The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

EDUCATION

Homoeo students end agitation
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 27 — The agitation by the students of Sector 26 Homoeopathic Medical College, Sector 26, who have been seeking the removal of the college Principal, ended today after 38 days.

The agitation was called off following the intervention of the inquiry committee, which has asked the management of the college to send the college Principal, Dr K.K Dhiman, on leave immediately till the pendency of the inquiry and in the meantime some other person should be asked to officiate as the Principal.

Ms Priya Sarien, Joint Secretary of the ABVP unit of the campus, in a release stated that the students had submitted a detailed representation of charges against the Principal to plead their case. She has also claimed that the members of the inquiry committee comprising members of the Council of Homoeopathic System of Medicine, Punjab, will again meet on January 31 and students will again submit their respective “affidavits of victimisation and misdeeds by the Principal”.

Ms Sarien said that students would join the classes only when Principal Dhiman proceeds on leave and an officiating Principal is appointed.

Meanwhile, the students have lodged a complaint in the Sector 26 police station that the Principal has stolen four of the banners displayed in the college campus yesterday. Their complaint is supported by a signed statement of peon-cum-ward boy who had reportedly seen the Principal removing these banners.

Students visit infantry unit
Tribune News Service

CHANDI MANDIR, Jan 27 — The regimental ambience of a quarter guard, the glamour of an officers’ mess and the stimulation of handling weapons were all there for college students from Panchkula during a visit to an infantry unit here today.

Organised by 2 Bihar, about 200 boys and girls were shown around the quarter guard and the mess and the role and significance of these intrinsic elements of a regiment were explained to them. A special display of weapons and communication equipment normally held by an infantry battalion was also put up. The basic functioning and capability of the equipment was demonstrated before the inquisitive youngsters.

The unit’s Commanding Officer, Col D. Prashad, said the display had been organised to promote the Army’s image and to motivate youngsters to join the services. “This provides them not only an opportunity to get a greater insight about a military establishment, but also information pertaining to various modes of entry into the services,” he added.

This is the second time the unit has set up a weapons display for youngsters. The earlier occasion was at Bathinda a few days back.

“The display is an eye-opener,” said Ashwini Dixit, a BSc-II student. “The drill at the quarter gurard was very impressive, she added. Impressed by the discipline, order and cleanliness, Sunil Malik, a BA-III student, on her first visit to an Army establishment, said it had further strengthened her resolve to join the Army. “The trophies displayed at the officers’ mess and the regimental history were quite inspiring”. she added.

“The visit has been very inspiring. We saw and held weapons earlier seen only on TV or in books,” said Kuldeep Singh, a first-year student. “What we have learnt here will help us in our NCC certificate examinations”, added Beant Singh, a third-year student.

Posters highlighting various modes for entry into the services and requisite qualifications were also put up. The mode of entry for women officers turned out to be the major topic for discussion.

PU yet to finalise paper setter issue
By Sanjeev Singh Bariana
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 27 — Panjab University is yet to give clear indications of having two paper setters in each paper at the post-graduate and the under-graduate level for the forthcoming annual examinations in March.

The recommendation to have a set of four papers available before the final selection of the examination paper was made last year following complaints of paper-leakage.There were complaints that certain teachers were involved in leaking out their papers.

Each examiner is expected to set two papers. The university will then pick one from among the available four papers. The change was likely to be introduced following recommendations of a committee on the matter.

The earlier practice was of having only one paper setter who provided two sets of papers for the final selection. Following large-scale complaints of paper leakage, it was advised that there should be three papers setters who set two papers each, out of which one would be picked.

However, the university finally decided on two setters with two papers each. A senior fellow said that this would save teaching community from disgrace as the paper setter concerned was held guilty of any leakage in the paper.

The proposal, however, did not find mention in the meeting of the revising committee held last month. Revising committee proposals come up for detailed discussion in the forthcoming Syndicate meeting.

The revising committee, which met recently, also proposed certain changes in other related activities concerning examination.The meeting was attended by the Vice-Chancellor, the Controller of Examination, Principals D.L. Anand, Kuldip Singh and V.K. Mehta.Prof D.N. Jauhar from the Law Department also featured in the committee meeting.

The committee considered “anomaly of appointment of junior persons as head-examiners” by certain Board of Studies.

The committee resolved that the main office should write to the conveners of the Board of Studies asking them that as far as possible “the head examiners should be senior persons.”

The committee resolved that all cases in which the difference of scores between the original evaluation and re-evaluation was more than 15 per cent of the maximum marks of the papers be brought to the notice of the head examiner concerned to ensure fair and objective evaluation of the scripts.

The committee noted that lists of all paper setters and examiners had already been approved in anticipation of the final approval.This does not mention if additional paper setters had been included in the list.

The agenda also included lists of fresh paper setters and examiners which were recommended by various Board of Studies. The reasons for changes have been identified largely as conclusion of the fixed period, personal problem, death, or person going abroad, besides others.

MCM DAV wins 3 trophies
From A Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Jan 27 — MCM DAV College, Sector 36-B, lifted the three trophies in declamation contest, debate competition and poetry recitation contest in the three-day inter-college cultural festival “Mosaic: the college fest 2000” at Dev Samaj College, Sector 45-B, here today.

Dr Sudha Rashmi Puri from Panjab University inaugurated the festival by lighting a lamp.

Jasmeet Kaur of MCM DAV College was the best individual performer in the inter-college debate held on the topic “The liberated woman at the close of the millennium is no better than a beast of burden”, while Neha from the same college was second. Harleen of the host college won the third prize.

In all, seven teams from different colleges participated in the debate. While speaking for and against the motion, all participants were emphatic and gave strong arguments. A business executive woman was the strongest point for the speakers against the motion. Speakers favouring the motion gave the example of the Women Reservation Bill being “strangled” in Parliament and argued that woman is being harassed at every step in the male-dominated society.

In the declamation contest, Sunaina Khera and Gurmeet Jaggi, both from MCM DAV College, won first and second prizes while the third prize went to Anjali Soni of GCG, Sector 42.

Kamal Malik of the Institute of Hotel Management won the poetry recitation contest. He recited a poem of ‘Vir Ras’. Navjot Sran and Sunaina Khera, both from MCM DAV College, were declared second and third, respectively. The central theme of the poetry recitation was “Women”.

GCG-11, Home Science College win NCC title
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 27 — The Government College for Girls, Sector 11, and Home Science College, Sector 10, have been declared joint winners of the NCC Championship Trophy for the senior wing for 1999.

Jawahar Navodaya Vidylaya, Sector 25, has been adjudged winner in the junior wing, while Senior Under Officer Anjali Chahal has been declared the best cadet for her overall performance during the year.

In a statement issued here, Commanding Officer of No. 1 Chandigarh Girls NCC Battalion, Lt Col Harjit Singh, said the trophy was instituted last year to foster a spirit of competition among the cadets and create greater awareness about NCC activities amongst students. Performance of cadets during training, leadership and national integration camps as well as other activities like adventure, community development and blood donation are taken into account, he added.

COURTS

HC summons DSP on officer's 'disappearance'
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 27 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court today directed Mr Ranjit Singh Dhillon, DSP (Vigilance), Punjab, posted at Patiala, to be personally present in the court tomorrow to reply to the allegations that he had illegally managed the disappearance of Mr S.P. Singh, Mining Officer at the Punjab Industries Department.

This order was handed down by Mr Justice T.H.B. Chalapathi on a petition preferred by Mr S.P. Singh's relative.

The petitioner stated that Mr S.P. Singh had been harassed by the Vigilance Department, especially DSP Ranjit Singh Dhillon, at the instance of Mr Surinder Singh Kairon, a close relative of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, who wanted the detainee to cancel mining contracts of certain persons in favour of his men.

Mr S.P. Singh was summoned by DSP Dhillon to Patiala on January 24. Before leaving for Patiala, he shot off letters to various high officials of the Punjab Government. The letter was sent to the Chief Secretary of Punjab, the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, among others. The letter stated that he was receiving threats from Mr Surinder Singh Kairon, apart from the Vigilance DSPs at Ropar and Patiala.

The petition further stated that Mr S.P. Singh had telephoned the petitioner to say that he was at Patiala and the letter he wrote could be taken from the back seat of his car parked at his residence in Sector 22 at Chandigarh.

The petitioner claimed that he made efforts to secure the release of Mr S.P. Singh. However, all his efforts proved futile. He filed a petition on January 25.

Driver sentenced to RI
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 27 — Nearly six years after a cyclist was declared “brought dead” at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research here after being hit by a tanker, a city court has sentenced the driver to rigorous imprisonment for one year, besides imposing a fine of Rs 500.

The driver, Jaswinder Singh, according to the prosecution, had rammed into the cycle from behind on May 29, 1994, near Halo Majra. The prosecution had added that cyclist Bachan Ram’s legs got crushed in the accident. Jaswinder Singh, it was further added, was driving rashly and negligently.

The accused was subsequently booked by the Chandigarh Police for causing death by rash and negligent act and endangering human life by driving rashly or negligently under Section 304-A and 279 of the Indian Penal Code.

When confronted with the incriminating evidence against him, the accused had, however, denied the allegations. Claiming to be innocent, Jaswinder Singh had asked for a trial.

Convicting the accused, UT Judicial Magistrate (First Class) Mr K.K. Goyal observed: “The prosecution case is based on oral as well as documentary evidence which inspires confidence and I do not see any reason to disbelieve or discard the same”.

The Judicial Magistrate further observed: “Under these circumstances, the prosecution has been successful in its endeavour to prove the charge against the accused beyond a shadow of doubt as regard to the offences....”

‘Settlement of WSC dispute to take time’
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 27 — Seeking long adjournment of the appeal against the dismissal of an application for restraining Justice Kuldip Singh from acting as the World Sikh Council (WSC) President, petitioners Mr Baldev Singh Brar and Mr Talib Singh Sandhu today claimed that the settlement of the dispute by the Akal Takht Jathedar would take time.

In an application submitted before the UT District and Sessions Judge, Mr B.S. Bedi, the plaintiffs stated that it would take time to settle the dispute by the Jathedar of the Akal Takht because of his preoccupation with other important matters”. Claiming to have been summoned, the plaintiffs also stated that the Jathedar had informed them regarding his being ceased of the matter relating to the council dispute.

The Jathedar, the plaintiffs added, had also told them that the dispute would be resolved within a short period as Justice Kuldip Singh had also agreed for the settlement of the dispute by him. The Jathedar, they further added, had also told them that necessary information would be sent to the plaintiffs.

Giving details, the plaintiffs stated that the information regarding Justice Kuldip Singh being summoned in order to resolve the council dispute had been received through a reliable source and from newspapers. The news regarding the retired Supreme Court Judge appearing before the Jathedar was carried in almost all newspapers in Punjab on July 27, 1999, he added. The application will now come up for arguments on February 4.

Earlier, dismissing the application, UT Civil Judge (Senior Division) Mr. B.C. Gupta had observed: “I hold that the plaintiff has failed to make out a prima facie case for the grant of injunction, nor the balance of convenience lies in the favour of the plaintiff. It is Justice Kuldip Singh who will suffer irreparable loss if the injunction is granted”.

CULTURE

Anger over sacking four men
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 27 — It was at a tumultuous open meeting of the Punjab Arts Council today at Punjab Kala Bhawan, Sector 16, various dissenting voices were raised against the ousting of four junior-level employees of the council. Various members of the council and those representing theatre and trade unions at the meeting failed to reach a consensus at the end of an almost three-hour discussion, marred at the end by Zindabad-Murdabad slogans.

The main demands which were raised at this meeting were to reinstate all four ousted employees, ask the Punjab Government for more grants and the corpus be raised by another Rs 1 crore. The Badal government was also severely attacked by all those present at the meeting today.

However, the council later issued a press note, saying that the Chairman had declared that "the consensus of the gathering would be put before the Executive Committee, a meeting which would be called shortly".

This decision had been taken earlier this month in a special meeting in which a four-member subcommittee was included. The members of the subcommittee were the Chairman of the Council, Dr Harcharan Singh, its Secretary-General, Mr H.S. Bhatty, besides two members of the General Council, Dr Deepak Manmohan, a former Chairman of the council, and Mr Gurdial Singh Arif. Dr Deepak today said the committee had not been authorised to take this decision, but had been formed to make recommendations instead. He also said he had attended only one meeting in which he had been made to understand that whatever decision, including a golden handshake, would be taken only with the consent of the employees and the other council members. Mr Bhatty, however, refuted the statement. Mr Arif also said this decision had been taken in haste, in the wake of the financial crisis.

Most persons of various akademis who had earlier spoken to the TNS, including Harjinder Kaur, Chairperson of the Punjab Sangeet Natak Akademi; Rama Ratan, General Secretary of the Punjab Sahitya Kala Akademi and Manjit Kaur Tiwana, Chairperson of the akademi, were conspicuous by their absence. Harjinder Kaur came just after the meeting had ended and said the decision should be made by the core committee of the council. She also said it was unfortunate that most members of this committee always failed to be present at the meetings.

Meanwhile, the participants at the meeting today said such a meeting should have been called prior to the ousting of the four employees. Artistes and writers, present today, said they would protest against the decision outside Punjab Kala Bhavan on January 29.

Dr Sahib Singh, a theatre person, who had been accused by Mr Bhatty of launched a virulent campaign against the Punjab Kala Parishad, spoke against the allegation of defamation. Mr Gursharan Singh also demanded a renewed grant to the council by the Punjab Goverenment. He also said Mr Bhatty should be removed from the council.

A press note issued by Mr Bhatty said a large number of uninvited persons had "created a ruckus", demanding the unconditional reinstatement of the four retrenched employees. He said the council could not agree to the reinstatement since it did not have the funds to pay them Rs 69,000 per month in salaries. It also said that the members did not approve of the suggestion to demonstrate and sit on dharna against the Punjab Government.

The meeting also involved mudslinging, on the issue of financial discrepancies mostly. However, most issues got diffused in the shouts of allegations.

Medical students shake leg, hit ball
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 27 — Students of Goverment Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, were at their boisterous best at the inaugural function of the Euphoria-2000, a fusion of cultural, sport and literary events which began here today.

Attired in colourful costumes, these would be doctors danced their way into the hearts of the audience as they performed on the popular Hindi number Dhol Baaje. A highlight of the evening was euphoriography, in which, the focus was on the soul trying to find peace. The hour-long programme which commenced with a Vandana ended with the National Anthem.

Earlier, while addressing the students, Prof S.K. Sharma, Director designate of the PGI, emphasised the importance of extra-curricular activities in the life of doctors. He recalling his college days when he used to participate in all such events. He said he wished the students to become bright professionals in the future. He gave credit to the institution for making rapid strides since its establishment in 1991, particularly in the field of informtion technology.

Prof V.K. Kak, Director Principal of the college, traced the origin of the function, to the past year after the Medical Council of India gave it recognition. Keeping in view the response it evoked from the other medical and dental colleges, it was decided to make the festival an annual feature. "Gatherings such as these foster bonds of friendship among professional colleagues,'' said Dr Kak. According to him, participation in cultural, literary and sport activities help in the all-round development of an individual's personality. He said teachers should help students expose their hidden talents.

In his concluding remarks, Dr Raj Bahadur, Chairman of the cultural committee, said what teachers could not do in their student days, they achieved through the performance of their students. He also thanked all who were participating in the events which would conclude on January 30.

Meanwhile, 16 teams of various medical and dental colleges in north India participated in the North Zone Medicricket organised for the first time in this region. The tournament was inaugurated at the Sector 16 Cricket Stadium by the Director Principal of the college, Prof V.K. Kak. Dr Ravinder Chadha, a former physician of the Indian cricket team, was the guest of honour. The teams today played eight matches at six venues. These matches were of 25 overs each.

Following are the results of the matches played today: GMCH Chandigarh beat HD Sunder Nagar by four wickets; GMC Amritsar beat RDDC Amritsar by 153 runs; GMC Patiala beat RPDMC Tanda by 7 runs; DIRDS Faridkot beat RDMC Amritsar by 9 wickets; Jammu Medical College beat DMC Ludhiana by 60 runs; GMC Faridkot beat BRS Dental Kotbilla by 12 runs; IGMC Shimla beat GDC Patiala; and CMC Ludhiana got a walkover against the Srinagar team. According to the Organising Secretary of the meet, Dr Raman Abrol, the tournament is being played on a knockout basis and the final will be held at the PCA cricket stadium in SAS Nagar on January 30.

Akademi presents Faujan
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 27 — The Punjab Sangeet Natak Akademi today presented a Punjabi play, Faujan, by the Suchetak Rangmanch, Mohali, at Punjab Kala Bhavan, Sector 16. The play was directed by Anita.

Faujan told the story of Chint Kaur, played very convincingly by Anita herself, the widow of a soldier, Joginder Singh. The theme of the play that revolved around the treatment meted out to widows in society, raised many questions about the status of widows. The role of Joginder Singh was played by Jasbir Dhillon.

The play then progressed to tell the tale of Ala Singh, a friend of Joginder Singh, who fights the societal norms and the system of many patriarchal hierarchies to finally end up marrying the protagonist of this play.

Talented tabla player dead
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 27 — In the death of Pawan Kumar Verma, a renowned tabla player, on January 25, the region has lost a great musician and fine person. He met with an accident at the Chandigarh-Shimla highway while returning from ITB Central School, where he was teaching music.

An exponent of the Punjab (Lahore) Gharana, Verma had his early training in music with his father, Jagat Ram Verma in sitar, tabla and jal tarang. He later continued tabla and sitar training under Pt Lachhman Singh Seen. He got a masters degree in tabla and sitar from Prayag Sangeet Samiti, Allahabad, in 1978 and Panjab University in 1981.

Verma was an approved 'A' grade artiste in Indian classical percussion music of All India Radio (AIR) and television, since 1979. He had been teaching both tabla and sitar at Jawaharlal Nehru Indian Cultural Centre in Jakarta, Indonesia, on deputation from the Government of India, since August 1993.

This talented musician had also played the tabla in national concerts at various performances all over the country, accompanying artistes like Pt Bhimsen Joshi, Mrs Kishori Amonkar, Rajan and Sajan Mishra, Hussain Bux of Pakistan and Shujat Hussain Khan, among many others.

Pawan Verma had also joined the Austrian Jazz group and had also performed in Austria, Germany, Poland, Slovakia and Brazil.

The Pracheen Kala Kendra has announced an institution of a scholarship in his memory. Verma was a member of its governing body.

Pawan Verma is survived by his wife, Gandharv Verma, a vocalist of classical Hindustani music and two sons.