EDUCATION

Homoeo students’ stir ‘politically motivated’
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 17 — The agitation by the Sector 26 Homoeopathic Medical College students seeking the removal of the college Principal entered its 29th day today and the chain hunger strike entered its fourth consecutive day.

The students have planned to burn the effigies of the Principal, Mr K.K Dhiman, President of the management, Mr R.P Joshi, and Secretary C.L Dhamija in the college campus tomorrow. As a mark of protest none of the students appeared for the house tests conducted today. The members of students councils of various other colleges have also promised support to the students if the matter is not resolved at the earliest.

The students are also critical of the attitude of the Chandigarh Administration for not looking into the issue so far.

Meanwhile, the Homoeopathic Medical College Association Secretary, Mr C.L. Dhamija, has in a statement clarified that the college principal, Mr K.K. Dhiman fulfills the conditions laid down in Minimum Standard of Education Regulations, 1983, under which the qualifications of teachers of Homoeopathic Medical Colleges are laid down. He has also pointed out that a civil writ petition filed by some parents of students of the college challenging the eligibility of the Principal was dismissed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

Mr Dhamija further stated that the conduct of practical examinations in Homoeopathic Colleges lies within the purview of the Punjab Homoeopathic Council, which is also the examining body. The college, on the persistent demand of parents and students, appointed a fact-finding committee to look into their allegations against the Principal, but since the students simultaneously approached the Chandigarh Administration, an inquiry was also ordered by them. As a result of this, the proceedings of the fact-finding committee were closed to avoid any suspicion of bias at a later stage.

Mr Dhamija has further stated that the agitation by the students is being led by politically motivated outside elements. The continuation of the agitation by these misguided students will hamper the affiliation of the college to Baba Farid University of Medical Sciences, Faridkot. It will also hinder the takeover of the college by the government as proposed by the managemet in the interest of the students, staff, parents and the homoepathic system of medicine.

COURTS

Notice issued in Nevedac centre case
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 17 — On an application by the Managing Director of Nevedac Prosthetic Centre, Dr V. J. S. Vohra, for directions to a respondent to "allow bank operations", the UT Civil Judge (Junior Division) Mr A. K. Bishnoi, today issued notice for tomorrow.

Dr Vohra also sought directions for restraining Hardavin Vohra and other respondents from "interfering in the smooth functioning of the centre". Directions to the respondents against "instigating the employees of the centre" were also asked for.

The plaintiff further sought declaration to the effect that "the appointment of any defendant as an additional director was illegal, not honest and bad in the eyes of law." He also asked for restraining "such defendants from acting as director of the centre".

Claiming "great hardship" for the employees of the centre, Dr Vohra stated that the bank "in utter violation of the court orders has stopped the operations" after a letter was written by certain defendants.

He added that the employees, as a result, "will not be paid their salaries" and the centre's functioning "has come to a standstill due to the non-availability of the funds."

Three remanded for cruelty to woman
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 17 — The UT Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mr H.S. Madaan, today remanded in police custody for two days the mother-in-law, a brother-in-law and a relative, accused of subjecting a married woman to cruelty.

The accused — Gulzar Singh, brother-in-law Gurdial Singh and mother-in-law Rajwant Kaur of Amritsar district — were booked by the Chandigarh police on December 15 for criminal breach of trust and subjecting a married woman to cruelty under Sections 406 and 498 of the IPC.

In an application seeking five-day police remand for the three accused, the prosecution stated that the jewellery belonging to the bride was taken into possession by the accused within a few days of marriage.