The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

EDUCATION

Students make beeline for Mohali schools
From Kulwinder Sangha

SAS NAGAR, July 6 — The Punjab Government’s decision regarding 85 per cent reservation of seats in various courses for students passing out of the state schools has led to a rush for admission to institutions here.

Students, particularly from Chandigarh, are seeking admission to class XI in institutions like Gian Jyoti Public School, Government Senior Secondary School and Government College. The first school is affiliated to the CBSE and the second to the Punjab School Education Board while the college comes under Punjabi University.

Students say that there are more engineering and medical colleges in Punjab as compared to Chandigarh and hence it is better to take advantage of the seat reservation rules.

Mrs Ranjit Bedi, Principal of Gian Jyoti Public School, says that last year the institution had four sections in class XI (190 students). This year, however, the student strength was nearly 400.

She says now she will have to create five non-medical class sections, two medical and one commerce. At least two additional teachers for each stream will be recruited. The laboratories, she says, are equipped to deal with increase in the student strength. If necessary, afternoon classes would also be started. The cut-off mark for the science and commerce courses, she says, is 70 and 60 per cent respectively.

The Principal of Government Senior Secondary School, Mrs Paramjit Kaur, said yesterday that as the matriculation examination results of the board had just been declared, the distribution of admission forms had started on Tuesday. As many as 418 forms had been distributed till Wednesday.

She said last year, there were 400 students in various sections, but this year there was a possibility of having double the strength. The institution offered medical, non-medical, commerce, vocational and humanities disciplines.

Mrs Paramjit Kaur feared that with the increase in admissions there would be a shortage of not only accommodation but also of teachers. The cut-off percentage for admission seekers would, however, be decided after the scrutiny of forms was over.

The authorities of Sant Ishar Singh Model Senior Secondary School plan to admit only 60 girl students in the science stream against 40 in the last session. They say the cut-off per cent has been fixed at 65, which may be hiked if there is a greater rush.

Mr Balraj Singh Shergill, Secretary of Paragon Senior Secondary School, Sector 71, says that the board has sanctioned only 50 seats for the science stream. It is the first time that science classes are being introduced in the institution. So far admission is on first-come, first-served basis. However, 45 students from Chandigarh who have joined have secured a minimum of 60 per cent. If the rush of students increases, the board will be requested to raise the number of seats, he adds.

Plus two admissions begin
From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, July 6 — As many as 245 students were admitted to various schools on the first day of plus two admissions. The students preferred Government Model Schools of Sectors 35 and 16.

In Government Model School, Sector 23, the entry for girls and boys was separate.

A counter was set up to guide the parents and students to avoid any kind of inconvenience. Proper seating arrangements for both the parents and students were made outside the admission hall. The students were called in order of their percentage of marks obtained.

Separate counters were set up for different streams like science, commerce, humanities and the vocational courses.

Fee collection counters were set up for different schools.

Today the admissions were carried out for the students securing 85% marks and above. Preference of the school and stream was given to the students according to the availability of seats in a particular school.

The latest position regarding filled seats, cut off percentage and the availability of seats in different schools was announced at the interview venue. The merit list for the scheduled admissions for tomorrow was displayed.

The admission of students with 80% marks and above is scheduled for tomorrow.

Number of admissions carried out in different schools on Thursday:

School Science Arts Commerce Vocational

Govt Model, Sector-35 118 __ 3 __

Govt Model, Sector-16 98 1 2 __

Govt Model, Sector -10 2 __ __ __

Govt Model, Sector-33 4 __ __ __

Govt Model, Sector-46 13 __ __ __

Govt Model, Sector-19 5 __ __ __

Govt Model, Sector-40 1 __ __ __

Govt Model, Sector-37 __ __ __ __

Govt Model, Sector-18 2 1 1 1

G.G.S.S., Sector-20B 2 __ __ __

CITCO plans quiz on Chandigarh
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, July 6 — Chandigarh is one of the three captial cities in India constructed after Independence. The city is known for its architecture, layout and landscaping. The younger generation is somehow not so aware of these details.

CITCO has taken an initiative to create awareness about the city among students. It is going to organise a quiz exclusively on Chandigarh. The questions will relate to the city’s architecture, layout, landscaping and other general information. The quiz will be organised for two groups — first for Classes VI to VIII and the other for Classes IX to XII. In each group there will be 205 attractive prizes worth about Rs 60,000. The last date for submitting applications is July 15 and the written test will be held on July 22. The entry forms can be obtained from CITCO’s outlets.

COURTS

Doctors to move court for compulsory helmets
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, July 6 – The Neurological Society of India and Neuro Trauma Society of India will file a public interest litigation in the Supreme Court, asking for the use of helmets to be made compulsory all over India.

Dr Arjun Sehgal, President of the two societies and member of the management and the executive boards of Ganagaram Hospital in Delhi has said that a decision about litigation, raising funds and other formalities will be taken at the Neuro Trauma Society's general meeting to be held in Rajkot on July 17.

"We have discussed it with Mr Ranjan Brar, former Inspector-General of the Goa police. He will take up our matter free of cost," said Dr Sehgal.

The Punjab and Haryana Court, in an order pronounced on July 9, 1998, had made helmets compulsory for the both men and women riders and those on the pillion. Persons wearing turbans had been granted exemption.

However, following protests from activists belonging to a particular religion, the order is yet to be implemented. The statistics of the cases of head injuries registered with the local hospitals show that three-fourth cases are those involved in two-wheeler accidents.

Dr J.S. Chopra, Founder-President of Indian Academy of Neurology, says that most people, while presenting arguments based on individual liberty, tend to forget that a helmet is not made of a material or shape which an intelligent religion will not permit. It is designed to protect your head.

"A road is made for the users and different types of vehicles. If some one is worried about the religion then they should take to the means of transport where wearing a helmet is not compulsory. In the clash between religion and law, the latter has to prevail in a civilised society," says Dr Chopra.

Dr Sehgal says that the society has been thinking of pressing for a uniform law about helmets over the country for a long time. The individual courts have given their verdicts but the problem is that it is not being implemented in most of the parts of the country.

"Not using a helmet and dying in a road accident is not only a great personal loss, but also a national loss," says Dr Sehgal. "People in our country think that an accident always happens to others. But we, the doctors see accidents happen due to negligence daily."

"If wearing a helmet becomes a law, it would certainly reduce the burden on our emergency departments," says Dr V.K. Kak, Director-Principal of Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32. "In fact, the Government of India should amend the Motor Vehicle Act. There should be compulsory helmets with two wheelers and seat belts in cars."

Dr Sehgal agrees. "Since helmets became compulsory in Delhi, there has been a 50 per cent drop in the road accident cases," he says.

Murderer gets 5-year RI
From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, July 6 — Lachhu, a Head Constable of the Chandigarh police, was sentenced to five years of rigorous imprisonment for murdering one and injuring another person with his service revolver, by the District and Sessions Judge, Mr H. S. Bhalla.

Lachhu had been posted as personal security officer of the Vice-Chancellor of Panjab University. He shot at Anup Sharma at a wedding in Bhapu Dham Colony when the latter forbid him not to fire in the air with his service revolver. The bullet pierced through the stomach of Anup Sharma and hit Satya Pal Sharma who was sitting behind him. Both of them were rushed to the PGI but Satya Pal Sharma died on the way. Anup recovered from the injury.

Seeking pardon, Lachhu made a plea before the court that it was his first offence and he had young children to look after. The judge after hearing the proceedings sentenced him to five years' rigorous imprisonment for the murder and one-year imprisonment for injuring a person.

Notice on prevention of fire tragedy plea
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, July 6 — On a petition for directions to the Chandigarh Administration, the Deputy Commissioner, the Chief Fire Officer and three other respondents for taking "adequate steps for preventing the outbreak of any fire tragedy in the Sector 17 District Courts", the Punjab and Haryana High Court today issued notice of motion for July 13. The notice was issued by Mr Justice Amarbir Singh Gill and Mr Justice V.S. Aggarwal.

Seeking installation of fire-fighting equipment and other safety gadgets on the court premises, the petitioner, the General Secretary of the Lawyers for Social Reforms, Mr Arunjeev Singh Walia, had also asked for the removal of obstructions and "combustible material placed near the exit points".

The petitioner had stated that "there were no fire extinguishers, sand buckets or water hydrant system either inside the courtroom or the retiring room of the judicial officers or in the corridors outside the courtrooms.

Claiming the entry and exit points "to be too small to evacuate people in case of any fire incident", the petitioner had added that there was "no water tank in the court complex in spite of the fact that there are a good number of combustible material placed in every courtroom and staff room".

He had added that a stair case had also been "blocked by placing broken furniture". Another staircase, he had further added, had been dumped with wooden blocks purchased for the renovation of the Bar room a few years ago.

Counsel for the petitioner had added on their behalf that even the makeshift jail in the basement was not having provision of any fire-fighting equipment.

CULTURE

20 singers for Rafi finals
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, July 5 — 10 male and 10 female singers have been selected for the final round for Rafi Award-2000 to be held on July 30 at Tagore Theatre, Chandigarh.

Out of 60 participants only 53 could participate in the second round which was held on July 2 at Govt Museum and Art Gallery, Sector 10 here. There will be one Rafi Award and 2 runners-up trophies each (male and female categories.)

Male section: R.L. Anand, Ajay Bakshi, Sidhartha (Chandigarh), Amarjit Singh (Mohali), Devender Kaushik (Panchkula), R.S. Kala (Ludhiana), Prem Bungar (Nawanshahr), Navparbhat Lal (Muktsar), Ramesh Kumar (Ambala Cantt), Neem Roshan (New Delhi).

Female section: Pushpa Saxena (Chandigarh), Nikhat Ali (Mohali), Seema Arzoo (Shimla), Kamalpreet Kaur, Komal Chugh, Arvinder Kaur (Patiala), Meena Sudan (Ambala City), Manju Arora (Ambala Cantt), Babita (Barnala), Monika Sharma (Saharanpur).