EDUCATION

17 fellows request change in status
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, March 19 — As many as 17 fellows of Panjab University requested the university Syndicate yesterday for a change in their current faculty status, informed sources said here today.

The change assumes importance in the wake of the university governing body elections later this year.

As many as 13 out of the total requested a change from their present fellowship in the science faculty. Three left the arts faculty, while one quit the law faculty.

As many as 11 out of the total shifted to the medical science stream. Three each shifted to the arts stream and the languages stream.

The new members in the medical science faculty include Dr Amarjit Singh Dua, Mr G.P.Chopra, Mrs Harmit Kaur, Mr Hans Raj Gandhar, Mr I.M.Joshi, Mr Jarnail Singh, Mrs Raj Garg, Dr Ram Prakash, Ms Sudesh Ahlawat nee Jain, Mrs Sneh Mahajan and Dr V.K.Mahajan.

Those who have opted for the languages stream are Mr Arunesh Kumar, Dr (Mrs) Krishna Yadav and Mr Rajender Bhandari.The arts stream will include Dr Ajaib Singh, Dr Abraham Thomas and Mr Surinder Singh Virdi.

School for all-round growth
By Akanksha Sharma
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, March 19 — Silver Oak School in Sector 32-D is a qualitative school for kids between the age group of 2 to 6 years. It is run by a visionary young man, who wants to create a modern state-of-the-art school.

The Principal of the school, Dr Preet Pal Singh, an NRI, believes that mere acquisition of classroom knowledge is not enough and other faculties of the child should be equally developed. To cultivate the inherent qualities of young children, the school is equipped with big ball pool and electronic train and is planning to have a swimming pool by summer.

The school has four classes — Playway, Prenursery, Nursery and Kindergarten. The student strength of the school is 150. The pattern of teaching starts with drawings like line, curve and circle. Then the child is taught small alphabets of English.

The school is committed to the all-round growth of the child. Individual care and attention is given to each child. The kids are well-prepared for the entrance tests of other good schools of the city for further classes.

The school uses grading system and everything is explained in pictures. This method makes it easier to explain to the kids. They also give merit certificates to the children, who are always very excited to receive these certificates, says the Principal.

The school charges Rs 2,500 at the time of admission and a tuition fee of Rs 300 per month. The Principal says the school teaches self-discipline, social behaviour, moral code of conduct, creativity and communiciation skills.

COURTS

Agency told to refund ticket amount
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, March 19 — The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum II has directed a local travel agency to refund the amount of a ticket issued to a consumer for flying on a non-applicable route between two airports in the USA. The consumer had travelled from India to the USA on a ticket issued by Global Airways and Resorts Ltd.

Holding the travel agency responsible for negligence and deficiency in services, the forum has directed it to pay Rs 5,000 to the consumer on acc-ount of harassment suffered by him, besides Rs 1,100 as cost of litigation.

The order was passed by Mr R.P. Bajaj, President of the forum, Mr H.S. Walia and Ms U. Agnihotri, both members of the forum, on a complaint lodged by Mr Rajiv Manchanda, a resident of Sector 10 in Panchkula.

The complainant said he had purchased a KLM ticket to visit several states in the USA on December 6, 1997, at a cost of Rs 13,700. A receipt was issued to him in the name of Global Airways and Resorts Ltd. On reaching Knoxville in Tennessee (USA) on December 9, 1997, he contacted the KLM authorities for the connecting flight to Cleveland. However, to his surprise, the connecting ticket between the two places, issued by the agency, was not applicable on the route on that date.

The complainant alleged that the Senior Sales Executive of the travel agency at Chandigarh admitted on telephone that a mistake had been committed in issuing the ticket. The consumer had to purchase another ticket costing 400 dollars to reach Cleveland.

On being served a notice, a Manager of the travel agency appeared before the forum on December 18, 1998, but, nobody appeared on the following dates. Passing the ex parte orders, the forum said in spite of its negligence, the travel agency did not refund the amount of ticket to the consumer despite repeated requests.