EDUCATION

Admission process begins in PU
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH July 28 — Academic process for the new academic session got underway today in Panjab University with interviews for Departments of Economics, Philosophy and BA in Library Science yesterday.

The rush this time was lesser as compared to previous years primarily due to setting up of different dates by departments for interviews.

Interviews for M.Sc. (Physics) are scheduled for August 2; MA II Punjabi on July 31; M.Phil Punjabi and M.Phil (Guru Granth Sahib) on August 1. The interviews for diploma courses in Punjabi language are scheduled for August 3.

The LL.B. (first semester) interviews are scheduled for August 7. M.Com (part I) examination are scheduled for July 29; M.Sc (honours) Anthropology interviews are scheduled for July 31. Interviews for the general category in the Department of Economics are scheduled for July 28 while the reserved categories were to feature today.

Interviews for M.Sc (Maths) I will be conducted on August 2, the MA-I (Geography) candidates will appear for interviews on July 28 while M.Phil courses have their interviews scheduled for August 4.

Interviews for MA I (Public Administration) will be conducted in the department on July 31. The M.Lib aspirants will appear for interviews on July 28. The M.Sc (honours), Botany, part I, students will be interviewed on July 31 while the NRI and foreign students appear for interviews the following day.

Written test for M.Tech (instrumentation) was scheduled for today while the interview will be held on July 31. M.Tech (Micro-electronics) students will face the interview board on August 1 while the M.Sc (honour), Zoology, part I, students will be interviewed on July 31.

The written test and interview for diploma course in translation (English and Hindi) is scheduled for tomorrow. MA I (Sanskrit) entrance test will be conducted tomorrow. Also slated for tomorrow are interviews for MAs in Sociology, Political Science, History and an aptitude test for M.Phil in Gandhian Studies.

Interviews for MA I (Ancient History and Culture) are scheduled for July 31; M.Sc (honours) Chemistry, Part I, on August 2.

COURTS

N.K. Jain’s bail plea for another Bench
Tribune News Service

Jain had allegedly also asked Goel to get in touch with people interested in the settlement of their cases. He had also allegedly passed favourable orders in all such cases, which indicated that the parties concerned were accommodated by breaking rules. The FIR also stated that as per the evidence, Goel was collecting money from people.

HC asks Puri to appeal before CHB
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH July 28 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court today relegated Panjab University’s former Vice Chancellor M.M. Puri to file an appeal before the Chandigarh Housing Board Chairperson against the cancellation of allotment of a Mani Majra dwelling unit to him.

Claiming the action to be in violation of principles of natural justice, his counsel had earlier stated that he was not given a personal hearing after the show-cause notice.

He said the action had been taken at the instance of the Finance Secretary, Mr Rakesh Singh, following the non-selection of his wife as a lecturer.

Prior to the interview the petitioner was repeatedly “canvassed” by the Finance Secretary and other senior officials, including a joint secretary, but he did not agree to interfere in the selection process, the counsel added.

The Housing Board, however, stated that the registration and the allotment of the dwelling unit had been cancelled and the entire amount deposited by Mr Puri had been forfeited for “having concealed material facts and for making false statement by way of declaration through an affidavit in order to secure the allotment of a flat fraudulently”.

Lawyer’s revision petition dismissed
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH July 28 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court has dismissed a revision petition filed by an advocate, seeking restoration of an order restraining Sector 8 Parbhandak Committee Gurdwara Patshahi from raising construction on a plot, except in accordance with the plan sanctioned by the Estate Officer.

Pronouncing the orders, Mr Justice M.L. Singhal of the High Court observed: “Balance of convenience and irreparable injury principle appears to be leaning in favour of the defendant, and so this revision fails and is dismissed”.

Mr Justice Singhal, directed the defendant to “furnish an undertaking to the sum of Rs 5 lakh to the trial court, whereby it will undertake that in case the plaintiff’s suit is ultimately decreed, it will remove the construction raised by it forthwith on the partition wall, without any demur and further it will compensate the plaintiff for any damage to his property”.

In his detailed order, Mr Justice Singhal observed: “It was justifiably found by the courts below that no temporary injunction could be allowed to the plaintiff and the defendant should be allowed to raise construction according to the building plan sanctioned by the Chandigarh Administration”.

Plaintiff Balbir Singh Wasu, in his suit for permanent injunction, had earlier asked for directions to restrain the defendants from demolishing without his consent the common wall between his house and the residential plot belonging to the defendants.

Dishonoured cheque: case dismissed
From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH July 28 — The Judicial Magistrate (First Class), Ms Gurvinder Kaur, today dismissed the complaint of Mr K.K Kakkar, a resident of Sector 15, filed under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instrument Act against Raj Kumar in a case of dishonoured cheque.

The complainant is a medical representative and the accused was running a medicine shop. The accused was in need of money and for that purpose contacted the complainant, requesting him to advance him Rs 1.20 lakh. The complainant advanced him a sum of Rs 1.20 lakh on June 9,1992 through two cheques and Rs 20,000 in cash.

The accused issued a cheque for Rs 20,000 drawn on the Bank of India. The cheque was dishonoured by the bank.

The judge observed that in investigation it was revealed that the accused had Rs 49,571 in his account and there was no reason for the bank officials to return the cheque on ground of insufficient funds in the account of the accused. The bank officials had erred in returning the cheque to the complainant, the Magistrate observed.

CULTURE

Riding high on the crest of Patelscope
By Aditi Tandon
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH July 28 — He comes across as a bundle of energy — ever-ready to brim and ever-ready to take on and take over. Though fame was a little more generous to Devang Patel this time, with his latest album Patelscope hitting the top slot as far as the sales proceeds are concerned, this singer, unlike many others, is not a novice in the field.

When the zany lyrics and funky music of Madhuri Dixit mili raste mein were winning over fans all over the country, little did the people know whose voice was lending so much punch to Govinda. And there was a well chalked out plan behind this move of the people who persuaded Devang into singing the Hindi version of his own Gujarati number Madhuri Dixit madi riste mein. The plan was that Devang’s song would be used in the film Gambler but he was not to be promoted as a singer at all.

“But that did not cow me down. In fact, I emerged stronger more than ever before,” said Devang Patel who is in town to perform at the local Press Club along with a galaxy of female models. Sitting in the room of North Park, he came across as an exceptionally honest person, someone who could laugh in the midst of a tragedy and someone who could make people laugh, despite the circumstances.

This was the man who wrote lyrics for his first album when his father was on the death bed in Ahmedabad. “Those were tough times, but I am somehow always the best when situation around me is the worst,” he said. A Gujarati by birth, Devang chose not to be just another Patel engaged in farming or business. “I was doing a lot of comedy theatre while in college and I always had this urge to do funny songs which tickle the bones. One day I dumped my Chartered Accountancy to come to Mumbai.”

When he came to Mumbai, Devang had already done a number of Gujarati songs like which were later brought out in Hindi. The most popular in this category were - Meri Marzi. With such songs to his credit, work was not a problem. “But I knew that my talent was being exploited. Then I shifted to Amitabh Bachchan’s company ABCL with which I recorded Aish Tu Kar, my best album till date.”

There are other hit albums he can boast of — Traffic Jam and No Time, which is quite recent. But Patelscope seems to be breaking all records. Its lyrics, written by Devang himself, seem to be lifted from conversations we have in daily life. Most of its music is by Devang who has this time attempted something novel by experimenting with international songs. So in place of Lu Bega’s Mambi No 5, he has done Bambo No 5, in place of Barbie Girl, there is Chaloo girl.

Says Devang, “I have never been inspired by any singer. I just want to evolve my own style, for which I will do anything. My lyrics will always remain fresh and so will my music.” Devang added that he was already shocked by the success of Patelscope and he was now working on Patelscope II. That is not all Devang is also working on a silent comedy serial for STAR Plus and another channel is due to begin his weekly show — Devang Patel Show.” Apart from that he is also working in a Gujarati film being directed by Kundan Shah.

Dance Blast-2000 on August 5
Tribune News Service 

CHANDIGARH July 28 — The Arjan Star Group is going to hold Dance Blast-2000 on August 5 at Tagore Theatre.

The dances to be included in the competition will be folk, western, classical and film based. Persons of the age group of five to 20 years will be eligible to participate in the competition. The competition is being held to develop the talent of the children.

The entry forms can be had from SCF 46, Sector 18-D or 28, Sector 18-A, Chandigarh.

Rafi finals on July 30
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, July 28 — The Yaadgar-e-Rafi Society will hold the final round of Rafi Awards-2000 on July 30 at 5 pm at Tagore Theatre, Chandigarh .

Ten male and 10 female singers from different places will sing solo and duet numbers of Mohd Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar, respectively.

There will be two Rafi Awards and two runner-up trophies in both categories (male and female) and these awards will be given away by a film personality from Bombay. Last year these awards were given away by the famous music director from Bombay O.P. Nayyar.