EDUCATION

PU courses in French, German
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, March 16 — Keeping in tune with the current trends, the Departments of French, Russian and German of Panjab University have offered short-term courses which are likely to commence from April 10.

Dr J.K. Sharma of the Department of German, Dr Pankaj Malviya of the Department of Russian and Dr Gunita Randhawa of the Department of French, in a press conference here today, underlined the features of these proposed short-term extensive courses.

They said jobs and business dealings with foreign companies had led to students and professionals showing an increasing interest in foreign languages. Following a general survey, the group decided that a two-month capsule course was best suited to the occasion.

The main feature of the courses is helping one gain the ability of effectively dealing with real-life situations. The course has selected 15 real-life situations like enquiring for buses, banking services and other daily-life situations.

The planned duration of the courses is eight weeks which cost Rs 1,500 each. A course will follow two-hour schedule daily for five days a week. The eligibility for the courses will be Class XII or equivalent qualification. Candidates will be interviewed.

‘Literature vital to field of culture’
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, March 16 — Literature is an engrossing lyrical expression of moods of suppression in society, said Dr Harminder Singh Deol, DPI (colleges), Punjab, while inaugurating a three day seminar on ‘Punjabi Language and Culture: its Standing and Challenges’, being organised by the Punjabi Department in Panjab University here yesterday.

Dr Deol opined that culture and literature need not be mere reflections of each other. Literature was an important medium of furthering the field of culture.

Mr Deol said that Punjabi had signs of development in the pre-Aryan period.The myths mentioned in the tradition showed traces in olden times. Islam - Punjabi interaction also led to certain cultural changes, particularly on women.

Dr Deol also mentioned slow but certain re-adjustment in new values in society. There were signs of ‘ value’ conflict. Mr Amrik Pooni, President of the Punjab Sahitya Akademi, in his presidential remarks said that bureaucracy in Punjab has had no real contribution in promoting use of Punjabi as an official language.

Mr Pooni said another area where the language was witnessing a downfall was within circles of the middle class. He also opined that probably writers themselves had failed to attract more readers. The language and the idiom did not live up to people’s expectations.

Dr Pooni said that one of the areas which he thought needed concern was pollution of language through the ‘cassette culture’.

Dr Om Prakash Vashisth, chairperson of the department, identified some upcoming problems in the field of language education.The information technology and new mechanisms needed to be looked at closer.

Dr Deepak Manmohan, Dean, College Development, welcomed the guests, while Dr Kesar Singh Kesar proposed a vote of thanks.

A colourful cultural farewell
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, March 16 — The farewell party of the Sector 10 Government College of Art held today was “an affair to remember”.

It was in the afternoon that seniors started arriving in the college attired in their best and greeted by their juniors in a traditional way. “Guru Vandhana” by Gurjeet, a third year student, marked the beginning of the programme after principal, Mr Prem Singh, arrived. Each senior was given a title.

A colourful cultural programme was also organised simultaneously.

Bahadur Singh and Sakshi Malhotra were adjudged Mr and Ms Government College of Art, respectively. A farewell cake was also cut.

Fancy dress contest for kids
From a Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, March 16 — Children of Little Buds School participated in a fancy dress competition today where they dressed like a captain, a detective, bhangra dancer, flower girl and a gypsy girl, besides other characters. Prizes were given to all in order to encourage them. The school is managed by Ms Bhajwa and Wing Commander (retd) D.S. Bhajwa. The school aims to make attending the school a pleasure for kids. It uses the play way method of teaching and visits to different places in the city is a regular feature. "The school has a strength of 25 students and we try to give each one them our personal attention," said Wing Commander Bhajwa.

COURTS

Judge’s retirement results in adjournment of cases
By Saurabh Malik
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, March 16 — It is justice delayed! Cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act are being adjourned following the retirement of Additional District and Sessions Judge-cum-Special Judge for NDPSA cases, Mr. G.S. Sandhu.

The 1997 case against Uzoma Gabriel Nwachukwu under the NDPS Act, registered with Police Station 36, was adjourned till March 30 by an Additional District and Sessions Judge. Sources reveal that the case was to come up on March 14 for further recording of evidence.

Mr Sandhu, sources add, on January 17 had directed the summoning of “other prosecution witnesses, who had not been examined” on that date. Nwachukwu, it may be recalled, was booked by the Chandigarh Police on June 26, 1997 for allegedly keeping 1.8 kg of smack in his possession “without permit or licence”. Claiming to be innocent, the accused had asked for a trial.

Denying the allegations of “any delay in justice”, a senior judicial officer says, “It’s just a matter of days before another Additional District and Sessions Judge joins in”.

Giving details, the officer asserts, “As per a notification, only Additional Sessions Judge - II is the authorised to take up cases under the Act. No other judge can hear the cases in the Special Judge’s absence. Till the judge joins, the serving judges here cannot be nominated Special Judge as we do not know whether he will be senior or junior to them”.

Meanwhile, in another case registered under Section 20 of the NDPS Act by the Chandigarh Police against “unknown persons”, an application for releasing a car on supardari was adjourned to April 1. The applicant — “registered owner” — had claimed that the car was taken into possession by Police Station South on March 4.

Pronouncing the orders on the application, the UT Additional District and Sessions Judge, Mr S.S. Lamba, had observed: “File put up before me as Mr Sandhu, ASJ, Chandigarh, has since retired. As per orders passed by the learned Sessions Judge, the cases are to be adjourned till successor court is appointed. Now for awaiting the appointment of successor court. To come upon April 1, 2000”.

Claiming that the exact number of cases under the NDPS Act being adjourned was not known, sources add, “the fact is that the accused are being adversely affected”.

Judge transfers case
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, March 16 — The UT District and Sessions Judge, Mr B.S. Bedi, today transferred a case to the court of an Additional District and Sessions Judge as he was “likely to retire on superannuation on March 31”.

Pronouncing the orders on an application filed by Progressive Constructions Limited, the Sessions Judge observed: “The matter is of urgent nature. The substantial interest of the parties are involved and bank guarantee is also likely to lapse on March 31 so this case should be disposed of at the earliest”.

The judge also observed: “But I am likely to retire on March 31 and I do not have enough time to dispose of this case with due despatch. So keeping in view the extremely urgent nature of the case and substantial interest of the parties involved, this case is transferred to the court of S.S. Lamba, learned Additional Sessions Judge, Chandigarh, for disposal in accordance with law”.

Bail plea case; notice issued for March 24
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, March 16 — Issuing notice for March 24 on the anticipatory bail plea moved by the ‘‘president’’ of UT Secretarial Employees Welfare Association K.B. Goel, the UT Additional District and Sessions Judge-cum-Special Judge for CBI cases, Mr S.S. Lamba, today directed that ‘‘in the event of petitioner’s arrest, he shall be released on bail...’’

Goel was apprehending his arrest by the ‘‘police or the vigilance cell in some false criminal case’’. Seeking the grant of anticipatory bail, his counsel had stated that the applicant was questioned regarding three complaints earlier forwarded to the Central Bureau of Investigation for inquiry.

His counsel had added that in order to ‘‘harass and humiliate’’ the petitioner, certain directions were issued by senior officers of the UT Administration to vigilance cell on basis of which Inspector vigilance sent notice on March 13 to petitioner asking him to attend office in connection with some secret inquiry’’.

Today, pronouncing the orders in the open court, the Additional Sessions Judge observed: ‘‘Earlier notice was given to the UT Administration and it was reported that the matter had been referred to the CBI. After hearing CBI, it was desired that in the event of registration of the FIR, three days’ notice should be given.’’

The Additional Sessions Judge further observed: ‘‘Now it is alleged that even the vigilance cell of the UT has summoned the petitioner. In these circumstances, let notice be given for March 24. In the meantime, in the event of the arrest of the petitioner, he shall be released on bail in sum of Rs 10,000 with a surety of the like amount to the satisfaction of the arresting, investigating officer.’’

Anticipatory bail plea declined
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, March 16 — The anticipatory bail plea moved by a resident of Una district, accused of charging money for sending the complainant abroad, has been declined by the UT District and Sessions Judge, Mr. B.S. Bedi.

The accused — Ritu Arora — was apprehending arrest in a cheating case registered by the Chandigarh Police under Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code, besides Section 24 of the Immigration Act.

According to the prosecution, complainant Sanjiv Kumar of Sector 24 had earlier alleged that Rs 2,40,000 was taken from him and brother-in-law Shiv Kumar for “getting good jobs” for the two after sending them to Dubai.

The prosecution had added that for raising funds, Sanjay had sold off the STD booth he was running, while Shiv Kumar had hypothecated his house. The two, the prosecution had further added, had handed over the passports to Ritu Arora’s father Kuldip Singh.was further alleged that the two accused were partners in business of procuring visas and arranging for jobs in Dubai, Sharjah and United Arab Emirates.

Declining the plea, the Sessions Judge observed in the open court that the custodial interrogation of the accused was essential in public interest for unearthing the real facts of the case.