EDUCATION

Protest march by PU teachers
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 23 — More teachers as compared to the previous two days assembled in front of the Vice-Chancellor's office in Panjab University here today, protesting in support of several service-related demands.

More than 250 teachers joined a peaceful march from Gandhi Bhavan and assembled before the Vice-Chancellor's office. The procession was stopped by the security personnel, barring the entrance of teachers.

Following intervention by the DUI, the teachers were allowed to enter. Dr P.P. Arya, President of the Panjab University Teachers Association (PUTA), condemned the communication gap between the administration and the teaching community.

Non-implementation of a viable pension scheme was central to the protesters. Dr Arya also mentioned the demand for increase in Senate seats for university teachers. Dr Harjinder Singh Laltu, Secretary of the PUTA, said the struggle basically underlined a fight for dignity of teachers. Teachers are resorting to mass casual leave tomorrow. On February 25, Dr Arya and a few other teachers will sit on a 24-hour fast.

Rally by Punjab teachers
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 23 — Punjab Government college teachers held a rally in the city yesterday to protest against the casual attitude of the state government towards higher education and the inability to pay their arrears on account of revision of grades for the past 11 months.

The agitators from various parts of the state raised slogans against the government and resolved that in case their demands were not met, they would boycott all the official functions in their respective colleges presided over by Cabinet ministers.

Dr P.S. Bhatti, President of the Punjab Government Teachers Association, said their arrears had not been paid even though the government had received the grant from the UGC on this context. The government should also implement the 1998 notification of the UGC.

Besides this, other demands include uniform age of retirement at 62 years, counting past service, service in the feeder channel, incentives to teachers who have completed their Ph.D and implementation of the career advancement scheme.

Foreign students hold programme
From A Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Feb 23 — A cultural programme marked the International Students Meet, an annual cultural function of foreign students studying in the university, organised by the Dean of Foreign Students, at Panjab University auditorium here today.

Prof M.M. Puri, Vice-Chancellor of the university, was the chief guest. Prashant Benarjee, President of the Foreign Student Association, welcomed the chief guest. Mr Innocent Opara, Vice-President of the association read out the annual students report. Students also presented cultural items

COURTS

Nominations filed for Bar poll
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 23 — Nomination papers for the post of District Bar Association president were yesterday filed by Mr Amar Singh Chahal, Mr N.K. Nanda, Ms Anita Ahuja and Mr Harish Chander Gupta. The elections are slated to be held on March 10.

For the post of Vice-President, nomination papers were filed by Mr Amarjit Singh Gujral, Mr Munish Chaudhary, Ms Naveen Malik and Mr P. Rai.

Mr K.S. Lamba, Mr Beny Parshad, Mr Devinder Singh, Mr Malkit Singh Jandiala and Mr Vijay Sharma filed papers for the Secretary’s post. For Joint Secretary, Ms Jagdeep Kaur Bajwa and Ms Vanita Sajwan filed the papers.

Nomination papers for Treasurer’s post were furnished by Mr Ranjit Singh Dhiman and Mr Vinay Bhandari, while for the post of executive members papers were filed by Mr Ajay Sood, Mr Anuj Sharma, Mr Arun Bassi, Mr Charanjit Singh Chadha, Mr Harish Bansal, Ms Harjit Kaur Roop Rai, Mr Neeraj, Mr Rajesh Singh and Mr Sanjeev Dua.

Acquitted of murder charge
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 23 — A city resident, accused of being involved in the murder of his wife, was today acquitted by the UT District and Sessions Judge, Mr B.S. Bedi.

The accused, Suresh Kumar, was earlier booked by the Chandigarh police under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code after his wife, Sohanbiri, was declared dead in a dispensary.

According to the prosecution, the accused, irritated by his wife's constant objection to his drinking habit, had thrown her on the floor several times on October 18, 1999.

Rs 5.57 lakh relief in accident case
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 23 — Nearly two years after an HMT employee was killed after being knocked down by a Punjab Roadways bus, the UT Additional District and Sessions Judge, Mr S.K. Goel, has granted a compensation of Rs 5.57 lakh to his wife and other relatives.

Dharam Chand, according to the claim petition, was hit by the roadways bus on February 16, 1998, while he was about to cross traffic lights on his moped. The claimants had added that the bus was being driven rashly and negligently when the accident occurred. Claiming the deceased to be the only bread-winner for the family, the claimants had further added that Dharam Chand was 48 years old.

Pronouncing the orders in the open court, the judge observed: "The claimants are awarded a compensation to the tune of Rs 5,57,000. The claimants are also entitled to interest at the rate of 12 per cent from the date of filing the petition till the date of its realisation."

The judge further observed: "50 per cent amount falling to the share of the wife shall be invested in the FDR in some national bank for a period of five years. However, she is at liberty to withdraw the interest accruing there on".

2 acquitted in gas cylinder case
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 23 — Accepting appeals, the UT District and Sessions Judge, Mr B. S. Bedi, acquitted two Patiala district residents accused of selling spurious gas cylinders.

The two — Kailash Gupta and Parwinder Singh — had earlier been sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for a year by the UT Judicial Magistrate (First Class), Mr Jag Nahar Singh, under Sections 420 and 511 of the Indian Penal Code.

According to the prosecution, the two were booked by the police after receiving secret information about the sale of spurious gas cylinders at Rs 1200 each.

The Sessions Judge observed: "In the present case, there is no evidence that the appellants deceived any person or fraudulently or dishonestly induced any person to deliver any property to them or to any other person. So the charge of cheating is not proved."

The Sessions Judge also observed: "Since there is no evidence that the appellants offered to sell for consideration the alleged spurious gas cylinders, there was no cheating attempt."

The judge added: "It is proved that the appellants had in their possession sub-standard gas cylinders which contained less quantity of gas. But it is not suggested that they had offered to sell them to any person. Therefore, at best, they had only made preparation to cheat which, however, is not punishable under any provision of the IPC."