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| Wednesday, August 16, 2000, Chandigarh, India |
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Senate concerned at falling exam standard CHANDIGARH,
Delayed examination and delayed results were the important issues. The two shortcomings have severely hit the academic scenario, particularly during the past decade. Prof K.N. Pathak, Vice-Chancellor, besides referring to the constitution of an accounts committee of various trouble areas, also said he had the issue of improvement needed in the examination system clearly planned in his future line of action. Prof Joginder Yadav highlighted the troubles that the course in environment studies faced. The course is run as a compulsory subject in Panjab University only at the graduation level. Prof Yadav said despite availability of a special book prepared on the subject, the university had failed to conduct regular examination. In fact, the university should open an exclusive centre for environment studies. Dr Deepak Manmohan, Dean, Colleges said that book in question was intended for the first year students. The essays were written by subject specialists which were above the level of normal graduate students. In fact, more than 60 principals had corresponded with the office saying the book did not suit the class. Dr Naresh said that a big flaw in the existing system was lack of interaction between the education content and quality in colleges and university. It should be attempted to bring subjects in a close interaction in all institutions. Principal A.S. Bedi voiced his concern over delayed results. The argument also made reference to lack of proper paper work in the administrative block. A member pointed out a case where a girl of his college was shown as placed under compartment in the result gazette. When the markssheet reached her, she was shown as pass. When the Principal accompanied the girl to the university for following up the case, it was discovered that the girl was actually a candidate who had passed her examination. Mr Jarnail Singh said that the downfall in the system had been significant during the past 8-10 years. There was a time when the date of declaration of results was published on the examination forms. Importantly, the rush over entrance system to various courses was a question mark on the existing system of education. Another member referred to a delay in the revaluation results, besides the regular examination result. This caused unnecessary tension to scores of candidates. Cases where it took more than 70 days for re-evaluation results were pointed out. Dr Anirudh Joshi remarked: ”There were cases where the results were declared the same day.” There seemed to bea doubt about the credibility on the existing classroom work. Why should a special examination be needed to ascertain merit of a student? Repeated mention was made to a ‘lacking work culture’. Mr Rajinder Deepa also mentioned about the falling standards in the examination system. A significant number of members said that the existing post of the joint controller of examination should be given the full-time charge of the examination management because the office needed a full-time in-charge and a person close to the system. Principal Bedi said the candidates often faced trouble procuring the result cards. Problems faced by the Results Later Category were mentioned by Prof Charanjit Chawla while talking to The Tribune. |
DoT told to pay Rs 20,000 to subscriber CHANDIGARH, The forum ordered that since no criteriion on giving rebate on total number of calls in the two challenged bills had been laid down by the respondent, the complainant would pay only the rental charges. The Bench consisting of the President Mr R.P. Bajaj, and members, Mr H.S. Walia and Ms Urvashi Agnihotri, added that since the complainant was without a phone for over five and a half years, he was entitled to a compensation of Rs 20,000, including costs of the case. In his complaint against the department, Mr J.J. Lall stated that he had been a subscriber to telephone No 23805 installed at his house under the OYT scheme since 1991. He received a bill on August 31, 1994, to the tune of Rs 4,439. Being excessive, the complainant lodged a complaint with the respondents. He received the next bill of October 1, 1994, for Rs 2,671. It was not according to the meter reading. Mr Lall again lodged a complaint with the opposite party for rectifying the mistake in the bill. The department, however, disconnected his telephone and sent him another bill in December, 1994, which was also wrong when compared with the meter reading. The complainant stated that he had no STD facility and so it was clear that the bill for the local calls was inflated. The telephone was also disconnected without any cogent reason, he stated. Replying to the complaint, the department stated that in the first bill in question a rebate of 2000 calls was allowed. It was stated that as the bill of October, 1994, was not paid the connection was discontinued. The department held that the complainant had an STD facility also denied all other allegations. After arguments, however, it became known that in respect of the first challenged bill of June, 1994, the respondent kept 3,000 calls in dispute and issued revised bills for Rs 561 which was paid by the complainant. In the final decision also the respondent granted a rebate of only 2000 calls to the complainant in respect of the bill of July, 1994. In this connection, it has to be taken note of that while granting the rebate of 2,000, 17,000 and 900 calls, respectively, in the three bills under challenge. No information has been given to the forum or the complainant as to what criterion led the respondent to fixing these calls. The forum further observed that the opposite party had ignored the earlier calling pattern of the complainant whose highest bill amounted to Rs 272 between 1992 and 1993. All the remaining bills were lower than that amount. After going through the points, the forum held, “From the above, an irresistible conclusion can be drawn that there has been a grave deficiency in service on the part of the opposite party. It has been serving wrong and highly inflated bills upon the complainant. At times there has been patent mistake in noting the meter reading in the bill. Such being the state of affairs it was totally uncalled for the respondent party to have disconnected the telephone of the complainant on November 19, 1994, and its closure in January, 1995, for the non payment of the bill of October 1994. It was a wrong bill and a representation of the complainant against excess metering was pending for the final decision on that complaint,the respondents showed undue haste in disconnecting the telephone.” |
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Rani Balbir Kaur
clarifies CHANDIGARH, Aug 15 — Rani Balbir Kaur, Professor, Department of Indian Theatre, who was released on bail by a Patiala court yesterday, would take her religious play “Shubh Karman..” , dedicated to the 10th Sikh Guru, to the USA next month. Talking to newsmen at her residence here this morning, she said next hearing in the case had been fixed for August 28. “I would move an application to get the case transferred to Chandigarh as cause of action and all events relating to this case took place here,” she said maintaining no raid whatsoever was conducted on her house or any recoveries made from her Sector 9 house here. She said after she had successfully staged her play at various places in Punjab, New Delhi and other places in the country, she received an invitation to organise a series of performances in the USA as part of the tercentenary celebrations of the birth of the Khalsa. “Originally we were to go there in June. But in May when I applied for American visa, I got it for 10 years as the Consular appreciated the theme of my play. But the next day when I took members of my troupe to the embassy, all were refused visas. I strongly objected to the language used by the embassy staff against my troupe members whom I consider as my family members. “After our representation, we applied again. This time we got only six visas. But no performing troupe can go to the USA unless it gets 20 visas. So we made yet another representation and this time we got 12 visas. It still did not solve our problem. Meanwhile, organisers in the USA had to cancel all arrangements because we could not get visas. “To help them out financially, we started looking for sponsors as it was made clear to us that only rich and affluent should be taken as part of the troupe. It was during this period that these people from Patiala came. They were originally seven or eight but after interviewing them I selected five, including two couples. They had some theatre background and even offered to be sponsors of the troupe.But I made it clear to them that it was not their money for which they were included.I also made it clear that visas once granted would remain with the leader as instructed by the embassy. This time in July, we got 27 visas, including for all five who came from Patiala. “These Patiala people started demanding their passports but I told them that I cannot give them the passports as they have to remain in possession of the group leader. They tried to threaten me and pressurise me but I told them nothing doing as we had got visas after lot of struggle and hardwork. “They filed a case against me, my assistant, Kamal, and also against my younger daughter. The police came on Saturday and took me to the Sector 3 police station. I could not be produced before the Duty Magistrate as it was late. Next day again, they did not produce me before the Duty Magistrate as it was Sunday but took me to Patiala where the Duty Magistrate wanted me to get a fresh copy from the US Embassy on the status of visas and passports. I got them a copy and was subsequently released on bail. So at no stage I was either refused bail or any one of us absconded,” she said. “Now after five people from Patiala have got their passports back through police, we would continue our preparations and go ahead. After August 28 hearing, we may leave for USA in the first or second week of September. The embassy is fully aware of the developments for the past few days,” she said. She said that at no stage, until last evening, anybody contacted her to know her side of the story.”It is for the media to give correct and complete information” and said that all her actions were in the presence of all members of her troupe.
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Plays, dances
mark Kehkahe 2000 CHANDIGARH, The show, directed by Shyam Juneja, went under way with the aaradhna dance by Jot and others. This was followed by a series of fun-filled programmes which included songs and dances and mimes. The mime titled a girl in a garden by Shyam Juneja, Sonoo Singh and Sandeep Chatterjee was well applaued. A Haryanavi skit (Lehne ka byah) by Parvesh Sethi, Shyam Juneja, Richa Sharma and Sandeep Chatterjee was later presented. The show was interspersed with song and dance performances with Sweety and Seema Bhardwaj presenting a song after the aaradhna. Dances were presented by Thakur Vandana Singh and Simar Shergill. The show met its climax with a bhangra item which won a thunderous applause. Yet another feature of the show was the play Gaj Foot Inch written by K.P. Saxena. The show was presented by the Chandigarh Institute of performing Arts in collaboration with the Department of Cultural Affairs, Chandigarh Administration. The results of bhangra workshop conducted by the CIPA were also declared on the occasion. |
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