EDUCATION

B.Ed admissions 
1,038 seats in humanities filled
From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Aug 26 — As many as 1038 seats in humanities have been filled with cut off at 141.75 marks, 902 seats in science with cut off 134.75 marks for the general pool of Chandigarh and 15 per cent of Punjab on the conclusion of the B.Ed admissions for the three universities, Panjab University, Chandigarh, Punjabi University, Patiala and Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar at the Dev Samaj College of Education, Sector 36.

As per information by Dr Satinder Dhillon, in the UT Pool two seats are vacant in maths/SST and fine arts /Hindi at the Government College of Education, Sector 20.In the Dev Samaj College of Education, Sector 36, three seats are vacant in commerce/English combination.

For humanities, students with 130 marks and above and for Maths students with 125 marks and above were called for the UT pool admissions. In almost all the colleges of the three universities the seats have been filled for the general category. Interviews for the reserved category will be carried out in the second counselling.

Essay writing competition held
From Our Correspondent

SAS NAGAR, Aug 26 — As many as 74 students from 26 schools of the city participated in an essay writing competition under the auspices of Shri Hem Raj K. Talwar Memorial Trust in H.R.K. Talwar Memorial Reading Room, Arya Samaj, Sector 19, on the topic ‘’My Dream Library’’.

The contestants were awarded prizes and certificates of participation along with the free membership of the reading room for one month, by Dr R.P. Bambah, former Vice-Chancellor of Punjab University.

The competition.The winners in group A (Class IX and X) — 1 Komal Arora, Shivalik Public School, 2 Khushbo Malik, DAV Public School ,Sector 8, 3 Nehal Nangia ,DAV Public School Sector 8, Garima Sood ,DAV Public School ,Sector 15 (Consolation).

In Group B (Class XI and XII) — 1 Ayesha Chahal, Sacred Heart School, 2 Anu Brar, G.M.S.S. Sector 16, 3 Gurleen Saraon,Guru Nanak Public School, Himani Garg, Carmel Convent School (Consolation).

Seminar on education in Australia
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 26 — Ms Irene Darby, First Secretary and Visa Counsellor of the Australian High Commission in New Delhi, said here today that more than 25,000 tourist and other category visas were being granted to Indians by the commission every year.

Speaking at a seminar on education facilities in Australia organised by the Institute of Tourism and Future Management Trends here today, she said at present the commission was handling more than 9000 student visas annually and the maximum percentage of applicants were from northern India.

She said that the maximum processing time for a student visa was about six to eight weeks. This year, she said, there were 48 per cent rejections.

“Students applying for a student visa must look into their eligibility first. They must be bona fide students and must have secured the minimum percentage of marks in the qualifying exam. Besides, they should be good in English, financially sound to support themselves in Australia, possess good health and be medically fit and must have confirmation of enrolment for the institute where they are seeking admission,” she said.

Ms Darby said the category-wise distribution of student visas was 25 per cent for undergraduate courses, 10 per cent for postgraduate courses and 15 per cent for other courses.

Appreciating the efforts of the ITFT, she said starting of an awareness programme on the education facilities in Australia was a welcome step. She said she would return in November to address from other fora to give details on all kinds of visas available for Australia.

She said it was good that the ITFT had signed up with other embassies and visa sections of High Commissions to organise similar interactive programmes and seminars. Dr Gulshan Sharma, Director, ITFT, in his welcome address said that 35,000 students from northern India were studying abroad. Punjab alone generated business worth Rs 10 crore annually on education abroad.

COURTS

Court directive on child custody case
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 26 — For deciding the issue of handing over the custody of a Class VI student, Mr Justice S.S. Nijjar of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today directed the UT District and Sessions Judge to submit a report by October 3 after investigating the matter.

Pronouncing the orders in the open court on a petition by Sector 32 resident Bikramjit Singh seeking the custody of 11-year-old daughter Lovleen Kaur, Mr Justice Nijjar observed: "Very serious allegations have been made in the petition with regard to the conduct of the mother along with her relatives. All these allegations have been controverted in the reply by the respondent".

Mr Justice Nijjar also observed: "Since the allegations and counter allegations can not be investigated in the present proceedings, it would be a fit case to refer the matter to the District Judge to make necessary investigations by appreciating the evidence".

Mr Justice Nijjar added: "The District Judge will give liberty to the parties to adduce evidence on the question of paramount interest of the child with regard to her custody".

Mr Justice Nijjar further added: "Since it may not be possible for the District and Sessions Judge to spare time himself, he is at the liberty to mark the matter to any other Additional District Judge".

Directing the parties to appear before the Sessions Judge on August 28, Mr Justice Nijjar added: "It is also made clear that child Lovleen Kaur be not called in the court on each and every occasion. She will be called only when she is required for the purpose of proper investigation".

In his four page order, the Judge observed: "It is necessary to decide prima facie the question of interim custody till the matter is finally disposed of..... It is necessary that her studies are not interrupted due to unpleasant situation created by her parents".

Bail denied
From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Aug 26 — The UT Additional District and Sessions Judge rejected the bail application of Shiv Kumar and Rishi Nanda, residents of Ram Darbar, who were arrested by the police in a murder case. The complainant Raj Kumar, elder brother of the deceased, alleged that his brother Rajesh Kumar was murdered by the accused on September 1999 near Ram Darbar, CTU bus stop, over some dispute.