EDUCATION

PU Academic Council loses charm
By Sanjeev Singh Bariana
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 19 — Irregular meetings coupled with its ever-expanding size, has stolen the charm for membership to the Academic Council of Panjab University, the highest authority on academic courses and introductions.

Only 12 principals out of 104 have applied for membership to the council in the elections scheduled for January 21. The total seats are 15. For the same number of seats, only 17 teachers have applied in the their category.

There are five seats for Senators and two for the Syndicate members.

There were only eight professors when the body came up. All were made ex-officio members of the council. The present number is about 300 which made it very big and difficult to handle, Prof Charanjit Chawla, a senior fellow said.

The council importance had deteriorated over the past about 10 years, Prof Chawla said. During Prof T. N. Kapoor's term as Vice-Chancellor, the agenda was sent to homes of members. No reply was assumed as no objection. There have been only a couple of sessions over the past couple of years.

A senior functionary of the campus said that the rising number of members was cause of worry. "There is need for a direct election to choose professors," he added.

Dr A. C. Vaid, Principal of the local GGDSD College, said that the body had nearly become a "non-performatory". There was need for to improve its functioning.

Professor Chawla said that the number of professors as ex-officio members in the house needed to be cut to ensure its functioning. Rotational representation of professors from teaching departments could be considered.

The principals who have made it to the council include Mr Amarjit Singh Grewal from GTB National College, Dakha, Mr Anup Bansal, G. N. Khalsa College for Women, Ludhiana, Maj D. P. Singh, Government college, Sector 46, Ms Harmit Kaur, Ramgarhia Girls College, Millerganj, Ludhiana, and Dr Jagdish, Dev Samaj College for Education, Ferozepore.

The list also includes Dr Jaspal Kaur Bains, Khalsa College for Women, Sidhwan Khurd, Ms Mohini Sharma, Government College for Girls, Sector 42, Dr Paramjit Kaur Tiwana, Khalsa College for Girls, Kottan, Dr R. P. Sharma, SPN College, Mukerian, Dr Satinder Dhillon, Dev Samaj College for Education, Sector 36, Mrs Sushil, STP College, Ludhiana, and Mr V. P. Arora, D. M. College for Education, Moga.

Student council threat
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 19 — The Panjab University, Campus Students Council at a press conference here today announced that an agitation would be launched within a week in case the university authorities and the police do not succeed in solving the case of assault on a campus student on the New Year eve.

Addressing the conference, Mr Dayal Pratap Randhawa, President of the council said that demonstrations and strikes would be organised.

The council submitted a memorandum to the officials concerned to ensure security within the campus. Mr Randhawa said that previously there was a practice of noting the numbers of vehicles which entered the campus late in the night. However, this was not being done now, he added.

The President also blamed the university officials including the Vice-Chancellor and the Wardens, for not taking any action after the incident was reported. The reason seemed a total lack of information.

Mr Randhawa said that it seemed that the case was being handled at a junior level. A senior officer should be handling the matter.

Committee to hear school grievances
Tribune News Service

SAS NAGAR, Jan 19 — The Punjab Government has constituted a committee to hear grievances of schools affiliated with the Punjab School Education Board. The committee consisting of officials of the board would also suggest solution of the problems to the schools concerned.

The Vice-President of the board, Dr Gurdev Singh Sidhu, has been made Chairman of the committee and Ms Harcharan Jit Kaur Brar, would be its member-secretary. Apart from pinpointing visible problems of the affiliated schools, the committee had formulated a programmee for elaborate inter-action in meetings with the representatives of affiliated schools at division-level in the state.

The first meeting of the committee is scheduled to be held at Bhupendra Khalsa Senior Secondary School, Moga, on January 21. Representatives of all affiliated schools located in Faridkot division had been invited to participate.

Multi-media avenue for kids
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 19 — A multi-media computer self-education avenue with CDs and related accessories will open at the Durga Das Foundation for tiny tots in February.

The new service will be a part of the existing library. The library has regular two-hour services in the evenings.

Toys and music encourage reading and sharing among the members. Regular story-telling sessions are also conducted.

Kids' newspapers and magazines and books ranging from classics to comics adorn the library, Mr Atul Khanna, director, adds.

COURTS

Husband, others ‘summoned’ to stand trial
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 19 — A husband, accused of solemnising second marriage after coming here from New Zealand, along with his "second wife" and parents, have been "summoned to stand trial" by the UT Judicial Magistrate (First Class), Ms Jatinder Walia.

In her compliant seeking directives to the police for registering a first information report against husband Satinder Pal Singh and others, Ms Baljit Kaur had earlier alleged that the accused, "in the presence and connivance" of the parents, solemnised the second marriage, according to Sikh rites, at the Sector 11 gurdwara on August 16 last year.

Describing Sukhminder Kaur of Ludhiana district as "illegal wife", the complainant also stated that the accused, having full knowledge of the earlier marriage, had "conspired" with her husband. The complainant had added that she was threatened with elimination "if she raised the matter before the police".

Deposing before the magistrate, sons Jaskaran Singh and Pritpal Singh stated that their "father used to beat the mother and always threatened that he would solemnise second marriage without taking divorce". They added that their father married Sukhwinder Kaur "without taking a divorce".

After going through the evidence, the magistrate observed in her detailed order: "After perusal of the testimony and documents on the file, it stands proved a good prima facie case in favour of the complainant and there are sufficient grounds for proceeding the case as against the accused persons. Accordingly, the accused be summoned to stand trial for offences under Section 494, 506 and 120-B of the IPC for February 5, 2000".

‘MD must consult other directors’
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 19 — In a reply to the application by the managing director of Nevedic Prosthetic Centre, Dr. V.J.S. Vohra, seeking directions for “allowing bank operations”, respondent — Captain C.S. Vohra — today stated that the bank was “constrained” as the applicant was “not doing prior consultation with other directors”.

The respondent stated that it was only “because the applicant was not doing prior consultation with other directors as required by the court order dated March 27, 1999, that the bank was constrained”.

He added that in the salary case it was only “with the indulgence of the court, that the applicant gave salary details after which the court directed joint signatures on the cheque”.

The defendants, he further added, who were authorised, have repeatedly said that they do not want the salaries of the workers to be delayed, but, as per court orders, “applicant must do prior consultation and show the account, including cash receipts, account book’s and cheques must bear signatures of at least two directors”.

Dr Vohra, in his application, had earlier 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 had further sought declaration to the effect that “the appointment of any defendant as an additional director was illegal 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 funds”.

Arrest stayed in dowry death case
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 19 — Issuing notice for January 25 on the anticipatory bail plea filed by a Class X student in a dowry death case, the UT District and Sessions Judge, Mr B.S. Bedi, today stayed her arrest till then.

Pronouncing the orders on the application moved by the resident of DMC Colony, the Sessions Judge also directed her to join the investigations as and when required by the investigating officer.

The applicant was apprehending arrest in the first information report registered for dowry death and for detaining a married woman with criminal intent under Section 304-B and 498 of the Indian Penal Code. According to the prosecution, her sister-in-law had committed suicide on January 12.

Seeking the grant of anticipatory bail, her counsel had stated that the minor had nothing to do with the case. He added that the applicant was to appear for her matriculation examination and was ready to join the investigations as and when required.

“Plaintiffs’ rights not violated”
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 19 — In a written statement to a civil suit seeking directions for declaring a “contract” for chopping mango, neem and pipal trees as “illegal, void and against public interest”, an Executive Engineer of the Municipal Corporation’s horticulture division today stated that the plaintiffs’ legal and civil rights were not being infringed.

Claiming the absence of “cause” to challenge the contract, the defendant stated that the same had been executed “by complying with the provisions of the Chandigarh Tree Preservation Order 1952 issued in exercise of powers conferred by Section 11 of the Capital of Punjab (Development and Regulation) Act...”

The sanction from the competent authority had been obtained, the defendant added, “in spite of the fact that the area from where the trees were to be to cut did not fall in the wood land in the zoning plan or were shown to be protected trees”.

Seeking directions to restrain a timber merchant from going ahead, the plaintiffs — social organisation Yuvsatta and city advocate Kamaljit Lamba — had earlier claimed that the contract had been awarded by the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh for “a meagre sum of Rs 1.5 lakh”. The trees, to avoid breach of contract, had to be cut within a specified time, the plaintiffs had stated.

An irreparable loss, the plaintiffs had added, would be caused to the general public, having “sentimental attachment” with the trees, in case the defendants were not restrained from carrying out the alleged activity.

Giving details, the plaintiffs had stated that an attempt to chop the trees by digging the earth around them by “mischievous persons”, along with the contractor, in Sector 25 Janata Colony was foiled due to active resistance and initiative by the students under the guidance of Yuvsatta volunteers.

A contract, dated October 10, between the MCC, and the Executive Engineer of the Corporation’s horticulture department, with the contractor had earlier been shown to Yuvsatta members, the plaintiffs had claimed.

Notice issued under Juvenile Act
By Our Legal Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Jan 19 — Mrs Gitanjali Kundra, SDM Chandigarh, and Superintendent Model Jail, Burail, UT, Chandigarh, were yesterday issued notice for January 24 by Mr Justice CHB Chalapathi of the High Court on a complaint filed by one Sinhasan Singh, father of a minor boy Mukesh Kumar, lodged in Burail Jail, seeking registration of a case against the SDM and releasing her from her present assignment as SDM and the Superintendent Jail for violating the law on the Juvenile Justice Act.

The complaint was made to the Chief Justice of the High Court, which has been treated as a criminal writ petition.

The petitioner is a resident of Bihar and working at Hallo Majra. He got information about his son being lodged in Burail Jail. He came to Chandigarh to inquire about his son who is lodged under Section 109 Cr PC but according to him, nobody gave any satisfactory clue. Even the SDM and the Superintendent Jail failed to give satisfactory reply regarding sending his son to the jail.

He alleged that Ms Kundra was playing with the lives of innocent children, as she has played with life of his son.

According to him, she is a trainee but has been given independent charge of SDM and BDPO. She also did not know that minors cannot be sent to jail under the Juvenile Justice Act.

Ms Kundra and the Superintendent Jail have been directed to file their replies by the dates of the notice.

Suit seeks cleaner toilets in PGI
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 19 — The UT Civil Judge (Junior Division), Mr Jasbir Singh, today issued notice for January 21 on a civil suit seeking directions to the Medical Superintendent and other defendants for providing basic amenities and clean toilets in the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research here.

In the suit, a social organisation — the Lawyers for Social Reforms —and city resident Pritpal Singh asked for directions "for adopting all measures for the prevention of any infection" the patients and their attendants were exposed to.

Claiming the institute to be "reeling under utter state of neglect", counsel for the plaintiffs stated that the toilets for the patients "situated on each floor of the hospital were in miserable state".

The condition, he added, was so bad that foul smell emanating from it was engulfing the area in the wards as well as outside, resulting in inconvenience to the employees, patients and their attendants.

Plaintiff Pritpal Singh also stated that during a visit to the institute, he was "surprised" by the absence of water coolers on the floor where the Emergency OPD was situated.

The plaintiff added that he was humiliated, insulted and scolded by a defendant after he handed over a written complaint demanding the "provision of basic amenities and cleaning of toilets".

CULTURE

Music trophy for MCM DAV
From A Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Jan 19 — The overall trophy in music competitions was won by MCM DAV College, Sector 36, on the first day of the three-day inter-college cultural meet, being organised at Government College of Education, Sector 20-D, here today.

The annual meet was inaugurated by Ms Vineeta Rai, Adviser to the Administrator, UT. About 75 students from different colleges took part in the music competitions.

Dev Samaj College of Education, Sector 36, stood first in the shabad\bhajan competition. Government College for Girls, Sector 11, and MCM DAV College were second, while DAV College, Sector 10, was third.

Richa Sharma of MCM DAV College won the geet and ghazal competition. Harpreet of Government College of Education, Sector 20, and Meenakshi Sharma of Dev Samaj College of Education, Sector 36, were second and third, respectively.

Gurinder Kainth of Government College for Girls, Sector 11, won the folk song competition. Rupinder Singh of Government College for Men, Sector 11, was placed second and Ashok Kumar of Government College of Education and Tarandeep Kaur of MCM DAV College, Sector 36, were joint third.

Speaking on the occasion, the Adviser said achieving cultural heights was important for students of colleges of education as they, being the educationists of tomorrow, were going to shape future destiny. She told them that achieving great heights should be their life-long mission.

Prof A.K. Sharma cautioned against "modern pollution of music rhythms because of over-commercialised media". Mr Surinder Kaur Tangri, Principal of the college, welcomed the chief guest. Mr K.A.P. Sinha, Joint Secretary, Finance-cum-DPI (Colleges), was also present on the occasion.

Artistes to take part in demonstration
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 19 — A total of about 100 theatre artistes are expected to take part in a demonstration outside the Punjab Kala Bhavan, Sector 16, in the last week of this month to protest against the termination of services of four junior-level employees of the Punjab Arts Council.

This was stated yesterday by Dr Sahib Singh, a theatre person of the region. He added that different theatre groups of Punjab would also participate in the protest against the council.

Speaking to TNS, Dr Singh of the Adakar Manch, said the protest would not only favour taking back the employees in the fold of the council but also the removal of the present team of this body.

Interestingly, Mr H.S. Bhatty, Secretary-General of the Council has, meanwhile, been hinting towards Dr Singh for trying to “malign” and tarnish the image of the Punjab Arts Council, “for his own vested interests”.

It may be recalled that it was at a special meeting of the council, called on December 30, 1999, for studying the financial situation due to failure to receive amounts due from Punwire that four members were served termination orders, “since they were found surplus in a situation of financial crisis forced by the failure of Punwire to pay the interests for six months on a corpus fund deposit of Rs 65 lakh”.

As per reports, the protesting members do not only include theatre people from the region but also the members of the three akademis of the council. The protest demonstration, as per sources, would include Gursharan Singh and his team; Sardar Singh Cheema of the Sahit Chintan; Kamaljit Dhillon; a theatre group from Nawanshahr; Zulfiqar and his team of Theatre Age and Dr Atamjeet Singh, among others.

According to Dr Atamjeet, “in case there is a financial crisis, the council members should go and not the employees. Also, to my mind there is role of the Punjab Arts Council, since almost 50 per cent of the budget is eaten up by them and also especially so when there are three existing akademis which are working”.

Earlier, members of the council had also voiced similar sentiments and had added that in case of a financial crisis, the entire council should resign and “hand over the keys to the Punjab Government and ask them to run the same”.