EDUCATION

Syndics to take up special leave cases
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH June 27 — The forthcoming Syndicate meeting of Panjab University features cases of special leave, where the most striking and a rare occurrence is a warning to a teacher to report immediately, failing which her job may be terminated.

Dr (Ms) Harvinder Cheema was granted study leave for one year from August 1, 1977, to July 31, 1998, to enable her to update her research technologies by visiting different laboratories in the country and abroad, sources said. She was given an extension in study leave for one more year, subject to execution of indemnity bonds from August 19, 1998, to July 31, 1999. The case went to advisory board on request for another extension. It was recommended that request of Dr Cheema for grant of extension of study leave for the third year not be acceded.

The Vice-Chancellor informed the Botany Department that Dr Cheema be asked to report back. She did not resume duty, saying work was yet to be published in consultation with scientists concerned. She requested for another extension, which was not accepted. She was once again asked to report immediately.

The meeting proposes to discuss the point that she has been advised to resume duty immediately, failing which post of reader held by her in the Department of Botany be declared vacant. She has been overstaying the leave sanctioned. The university calendar says if any employee overstays his leave or is absent from duty for more than a week, his post shall be liable to be declared vacant and he shall forfeit his salary during the time he remains absent.

Another case pertains to extension of extraordinary leave without pay to Dr (Ms) Sangeeta Pajni, lecturer in Department of Microbiology, from October 1999 to March 2000. The university note says Dr Pajni has been granted extraordinary leave without pay for one year with effect from October 1996. She worked at premier institutes in Canada and was granted extension from time to time till October 23, 1999. She had shifted to Michigan from University of Tennesse for her project. She joined her duty in March this year.

More than half a dozen cases of special leave have also feature in the meeting. Mr Ajay Kumar Garg of the Department of the University Business School has been given a special leave for doing a doctorate at the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, from June 19. Eight more teachers have been cleared by a committee for special study scheme. The cases also features in the coming Syndicate. Dr (Ms) Sarita Kamra, a reader in the Sociology Department of Correspondence Studies, is on leave for one year. Dr (Ms) Paramjit Khanna has also asked for a two-year study leave.

Prof V.C. Dumir, Department of Mathematics, leaves for nearly a year to University of Illinois for visiting professorship. Dr Rajesh Kumar features among the list of persons on two-year extraordinary leave to enable him to join as a counsellor in the Information Technology. Prof Harshinder Singh features on the list of extension of extraordinary leave for continuing as a visiting research professor at West Virginia University, USA.

Dr (Ms) Kiran Ravee Sehrawat, currently working in Oman from the University Business School, is already on an extension. She has assured to join in September and the leave has been conceded. Dr Sukesh Chander Sharms has been recommended a one-year leave for associationship of Bioseas Overseas, in Spain.

Art still holds sway despite IT-mania
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH June 27 — Although much hullabaloo has been created by the world of information technology (IT), the art world has not lost its sheen for city students. They are ready to lap up courses offered by the Government College of Art with a great gusto if the rush for admissions is any indication.

As many as 500 admission forms have been submitted in the college as against 60 seats in all courses. The courses offered are applied art, painting, graphics and sculptures and there are 15 seats in each course.

Purnima has done her plus two from Vivek School with 81 per cent marks. She wants to take admission in BFA. She expresses herself like this, "I have a creative instinct in me so I opted for fine arts at plus two stage. I scored maximum marks in practicals and I think I am best suited to education in art." She has opted for applied arts as she thinks everything in the world has gone commercial and after getting a degree in applied arts many doors to the world of advertising, commercial art and communication are opened.

Prasca did her two years vocational course in fashion designing from a government school. Now she finds it better to get a BFA degree rather than doing a simple BA. "I did a course in textile designing and art is very much related to this field. Art is the in thing today and I will go in for commercial arts. The options open for me are that I can establish my own boutique and utilise both my degrees. Moreover, I am a girl and I will have to look after my house and tend it. So in the long run this will help me to perform my duties effectively and creatively."

The college will hold an aptitude test and the performance in the test will be given an equal weightage as the marks in the plus two exams. As many as 85 per cent seats are reserved for Chandigarhians in the college.

Not only the students from arts or vocational courses want to join the college, many students from medical cal and non-medical streams are also in the line. Mr H.V. Kala, an employee in a newspaper, wants his son to do BFA from the college. His son Ravish has done plus two in the medical stream and is opting for BFA now. Mr Kala feels that his son has a taste for this subject and can get better job opportunities in various advertising agencies after specialising in graphics.

Arun Pal Rana did his plus two in non-medical stream. "I don't know anything about art but I find it preferable to go in for BFA than BSc. I have also applied for various other courses but if I choose BFA then I will go in for a postgraduate degree in fine arts. "

Seniors of the college do not regret joining the course. They find that the subjects are quite good to satiate one's creative instincts and at the same time one can also earn by practising various forms of art.

Preeti has appeared for their final exams. She wants to go in for MFA from Shanti Niketan or Baroda. "I find its so soothing for mind when we put our feelings on the canvass. I am aware of the struggle the artists have to go through in India but this cannot deter my spirits. I will go in for the UGC test after my postgraduation and opt for lecturership. A source of income has to be there, even for an artist. Otherwise, can you buy colours and canvas without having money?" she says.

The Principal of the college, Mr Prem Singh, feels that art is being recognised as an emerging field now. "When I joined the college in 1962 the art has no value in itself. If somebody used to display his 20 works he was disappointed because not many people used to visit the exhibition. In the changing scenario the art has gained attention and respect. An artist no doubt has to struggle but the happiness one draws by being into an art is worth it.

There are so many artists who have been well placed on the Indian art scene. Not only the satisfaction the artists can do well in many fields as far as financial status is concerned. There are many openings in the education field, media world, medical colleges, architecture departments and the field of advertising where sculptors are required," he said.

“Extend last date of forms’ submission”
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH June 27 — A delegation of the Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad, Panjab University, met the Registrar today, asking extension of last date for submission of admission forms.

A press release said this was being demanded in the wake of delay in declaration of normal results. The CET results are yet to reach students, while the prospectus asks students to attach the results with the admission forms.

Students seeking admissions to outside universities are facing a lot of problems because of the delay. A formal decision of the university authorities in this regard is awaited.

COURTS

Bail granted to Subhash Kataria
From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH June 27— Mr Subhash Kataria, president, Traders Association, Sector 17, was granted bail by the Duty Magistrate, Mr Pushvinder Singh, for allegedly threatening Ms Ranjana Shahi, councillor, MCC, on June 15.

Defence counsel argued that the accused was being falsely implicated as the case against him was politically motivated. The defence counsel further argued that the incident occurred on June 15 while an FIR was lodged on June 20, during this period Mr Kataria had met the IG and informed him about the issue.

The public prosecutor opposing the bail application argued that the accused had threatened a public servant with dire consequences and disrupted the proceedings of the House of the corporation.

The Judge after hearing the arguments ordered that the accused be released on bail after furnishing a bond of Rs 10,000. Mr Kataria had been in judicial custody earlier.

CULTURE

Summer camp concludes
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH June 27 — On the concluding day of a summer camp organised by the Sanjivni Kidzklub, participants performed kathak, bhangra and punjabi folk dance.

‘Haddi’, a play in Hindi, and ‘Snow White and Sevev Dwarfs’ , a play in English, were staged by the participants in the auditorium of College for Architecture.

The function started with an invocation to God along with a surya namaskara . This was followed by nursery rhymes and yoga by young children. Dr Vanita Gupta, a renowned dermatologist, presided over the function and the chief guest was Dr Neerja Sood, Chairman, Hindi Department, Panjab University.

The participants were awarded certificates for their performance in the camp and prizes were given to winners of the painting competition.