EDUCATION

Colleges ignore UGC letter
By Sanjeev Singh Bariana
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 3 — There is lack of communication between the UGC and colleges affiliated to Panjab University in providing functional records if response to a letter seeking basic information is any indication.

A recent letter of the University Grants Commission to the Dean, Colleges, has attached a list of more than 75 colleges which have failed to supply the required data to the UGC. Considering that the university has about 100 colleges affiliated to it, the figure is pretty high.

The UGC had sought information from the colleges about their annual functioning and file records earlier this session. A reminder was given at the fag end of the session.

Information has been broadly sought under three categories: the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes, arts stream and the professional courses stream.

Sources in the colleges branch of the university say that the aim was to maintain a collective record of the whole system in an organisation. This could be related to other institutions in the country to recommend changes for overall improvement besides serving other academic activities.

Sources in the university complained of poor response by colleges. The letter seeking response had been forwarded following a signal from the office of the Dean College Development.

Sources maintained that the university itself did not have a record in this regard.

Literary contest results
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 3 — The Punjabi Cell Language Department, Punjab, organised literary competitions for city schools at Guru Gobind Singh Senior Secondary School, Sector 35, from February 1 to 3.

Following are the results of competitions in Punjabi held on the first day: essay writing — Chandan Kaur, GNPS-35 (1), Prabhjot Kaur, GGSSSS-35 (2), Amandeep Kaur, SPS-41 (3); story writing — Ramadeep Kaur, GNKSSS-30 (1), Deepak Sood, GGSSSS-35 (2), Inder Pal Kaur, GNKSSS-30 (3); poem writing — Jaskaran Veer Kaur, GNPS-36 (1), Divroop Singh, SPS-41 (2), Sukhjinder Kaur, GGSSSS-35 (3).

Following are the results of competitions in Hindi held on the second day: essay writing — Seema Thakur, GGSSSS-35 (1), Varuna Sharma, SPS-41 (2), Gurpreet Kaur, GNKSSS-30 (3); story writing — Shilpa Sharma, SPS-41 (1), Deepak Sood, GGSSSS-35 (2), Jasneet Kaur, GNPS-36 (3); poem writing — Jasneet Kaur, GNPS-36 (1), Gurpreet Kaur, GNKSSS-30 (2), Natasha Pasricha, SPS-41 (3).

Following are the results of poem recitation competitions in Hindi and Punjabi held on the third day: in Hindi — Supneet Kaur, GGSSSS-35 (1), Satwinder Kaur, GGSSSS-35 (2), Sahib Datar Singh, GMSSS-46 (3); in Punjabi — Satwinder Kaur, GGSSSS-35 (1), Supneet Kaur, GGSSSS-35, Amanpreet Kaur, GMSSS-46 (3)

Seminar on technical education concludes
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 3 — A two-day seminar on the “Role of Technical Education in Current Industrial Scenario” concluded at the Sector 26 Central Polytechnic here today.

The seminar, which was inaugurated by the Deputy Commissioner, Mr M. Ramsekhar, saw several important issues discussed during four technical sessions held during the past two days.

Mr S.K. Aggarwal, Director, Technical Education, presented the key note address. Mr A.K. Bhalla, Manager, DCM Tools and Dies, Baddi, presided over the first technical session while the second was presided over by Mr Rohit Singla, Additional Director, Regional Computer Centre. The papers presented during the second session pertained to new developments in information technology.

Dr A.S. Bansal, Vice-President and Section Chairman of ISTE, presided over the third technical session where the stress was laid on quality management and ISO-9000. The fourth session was chaired by Mr Hari Om Verma, MD, Ramani Engineering and Technology, Panchkula. Mr Verma wanted that self employment of engineers and technicians was an important area which needed attention.

Mr Yashpal Mahajan, Chairman, Board of Governors of the Technical Teachers Training Institute, presided over the concluding function and wanted more interaction between the industry and the technical institutions.

School celebrates kalyan diwas
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 3 — Government High School, Sector 40, today celebrated the kalyan diwas (Welfare Day) on the school campus. On the occasion, three tricycles were given to the handicapped students of the school, donated by the Sri Krishna Sharan Dharmarth Trust, Panchkula, whose trustee, Mr O S Mahajan was the chief guest of the day.

Those who received tricycles included — Rakesh Kumar, (class VII), Baljinder Kaur, (class VII) and Rajinder Singh, (class IX).

Also, 34 poor students were given uniforms and 54 students were donated exercise books and writing material under the project ‘Asra’ being run by the school.

The chief guest announced 10 scholarships for deserving students of the school — an amount of Rs 100 each.

Mr Bahadur Singh, Principal of the school, presided over the occasion and informed that earlier 704 students were given uniforms from the UT Education Department and 194 jerseys were given to students for winter session.

The students of the school also presented a cultural programme later.

Physics quiz: An inter-senior secondary physics quiz for schools was held today at DAV College, Sector 10. The event was organised by Physics Association, DAV College in collaboration with the Indian Association of Physics Teachers.

A total of 10 teams from different schools of Chandigarh and Panchkula participated in the contest. The quiz was conducted by Dr Vishwamittar, Reader, Panjab University. Dr R.P. Bajpai, Director, CSIO, was the chief guest at the function. Prof K.N. Pathak, Prof in Physics, PU and Vice President, IAPT, presided over the contest.

The following are the results:

GMSSS, Sector 16 (1); DAV College, Sector 10 (2); Sacred Heart Sector 26 (3)

The Running Trophy was won by GMSS, Sector 16.

PU body to protest
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 3 — The Panjab University Teachers Association at a general body meeting here today announced a protest week in February against the non-acceptance of demands by the government.

The threat modes announced include fast, mass casual leave, taking out of processions, wearing of black badges and dharna by the executive committee.

The demands of the association include implementation of a viable pension scheme, enhancement of university teachers in the Senate, construction of new houses, creating UGC scales and a feeder grade as per the UGC guidelines. Teachers resented non-availability of funds for research and discussed increase in representation on the Senate.

Renaissance-2000 results
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 3 — It was a vibrant day today at the Government College of Art, Sector 10, where students from different colleges could be seen playing around with colours in various activities, ranging from cartoon-making to floor painting to singing and also float-making at Renaissance- 2000.

A total of 500 students from 10 colleges participated in this fest. They came from streams of art, architecture, engineering, fashion designing, crafts and science.

The following are the results of the competitions held today: Jingle Competition: DAV College, Sector 10 (1); Govt College of Art, Sector 10 (2); Chandigarh College pf Architecture, Sector 12 (3)

Spirit of Spice: Manjari Aggarwal, Govt College of Art, Sector 10 (1); Jasleen Chopra, NIIFT, Mohali (2); Harpreet, Govt Polytechnic for Women, Sector 10 (3) Cartooning (professional): Rajneet Kaur, NIIFT, Mohali (1); Balbir Singh, Govt College of Art, Sector 10 (2); Hemant Kumar, Govt College of Art, Sector 10 (3)

Cartooning (non-professional): Reetika Bhalla, GCG-11 (1); Priti Bajwa, GCG-11 (2); Valley Anand, GCG-42 (3)

Float Making (professional): Manjit Singh, Govt College of Art, Sector 10 (1); Dhruv, Amar, Ratnakar and Harash, NIIFT, Mohali (2); Jagjit Singh, Govt College of art, Sector 10 (3)

Floor painting (non-professional): Promila and Harpal, Govt College of Art, Sector 10 (1); Dhruv and Disha, NIIFT, Mohali (2); Rajni and Anubhuti, Govt College of Art, Sector 10 (3)

Floor Painting (non-professional): Poonam and Pooja, GCG-11 (Special Prize)

Singing (English): Hussain, NIIFT, Mohali (1); Anita Sonia Kumar, Govt College of Art, Sector 10 (2); Kamal, PU (3)

Singing (Hindi): Michaelangelo, Govt College of Art, Sector 10 (1); Kamal, PU (2); Lal Singh Thakur, GCM-11 (3)

Impromptu: Manu Sharma, DAV College, Sector 10 (1); Jasleen, NIIFT, Mohali (2); Siddharth Chauhan, DAV College, Sector 10 (3).

COURTS

Convicted for bounced cheque
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 3 — Convicting a city resident in a bounced cheque case, UT Judicial Magistrate (First Class) A.K. Bishnoi has sentenced him to simple imprisonment for one year, besides imposing a fine of Rs 5,000.

Pronouncing the orders in the open court on Colonel G.S. Malhi’s complaint, the Judicial Magistrate also directed the convict to undergo simple imprisonment for another two months in default of payment.

The Magistrate observed: “This court is of the considered view that the complainant has proved his case to the hilt that the accused has committed an offence punishable under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act by issuing the cheque and then not making the payment of the same even after having received the notice of demand. Accordingly, I hold the accused guilty and convict him thereunder”.

Rejecting the plea of the accused for taking a lenient view, the Judicial Magistrate observed: “Of late, there has been alarming increase in such cases. To check this menace, the legislature enacted the Negotiable Instruments Act. Certainly, offenders in such like cases are required to be dealt with a firm hand”.

Mr. Bishnoi further observed: “In the instant case, the convict had extracted a huge amount from the complainant. Taking into account the totality of the facts and circumstances of the case, the act of the convict does not call for leniency”.

Earlier, in his complaint under Section 138, 142 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, besides Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code, Colonel Malhi had stated that a cheque of Rs 2,2000 issued by the accused had been dishonoured.

HC lawyers go on strike
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 3 — Lawyers at the Punjab and Haryana High Court today struck work to protest against the proposed amendment in the Civil Procedure Code.

The decision to observe a one-day strike was taken yesterday at the general body meeting of the Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association.

The Bar Association had asked all district Bar Associations in Punjab, Haryana and the Union Territory of Chandigarh to observe February 3 as a day of protest against the proposed amendment.

Bail plea dismissed
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 3 — The anticipatory bail application moved by city resident Harmanjot Singh Gosal in a cheating case was today dismissed by the UT District and Sessions Judge, Mr B.S. Bedi.

Gosal was apprehending arrest in first information report registered under Sections 406 and 420 of the Indian Penal Code on a complaint lodged by retired Indian Air Force Officer R.K. Gupta alleging “large scale cheating and fraud”. The case is being investigated by the Economic Offences Wing.

Gupta had stated that the applicant’s father Brigadier G.S. Gosal kept on putting him off on one pretext or the other after the amount earlier deposited by him under a financial scheme matured.

He said that a post dated cheque for Rs 2,01,000 issued by the accused also bounced due to insufficient funds. The applicant, he added, had misbehaved with him.

Today, declining the bail plea, the judge observed: “Custodial interrogation of the applicant is essential for unearthing the real fact of this case.“

Interim bail for murder accused
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 3 — Granting interim bail to Jugraj Singh, an accused in former MLA Bachittar Singh's murder case, Mr B.S. Bedi, UT District and Sessions Judge, today asked him to surrender before the court on February 7.

Seeking the grant of interim bail, the counsel for the accused stated in the application that the marriage of Jugraj Singh's sister was to be solemnised on February 4. The case was registered against Jugraj Singh and four other accused after the MLA was killed on December 2, 1996, while returning from Kharar in a jeep.