The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

EDUCATION

PU order on Press reports
By Sanjeev Singh Bariana
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 17 — Scribes clamouring Panjab University campus these days sniffing for stories need to be more cautious with facts. The process of digging old stories needing ‘‘clarification’’ also comes into action following a recent official notice to departments.

The introduction comes at a time when the city has witnessed a spurt of Hindi and English dailies, including the national-level ones.

The secretary to the Vice-Chancellor has forwarded letters saying: ‘‘It will be appreciated if any questionable reporting that appears in the Press regarding your department activities, the same may please be pointed out immediately to the Director, Public Relations, along with clarification with a copy to me .’’

The acting Director, Public Relations Dr R.S. Grewal, said letters had been issued on his request. He wanted development of a clearly defined information channel. He said this would give due respect to achievements as well as give a chance for the innocent to give a clarification.

A cross section of the faculty said it was welcome that the university should have a proper information giving channel as well as a proper information redress channel. ‘‘However, does this means that the university did not have a clear cut instruction line or rules expected as part of duty in the Public Relations Department at the moment?’’ it was said.

There was also a mention about a talk saying possible extension to the ‘‘makeshift’’ officer as the DPR. There was also a question whether the university would object to free journalism on direct contacts with individual departments without contacting the DPR. Even if this was the thought behind the order, at least a few functional offices should be allowed to provide the information independently, a senior member said.

The notice has been forwarded to all the deans, directors, heads of all teaching and non-teaching departments and branches of the administrative block. The Registrar, the Finance and Development Officer and the Controller of Examination also feature on the address list.

The notice reads: It is desired that any information and noteworthy activity, assignment, distinction and achievements (including books, journals, research papers and honours and grants) be immediately reported to the DPR. The activities which are planned and are scheduled for the near future may also be brought to the notice of the DPR.

‘‘The Director, Public Relations, and his office will be happy to respond and assist in any clarification in this regard as and when contacted. Information of this sort pertaining to the past one year may please be sent within a week of this circular,’’ the university circular said.

Conflicting claims about school management
From Shashi Pal Jain

KHARAR, May 17 — Different claims are being made about the Managing Committee of Ayra Kanya Vidyalya, an aided school of Kharar.

In its order dated May 6, the Arya Pratinidhi Sabha, Punjab, Jalandhar, constituted the Managing Committee of Arya Kanya Vidyalaya, Kharar for one year. Mr Tara Chand Gupta was appointed President, Mr Vikas Garg Vice-president and Mr Om Prakash Aggarwal as Manager-cum-Correspondent. The sabha wrote a letter to Mr Om Parkash Aggarwal, saying that he had been appointed as Manager-cum- Correspondent of the school and he was requested to take over charge of the Committee immediately and directed to call an urgent meeting of the Managing Committee with in one week.

The Sabha also ordered that the previous managing committee of the school stand dissolved. Mr Aggarwal called a meeting on May 13 under the Presidentship of Mr Vikas Garg and passed a resolution that steps be taken to take over the charge of the school.

Meanwhile, Mr Sohan Lal, claiming to be president correspondent of the school, issued a statement here today saying that the news in a section of Press regarding the dissolution of the managing committee and formation of a new committee was “misleading and false.” He alleged that the Arya Pritinidhi Sabha, Punjab, had no right to interfere in the working/formation of the managing committee and as such the action of the sabha in dissolving and formation of the new Committee was ultravires and without jurisdiction.

According to the press note, the election of the office bearers of the society was held on April 22, in which the following office bearers were elected, President — Mr Sohan Lal, Vice-President — Dr Kamla Thukral, Secretary — Mr J.C. Verma, Manager — Mr B.D. Bhardwaj and Treasurer — Mr Manoj Kumar Gupta.

According to the note, three members ceased to be members of the society on account of their failure to pay the mandatory contribution towards subscription and instead three new members were included at the meeting held on May 16.

COURTS

Dr B.B. Parsoon
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 17 — Dr Bharat Bhushan Parsoon has taken over as member-secretary of the Chandigarh State Legal Services Authority, Sector 9, here in place of Mr S.K. Sardana who has gone as District and Sessions Judge, Sonepat.

Dr Parsoon will also be the Presiding Judge of the Permanent Lok Adalat which functions in the District Courts complex, Sector 17.

Before coming to Chandigarh, Dr Parsoon was the Additional District and Sessions Judge, Gurgaon.

Toilets in Nehru Park: notice to Admn, MC
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 17 — On a civil suit filed here today seeking the court to restrain the UT Administration, Municipal Corporation and Chief Engineer from constructing public lavatories in Nehru Park, Sector 22-B, and directing them to maintain the park apart from stopping all sorts of commercial activities in its precincts, a city court today issued notice to the three respondents for May 19.

In the suit filed in the court of UT Sub-Judge Jitender Walia, plaintiffs Mashwinder Singh, a Sector 22-B resident, and Rajinder Sharma, President, Chandigarh Environment and Anti-Pollution Front, further sought the court to direct the defendants to not hold any political functions in the park, stating that the same amounted to public nuisance.

The suit mentioned that the defendants were working against public interest by converting a historic park into a place for commercial activity. The plaintiffs added that the defendants, in pursuance of their plans, were constructing public lavatories in the park, thus tarnishing the image of the park which is the only one available in Sector 22- B.

Bringing out the historical significance of the park, the plaintiffs stated that this was the place from where Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru declared the conception of the City Beautiful in the 1950s.

The indifferent approach of the defendants was also talked about in the suit which mentioned that the Administration had not been serious about the development of the park and the developmental plans which were made remained on paper only.

The plaintiffs sought a restraint on the construction of public lavatories on grounds that it would lead to emanation of foul smell making life in the residential area difficult. It was added that the decision to construct lavatories in the park was a clear deviation from the original plan of the park. It was added that although on many occasions grass was laid, the park was not subsequently maintained.

The plaintiffs also mentioned that the place was meant for children who would face a danger to their health in case lavatories were constructed in the area. It was further mentioned that the park was not so big as to accommodate such a large-scale construction of public toilets.

Court allows petition seeking quashing of notification
By Our Legal Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, May 17 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court today allowed the writ petition seeking quashing of the Punjab Government notification dated May 7, 1999, constituting Zirakpur Nagar Panchayat by including Lohgarh, Himmatgarh, Bishangarh, Bishanpura, Baltana, Dhakauli and Dera Bassi teshil of Patiala district on a writ petition filed by Gram Panchayat Bhabat, district Ropar, which had been excluded.

In February 1999 the government had issued a draft notification intimating about the decision to set up a notified area committee/nagar panchayat at Zirakpur. The petitioner panchayat approached the Chief Minister to include their village also, as these are close to each other and many facilities are common like veterinary hospital, high school and primary health centre etc but not action was taken. They also filed objections but the government did not allegedly took their objections into consideration. However, Nabha Sahib village which was also not included in the nagar panchayat, was later on included.

It was alleged by the petitioners that the survey report had recommended to the Local Government Minister, Mr Balramji Dass Tandon, that Bhabat village be included in the Nagar Panchayat and that the minister passed an order to include the petitioner-village but for reasons best known to the Secretary, Local Government, the village has been excluded.

The petitioners’ counsel pleaded that the government has to first declare an area to be included a transitional area and after that the notification constituting the Nagar Panchayat can be issued. However, in the present case both things have been done vide the same notification. As a consequence the inhabitants of the area could not file any objections against the notification under Section 4(1).

On behalf of the state it was submitted that petitioner-panchayat is in revenue jurisdiction of Ropar, while Zirakpur falls in Patiala district. Thus it could not be included and that it is discretion of the government to include or exclude any area in Nagar Panchayat or municipality.

After hearing the parties the Division Bench comprising Mr Justice G.S. Singhvi and Ms Justice Bakshish Kaur allowed the Gram Panchayat’s plea.

Riar avoids summons in defamation case
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 17 — Mr Gurpartap Singh Riar, president, local unit of the Shiromani Akali Dal, avoided service of summons for the second time here today as the case concerning the alleged defamation of Mrs Harjinder Kaur, ex Deputy Mayor, MC, at the hands of Mr Riar, came up in a city court.

The summons were avoided by Mr Riar’s brother Mr Patwant Singh Riar who said that Mr Riar was out of station. Fresh summons have been served upon him for June 9 by the UT Sub Judge, Mr Pushvinder Singh.

It may be recalled that Mrs Harjinder Kaur filed a criminal complaint of defamation in the court in last September, alleging that Mr Riar had defamed her by stating that she had unsavoury relations with some senior Akali leaders.