EDUCATION

PU sleeps as fund crises mount
By Sanjeev Singh Bariana
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 11 — Despite the state-funding crises, Panjab University continues to ignore ways to improve the existing financial conditions.

At the time when funding agencies continue to tighten the noose around the university's neck, constructions go on unabated. Objections have been raised at the "intended beautification and diversification" drives. A senior Syndic said of what use beautification would be when the existing infrastructure needed more care.

The aquaculture facilities on the campus which are linked to the overhead tanks, present a sorry state of affairs. One finds hardly a trickle of water in most of these.

The university earmarked nearly Rs 20 lakh for building maintenance. Toilets were constructed in the main office complex, but apparently, no sweeper was recruited correspondingly as a number of these stink.

Mr Dharam Paul Sharma, President of the Non-teaching Employees Wing, said it was almost "a self-created financial crises". He said several ways of savings and revenue generation remained ignored.

One main area was said to be the non-use of the money-potential departments. Mr Sharma said the Pharmacy Department, besides some others, could generate revenue.

The university could also earn money by renting rooms for competitive examinations. Organisers of several competitive examinations found venues outside the campus. This was unfortunate, given the vast campus area.

Mr Sharma said "excessive" expenditure on the maintenance and services in a handful of offices and residences on the campus needed a relook. There had been "doubtful" out-of-turn allotments on "priority basis" in a couple of cases.

Shops on the campus paid negligible rates compared to the market rates. "The shops do not offer any concessions, then, why should they get one?" an employee said.

The university had introduced a special telephone facility some time ago, providing direct linking with the '53' facility. A number of telephones were yet to be installed. An employee said she had purchased a special telephone set for the facility, but, the facility continued to elude her.

A senior worker said the university could even rent 10 rooms each in the hostels at the market rates. This would go a long way in meeting the expenses. This would also be a way to earn revenue from the hostel allotment which some residents always managed to get even if they were not on rolls.

Candidates in the university elections paid only Rs 500 as the security deposit, which was "literally a joke". The university also bore heavy expensed on "payments" to retired experts.

Rally by school board staff
From Our Correspondent

SAS NAGAR, May 11 — The Punjab School Education Board Employees Association organised a rally here today in protest against the alleged uncooperative attitude of the management in improving the functioning of the board.

The General Secretary of the association, Mr Jarnail Singh Brar, accused the Controller of Examinations of torpedoing agreements reached between the management and the association.

Mr Brar said the management took “no action” even when some irregularities were brought to its notice. Important posts were filled by bringing persons on deputation from outside instead of promoting board officials.

He alleged that an hoc benefit was not being given to all deserving employees. While one section of the employees was availing itself of the benefit, the other section had been ignored.

Mr Brar further alleged that the work of probing various complaints against board employees had been handed over to retired persons from different departments. As these retired persons wanted to oblige the board authorities, the decisions in most cases were given in “favour” of management.

He said the preparation of examination results in 1998 was done with the help of computers but there were a large number of mistakes. In 1999 it had been decided to prepare the results manually. This year again the authorities were trying to get the results prepared on computers.

The union leader said the government was also giving no grant to the board for running its affairs. It was being run by money coming from students in the form of fees.

He alleged that the government was interfering in the matter of board finances and misusing funds as well. In one case the board was asked to give Rs 50,000 for constructing an adarsh school building in one of the villages.

Eyes of 600 students examined
From A Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, May 11 — As many as 600 students were examined at a free eye camp organised at Ajit Karam Singh International Public School today. School children and staff members were provided with medicines. Mr Jasdeep Kalra, Director of the school, said the camp was held to create awareness about eye-related problems.

Dr Nivedita and Dr Jaspreet, from Shri Harkrishan Sahib Eye Hospital, Sohana, checked the eyes of the students.

Dr Nivedita said, ''Mild refractive errors and squints were found among a few students. Vitamin A deficiency was also present in others.''

The doctors also stated that the deficiency in power of vision is basically determined by birth and the strain caused by watching too much television or working on a computer for longer durations as this leads to dry eye problems.

Six teachers pledged their eyes and entered their name in the eye donors' list also.

A free dental check-up was also held in the morning today.

COURTS

Jerath’s petition admitted in high court
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 11 — Former UT Chief Engineer K.K. Jerath’s petition, challenging Central Administrative Tribunal’s orders rejecting his application against his dismissal from service, was today admitted by a division bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court here.

Claiming non-appreciation of law on certain issues, Jerath, in his petition taken up by Mr Justice G.S. Singhvi and Ms Justice Bakhshish Kaur, had earlier stated that the Tribunal had “erred” in dismissing his application.

Giving details, he had added that “facts patent on the record” had been ignored. Moreover, findings had also not been recorded on certain issues “noticed by the Tribunal in the judgement itself”.

Going into the background, the counsel for the petitioner had stated on his behalf that Jerath’s request for adjourning the enquiry proceedings, conveyed to the Inquiry Officer after he surrendered before a city court on the date fixed for defence evidence, was declined and ex-parte proceedings were ordered. He had added that the entire prosecution evidence was earlier recorded without conveying the date to him.

The counsel had added that the mandatory provisions of the Punjab Civil Services (Punishment and Appeal) Rules, 1970, requiring the Inquiry Officer to adjourn proceedings for upto a month even in cases where the delinquent officer did not appear, was also ignored.

The petitioner, the counsel added, was asked to make a representation after being supplied with the enquiry report “without disclosing the punishment proposed to be inflicted on him as laid down in the rules”.

Seeking the setting aside of the CAT judgement, the petitioner had also asked for the quashing the charge sheet issued to him, along with the order dismissing him from service.

Judge inspects district courts
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 11 — The annual inspection of the district courts complex by Inspecting Judge, Mr Justice R.S. Mongia of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, began here today. It will continue tomorrow.

Mr Justice Mongia went about the complex and visited some courts to oversee the working of the staff. He inspected files in the courts of UT Chief Judicial Magistrate Sant Parkash and Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Harminder Singh Madaan. He also went to the courts of some sub-judges, including Mr A.K. Bishnoi.

Earlier, Mr Justice Mongia was accorded a welcome by the judicial fraternity. A traditional guard of honour was also given to him.

CULTURE

Maloya music on Saturday evening
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 11 — Granmoun Lele and his band will make the city residents dance to the mixed rhythms of Maloya in Tagore Theatre here on May 13. This evening of Maloya music has been organised by the Alliance Francaise “Le Corbusier” de Chandigarh. This concert of lively, foot-tapping Maloya music accompanied with songs and dances is of one-and-a-half hour duration.

Julien Phileas, internationally known as Granmoun Lele, comes from the Reunion island in the Indian Ocean which is inhabited by French-speaking people of different origins like Africans, Europeans and Indians. Of the Indians, Tamils and Gujaratis form the major part.

Religion also forms an interesting mixture. The Tamils, who are practising Catholics, follow many Hindu rituals. The Gujaratis are mainly Muslims.

Born of a Tamil father and a Bata-Madagascan mother, Granmoun Lele followed his father by working in a sugarcane plantation and factory. The conditions in these plantations were difficult but the salaries on Saturday would bring some relief. Then they would buy rum and make music with crude instruments until dawn. Inspired by these performances, Lele began to sing.

At 67, he is a confirmed master of the Maloya music. He has composed more than 200 songs that speak of his daily life, his dreams deriving inspiration for his rhythms from his natural environment.

His compositions stretched beyond the limits of the Reunion island and since then he has toured many countries. Its words, its poetry and its melodies not only allude to the era of slavery but also to the pieces of an identity puzzle. Its qualities are piercing voices that support rural instruments: the rouleur, the bobre, the dented milk can, the Indian tablas...