rs 11.70 lakh against a reserved price of Rs 11.55 lakh.

Again in Sector 25, located in the Panchkula extension across the Ghaggar river, all the 22 sites — SCOs, booth sites, built-up-booths and double storey shop sites— were successfully sold. A double storey shop site in the Sector was sold for Rs 18.30 lakh against a reserved price of Rs 7.92 lakh. Another similar site was auctioned for Rs 17.70 lakh against a reserve price of Rs 7.92 lakh. An SCO site in the same Sector was sold for Rs 23. 40 lakh against a reserved price of Rs 14.52 lakh.

A built-up-booth in Sector 25 was sold for Rs 10.50 lakh against a reserved price of Rs 4.80 lakh. Similarly, a booth site was sold for Rs 8.85 lakh against a reserved price of Rs 2.38 lakh.

In Sectors 4 and 5 of the Mansa Devi Complex of the 11 booth sites, SCOs and double-storey shop sites, nine sites was successfully sold. A booth site was sold for Rs 12.05 lakh against a reserved price of Rs 7.92 lakh. A double-storey shop site was sold for Rs 14.30 lakh against a reserved price of Rs 9.08 lakh. Of the three SCO sites, put under hammer only site was sold for Rs 56.12 lakh against a reserved price of Rs 56.08 lakh.

Girls in PSEB merit list
From Our Correspondent

SAS NAGAR, June 10 — Local students figuring in the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) matriculation examination merit list, attribute their success to hard work and help and guidance of their parents and teachers.

The three girl candidates from SAS Nagar and surrounding areas of the city said that the credit of their success goes to their teachers and parents who inspired them to burn the midnight oil.

To become a doctor is the aim of Kavita Jain, a product of Saravhitkari Vidya Mandir, Dera Bassi, who secured 86.92 per cent marks in the matriculation examination. "I used to study five hours besides taking tuitions in mathematics and English. I am quite happy with my result," said Kavita. Her father is a teacher and he guided her to see her dream come true, she added.

Sarvjit Kaur of Shri Isher Singh Public School, SAS Nagar, who secured 86.46 per cent marks said, " I used to study till the wee hours and never counted the number of hours I had put in. Though my expectations were higher, but I am satisfied with 562 marks only. I used to complete my home work honestly, sincerely and without taking any tuition throughout the year". Sarvjit aims to be a pharmacist and will opt for the non-medical stream.

With 86.46 per cent marks, Navreet Kaur of the same school, said that for her studies, she used to devote 10 to 12 hours daily. "I took tuition in mathematics and want to be a doctor. The credit of my success goes to my mother who prayed for my success. My brothers and sisters also helped me in my studies", she added.

Parents take case to Governor
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 10 — Parents of the plus two non-medical students of the city today presented a representation to Lt-Gen B.K.N. Chhibber (retd), Administrator, UT, and Governor Punjab, on the denial of 85 per cent reservation in Punjab Engineering College (PEC) and the College of Architecture, Chandigarh, to the Chandigarh students.

The representation mentioned this reservation to be irrational and thoughtless. It also said that in March, 1999, the Panjab Government issued a notification which discriminated against students of its own capital territory and penalised children of even Punjab domiciles if they passed out from Chandigarh.

The parents argued that the 60 per cent quota for the UT children would not mean much since the quota would also be availed by a large number of Punjab students.

The representation also said that the if the Punjab Government with over two dozen engineering colleges had actually reserved 100 per cent seats for Punjab students and Punjabis residing outside, why could the Punjab Engineering College and the College of Architecture, Chandigarh, not be reserved exclusively for UT students?

Wastage of students' labour
By Gaurav Sood

CHANDIGARH, June 9 — The process of annual examinations of the local Government College of Art affiliated to Panjab University presents a stunning picture. The art works collected after the examinations are destroyed and burnt because of the university's rules and regulations.

The examinations conducted by the college, which has produced a number of artists, has similar rules and regulations for examinations in the case of other courses and degrees. Although the examinations are conducted in accordance with Panjab University rules and regulations, the students have a different story to tell.

The picture gets clearer by looking at the data collected on behalf of a batch of 72 students who will be awarded the bachelor of fine art (BF-A) degrees after the examination in 2000.

During this four-year degree course, the first year is considered basic and each student appears for six practical subjects, drawing, painting, design, print making (graphics), etc. From each student six art works are collected. In the second year a student appears for four practical subjects. In this year each student submits six art works. In third year the number of art works submitted is again six each. In final year each student submit about 10 art works in the form of paintings, life drawing, portraits, photographs in colour and monochrome and graphic prints.

These 72 students have so far submitted about 1,296 art works and in the final year would submit about 720 more art works. The art works collected in this process of examinations are either burnt or destroyed or dumped in garbage. These figures are of one single batch. This practice has been followed since the establishment of the college.

Harmanjit Kaur, a student of postgraduation and product of this college, intends to join the Punjabi University, Patiala, as it does not have the same policy. A topper in the painting section, Harmanjit feels that the art works are different from the theory papers. She suggests: ''The authorities should either return us our works or sell or auction these works and use the funds for students' welfare."

The college teachers don't want to comment on the existing rules and regulations, but they do agree with the students. A senior teacher, however, said that the college only burnt the paintings and returned the frames to the students.

A senior artist, Mr Prem Singh, who is also a senior faculty member and has recently taken charge as the Acting Principal of the institution, as the college does not have a regular principal since 1989, justified that these art works were not complete and were only for learning. He said that these could not be returned because of the rules and regulations laid by the university. He recalled that the college once adopted a policy to donate these works to various hospitals, schools and colleges but had to stop due to some reasons. He added that the works were stored for one year and destroyed only after no one challenged the marks allotted.

The Panjab University authorities were not aware of the rules and norms and thus refused to comment.

The reasons could be any but to burn the art works is a matter of concern for the students.

Mass dharna by UT staff
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 10 — Members of the Federation of UT Employees and Workers staged a mass dharna near the Housing Board roundabout in support of their demands here today.

The well attended protest saw the participation of employees of various departments of the Administration and the Municipal Corporation. The agitators raised slogans and condemned the anti — employee stance of the Administration and the delaying tactics adopted by the authorities in accepting their genuine demands.

The protesters were addressed by Mr Ramesh Kant and Mr Rakesh Kumar, convener of the JAC and president of the federation, respectively, besides Mr Bal Krishan, Mr Darshan Singh, Vice-Presidents of the federation, and Mr Amrik Singh, a senior union leader.

The major demands of the agitators are grant of bonus, regularisation of daily wagers who have completed 10 years of service, treating transferred employees from the Administration to the Municipal Corporation as being on deputation, provision of uniform to all employees, step up proficiency increment of eight, 16, 24 and 32 years of service, filling of vacant posts besides scrapping privatisation.

Transported to era of yore
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 10 — The Punjab Sangeet Natak Akademi today organised a 'Traditional and Contemporary Musical Programme', here — the third in the series of its revived Thursday programmes, in which folk singers of the region, Jagat Ram Lalka and Krishan Lal, were presented.

The delightful sounds of traditional instruments like that of the 'algoza', 'chimta' and the 'ek-tara', along with the traditional singing, which told the popular love stories of Sohni Mahiwal and Sahiba Mirza, did manage to transport the audience to a totally different era.

The evening began with Jagat Ram Lalka's throaty singing, accompanied by Master Bishan Das on the algoza, Joginder Chhinda on the dholak and Gurcharan Singh on the chimta. Starting from the young age of six years, Jagat Ram learnt this traditional form of story-telling from his guru, Sudagar Ram.

Jagat Ram's singing was followed by Krishan Lal's yodeling, who also doled out some ritualistic forms of singing. Influenced by ghazal singer Ghulam Ali, this artiste hailing from Kotkapura, learnt his art under the tutelage of Mohinder Pal Singh and Ram Kumar Sharma.

The staging of such shows at the open air theatre of the Punjab Kala Bhavan has the advantage of attracting a huge audience, with all the evening strollers at the Rose Garden taking a peek, out of curiosity, at such shows.

Two cops suspended
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 10 — Two constables who were first dismissed for allegedly taking bribe and then reinstated have now been suspended and will face an inquiry.

This has been ordered by the IGP, Mr S.K. Singh. The two cops — Anil Kumar and Lakha Singh —were dismissed from service on April 26 by the then IGP, Dr Kiran Bedi. They were allegedly caught while accepting bribe from truck drivers.

When Dr Bedi, was transferred on May 18, Mr Asad Farooqui, SSP, Operations, was handed over the charge of IG for 14 days. And during his tenure, he reinstated the cops. It is this order that has been revoked and the cops have been suspended.

Inspector Jasmohan Singh of the CID wing will conduct the inquiry.

CTCC dissensions surface
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 10 — Heated exchanges and minor scuffles marked the visit of Mr Harikesh Bahadur Singh, observer of the All-India Congress Committee, to the city today.

Dissensions within the Chandigarh Territorial Congress Committee (CTCC) came to the surface as members belonging to the two major factions of the committee not only resorted to slogan shouting and heated exchanges, but also indulged in minor scuffles in the presence of the observer during his stay at the Sector 35 Chandigarh Congress Bhavan.

In fact, the drama started at the railway station where supporters of both groups had collected to receive the observer on his way to the Sector 35 bhavan where he addressed a joint meeting of all workers.

The main purpose of the visit of the observer, according to party sources, was to assess the suitability of the candidate for the ensuing Lok Sabha elections in view of the growing factionalism in the Chandigarh state unit.

The Chandigarh Territorial Congress Committee has been headless ever since its President, Mr Venod Sharma, was asked to tender his resignation following the involvement of his son, Manu Sharma, in the Jessica Lal murder case.

Though Mr Venod Sharma made a public appearance last week when he addressed a meeting of the party workers here at Congress Bhavan, the party high command is yet to take a decision about the CTCC chief.

Workers and activists of both groups submitted in writing their preferences for both Mr Pawan Kumar Bansal and Mr Venod Sharma as party candidates for the lone Chandigarh Lok Sabha seat.

Mr Harikesh Bahadur Singh, a spokesman of the CTCC said, is here only to assess the suitability of the party candidate for the Lok Sabha elections. He will meet newsmen before leaving for Delhi tomorrow afternoon.

Footpath vendors cane-charged
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 10 — Protesting foothpath vendors were subjected to a mild cane charge after they tried to break the security cordon near the Housing Board roundabout here today. They earlier held up traffic for more than two hours.

The agitators, who had some days earlier picketed the office of the Deputy Commissioner, were demanding that they should be provided with licences to ply their business as per the survey carried out by the Estate Office some time back.

The protesters, who had assembled near the Sector 20 Labour roundabout, marched in a procession through various parts of the city raising slogans against the dilly dallying attitude of the administration in this context. They alleged that the UT Administrator had declared in his Republic Day speech that the vendors would be issued licences and a similar recommendation had also been made by the Advisory Council.

The protesters later picketed the office of the Municipal Corporation where they were addressed by former MP, Mr Satya Pal Jain, Mr Sohan Lal Bansal, secretary, CPI, Mr D.D. Sharma, secretary, AITUC, besides other trade union leaders.

The speakers condemned the delaying tactics adopted by the authorities and also came down heavily on the alleged harassment at the hands of the enforcement staff of the civic body.

It was resolved that a jail bharo stir would be started if their demands were not met soon. They later presented a memorandum to the Adviser who assured them that the needful would be done at the earliest.

PSEB scales for power department staff
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 10 — The Union Government has conceded the long-standing demand of the employees of the Electricity Operations Circle of the Engineering Department of the Chandigarh Administration by allowing them to accept PSEB pattern of pay scales as they were doing before December 31,1985. As such, the employees will revert back to the Punjab pattern of pay scales from the present Central pattern of pay scales.

A communication to this effect has been issued by Mr Jalaj Shrivastava, Director, CPS, of the Ministry of Home Affairs, which says that the issue has been decided in consultation with the Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure, that the employees working in the Electricity Operations Circle of the Chandigarh Administration who were in receipt of PSEB pay scales before December 31,1985, shall be placed in the PSEB pattern of pay scales on reversion from the Central pattern of pay scales to Punjab pattern of pay scales.

The Chandigarh Powermen Coordination Committee has hailed the decision of the Union Home Ministry for settling this long-pending demand.The Committee has also appreciated the decision of the Chief Engineer of the Chandigarh Administration for cash payment of conveyance allowance from April 1,1998, to all the employees of the Electricity Operations Circle.

SNIPPETS

TBRL employee dies in market
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 10 — An employee of the Terminal and Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL) , Sohan Singh, collapsed and died near the Sector 29 market this afternoon. In all probability he died due to the heat or he was unwell, according to police sources.

HUDA order on encroachments
Tribune News Service

PANCHKULA, June 10 — In compliance with the orders of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) has asked the local residents to remove all sort of encroachments like hedges, fences and tow walls from the road berms in front of their houses by June 15.

A spokesman of the HUDA said if the residents failed to do the same the encroachments would be removed by HUDA at the risk and cost of the residents.

City sealed for 2nd day
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 10 — The Chandigarh police carried on with its drive to seal the city for the second consecutive day today to screen vehicles at random. When a similar search was being carried out yesterday, a youth had attempted to snatch a necklace worn by a woman in Sector 21.

The youth who was on foot had managed to escape, police sources said. The woman, whose name was mentioned as Suman, had called in the police. Today also, the police set up around 60 nakas in the city and on all roads leading out of the city. The police deployed chase vehicles that were to be used in case of need.

Kiran Bedi to attend path
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 10 — A former Inspector-General of Chandigarh Police, Dr Kiran Bedi, will come to Chandigarh to attend a path organised simultaneously in a temple and a gurdwara in the police lines in Sector 26 on June 12.

The path was organised to pray for the recovery of her ailing mother, Mrs Prem Peshawaria, who died in Delhi a few days ago.

Junior engineers stage dharna
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 10 — Members of the Joint Action Committee of Junior Engineers staged a dharna in support of their demands here yesterday. The committee is an umbrella. The committee is an umbrella organisation of engineers of departments, boards and corporations of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh.

The protesters from various parts of the region assembled near the housing board roundabout and raised slogans against the government for its anti-employee stance.

Mr Surinder Singh, Convener of the committee, said their main demand was that junior engineers should be placed in the pay scale of Rs 7, 880 — Rs 11, 660 and given the promotional scale of Rs 7, 880 — Rs 13, 500, Rs 10, 025 - Rs 15, 100, Rs 12, 000 — Rs 15, 550 and Rs 14, 300 — Rs 18, 150 after 4, 8, 9, 14 and 18 years of service.

The protesters also demanded that the minimum qualification for the engineering diploma courses be raised from matric to 10+2 and gazetted status be given to junior engineers on the pattern of states like Maharashtra, West Bengal and Bihar.