EDUCATION

CBSE compartment results out
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 29 — The CBSE has declared the results of the Compartment Examination for the All-India Senior Secondary School Certificate here today. The students of the affiliated schools of Chandigarh, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh had appeared for the examination.

Mr Yog Raj Sachdeva, Regional Officer of the CBSE, has said that result cards and mark-sheets to outstation schools have been dispatched by registered post. He has asked local schools to assign a person to collect these documents from the Sector 32 Regional Office of the CBSE. Mark-sheets of private candidates have been sent directly to them.

Confusion over Fellows’ poll
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 29 — Confusion prevails among candidates for elections as fellows to Panjab University Senate in the graduates constituency, with the Punjab and Haryana High Court staying rejection of Mr Ajaib Singh as a candidate by the Vice-Chancellor.

Confirmed sources revealed that in a letter to the Vice-Chancellor, a postponement is being sought as the Punjab and Haryana High Court has intervened in the matter.

The controversy has arisen in the wake of the Vice-Chancellor declaring Mr Ajaib Singh as an ineligible candidate to contest the elections. The Punjab and Haryana High Court has, however, stayed the order of the university which has led to a situation where Mr Ajaib Singh is contesting.

Mr Ajaib Singh’s name does not figure in the list of candidates released on August 19. Now following the court stay order, the name has been added. This has changed the serial number of the candidates, as Mr Ajaib Singh’s name will feature first.

It is being said that change in numbers allotted to candidates at this stage could lead to confusion. Mr Ashok Goyal,a fellow, said that under Regulation 12.2, the Vice-Chancellor could stay the elections as it referred to an emergent situation.

Mr Gopal Krishan Chatrath, a fellow, however, disagrees on the matter. He said that the election process had started so it would be wrong to halt it at this stage. He said the situation was also “not an emergency”. The day also features elections in at least three more categories.

The next date fixed for the court hearing is September 6. “ In case, the Court disallows the petition, it would again lead to confusion. The votes cast in his favour will have no meaning even if the case is decided against the candidate later on”, it has been pointed out.

Conference on education from Sept 16
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 29 — A zonal conference on “Quest for Quality Education” will be organised by the Independent Schools Organisation on September 16 and 17 at Shivalik Public School here. As many as 500 Principals of various independent schools affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education and the ICSE located all over the northern region, including Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Chandigarh, will participate in the conference.

This information was given by Mr D.S. Bedi, chairperson of the organisation, here today. He said the conference would deliberate on quality services by independent schools in the country. An exhibition would also be organised.

The conference will be inaugurated by the Punjab Governor and Administrator of Chandigarh, Lt-Gen J.F.R. Jacob (retd). Among the prominent persons at the conference will be the Chief Ministers of Haryana and Himachal Pradesh and the Chairman of the CBSE.

COURTS

Illegal mining challenged in court
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 29 — Nearly a month after Chandigarh Tribune carried a report on illegal mining in Sukhna choe, a city resident today moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court here for directions to the UT Inspector-General of Police, besides the Panchkula Deputy Commissioner and the Superintendent of Police and four others, to check the menace. Taking up the petition, the High Court issued notice of motion to the respondents for September 28.

Seeking directions against mine-mafia, Dr B. Singh of Sector 8, in his petition taken up by Mr Justice R.S. Mongia and Mr Justice K.C. Gupta, stated that the area had not been leased out for mining. Quoting The Tribune, the petitioner stated that the mafia was active not only in Chandigarh and Haryana but had also penetrated in Himachal Pradesh.

The mafia, the petitioner alleged, was openly functioning as if it was above law, following the failure of the respondents to carry out their statutory duties effectively.

Chandigarh Tribune, it may be recalled, had reported that illegal mining operations were on in the choe bed at Saketri and over 150 trucks were leaving the place with sand and earth everyday.

The report had stated that beginning at 4 a.m., the trucks, usually four to five, were allowed at one time while the others waited for their turn at the entry point where their to and fro movement was monitored. To keep record and lend authenticity to the exercise, receipt were handed over to each driver at the time of entry.

Sodhi Ram case hearing tomorrow
From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Aug 29 — The discharge application moved by Panjab University’s Controller of Examination Sodhi Ram in the paper leakage case will come for hearing on August 31 before the UT Additional District and Sessions Judge, Mr Lakhbir Singh. Today, his judicial remand, along with that of the four other accused in the case, was extended by the Additional Sessions Judge.

Sodhi Ram had filed the discharge application on August 28, soon after the Panjab University Senate, at a special meeting, refused to grant sanction to the CBI for his prosecution.

CULTURE

Club that makes kids dance
By Monica Sharma

CHANDIGARH, Aug 29 — “Chun Mun Club, as its name suggests, is a club for little girls at Ambala. It helps children develop an interest in art and culture. Mr Ashok Sharma, Director of the club, said its aim was to give children an opportunity to perform on stage.

Girls in the age group of 3 to 12 are enrolled in the club. Besides folk and western dances, they are also taught kathak and bharatnatyam. Children of the club are full of enthusiasm and their teachers encourage them a lot.

“Students of such a tender age are highly expressive. Dance workshop makes them capable of facing the audience with confidence. The club has five teachers and 25 members. Children present cultural items on every festival and everyone gets to be in the limelight. It is an exciting thing to train children, though you have to work hard. Children of the club will shortly celebrate Children’s Day,” said Ms Monika Sharma, Project Director of the club.

The club becomes active when children have vacations. Children are charged a nominal fee which is refunded at the end of every workshop to those who attend it regularly.

Girls find it thrilling to participate in the dance workshops organised by the club. Meenakshi, a member of the club is fond of learning folk dance. She said, “I got a chance to learn folk dance only after joining the club.”

Another girl, Muskan Sharma, likes western dance and performs at fashion shows. She said, “The training of western dance here is outstanding and I have learnt many steps. It gives me confidence to perform anywhere.”

Kanu Priya, a classical dancer, said the club was a boon for children and a good place to learn dance.

Members of the club visited The Tribune and were thrilled to meet the Editor. It was their first visit to a newspaper office. They also visited Jaspal Bhatti at his house. He was so impressed by them that he promised to introduce them in his forthcoming serial. The children said it had been a fruitful trip for them.

Mr M.M. Jain, an official of the club, said the club generated its own resources.