EDUCATION

IT firms plump for PEC students
By Binny Sharma 

CHANDIGARH, Oct 5 — It is the middle of the session at Punjab Engineering College here, but already 90 per cent of the final year students have been interviewed and recruited by different Information Technology companies.

Not all, these students are from computer sciences. Even mechanical, electronics, electrical and civil engineering students have found jobs with these companies.

Last year, 40 per cent of the students got jobs with some of the leading. IT companies. This year, 218 students have already found placements.

The IT companies no longer recruit students only with a computer science background; they are also offering jobs to students of other branches of engineering.

The students have their own reasons for joining IT companies in preference to government organisations and other corporate entities, including the fast-growing automobile industry. Many of them prefer the IT companies for their “versatility” and the fact that these companies are increasingly extending to almost all other sectors of business and industry.

According to Vikas Chawla, a mechanical engineering student who has been selected by an IT company, the IT sector has a lot of growth potential. “Even though I studied mechanical engineering, I always had an aptitude for IT. I was preparing for it while I was doing engineering by joining in a professional course at a computer institute. Luckily, I have been selected by one of the top companies.’’

Gaurav Sachdeva, a civil engineering student, is happy about his being selected by an IT company. Says he: ‘’I was always fascinated by the world of computers. Information Technology has changed the face of the globe.”

Students of computer sciences express similar views. Paramjit says, ‘’I had two objectives when I entered the IT field. One was that this field is versatile. Secondly, hard work gets quick recognition in this field. This is not common in other fields.”

Puneet Khurana, a mechanical engineering student, says,’’ I have been selected by a mechanical engineering company as well as an IT company and I am in a dilemma about which company to join. Everybody is suggesting that I should join the software company because it offers more opportunities to go abroad. Even I feel that my aptitude for work will be correctly assessed in an IT company.’’

Most of the students dream of going abroad. 

Australian education help desks for city
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 5 — To do away with unscrupulous elements, three major Australian educational institutions have decided to open their first helpdesks in India at Chandigarh.

These Australian institutions are the globally known RMIT University, founded in 1887 and one of the largest universities, The Holmesglen Institute of TAFE and the Regency Institute of TAFE. The simultaneous opening of the helpdesks in Chandigarh will be on October 11 when experts on Australian education of these institutions will be present to inaugurate their respective helpdesks. All three are Australian Government institutions.

Mr Naresh Gulati, Director, Oceanic Consultants, who is co-coordinating with all the three institutions said with the opening of these helpdesks, the prospective students and their families will be able to gather the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding the courses offered by these institutions through the expert counsellors. The helpdesk will provide free assistance to students in the important matters like course selection, financial planning, admission applications, visa applications, predeparture orientation for the students and their families, post landing assistance in the matters like airport pickup, temporary accommodation, etc.

These helpdesks are aimed at advising aspiring students about the various courses.

The RMIT University offers study courses at pre-university level, certificate courses, diplomas, bachelor degrees, postgraduate certificate and diploma, master degree by research or coursework and doctorates. RMIT offers a wide range of courses in the field of applied sciences, art and design, biotechnology, computing, communications, education, e-commerce, engineering, fashion and textiles, information technology, management, etc.

The Regency Hotel School of Regency Institute of TAFE is amongst the top-rated hotel schools in Australia offering tailor-made culinary arts courses along with the other hotel management courses. Besides offering hospitality courses, Regency Institute of TAFE offers highly specialised courses in the field of aviation, business, marketing, engineering, air conditioning, food technology, etc.

R.P. Bambah felicitated
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 5 — World-renowned mathematician Prof R.P. Bambah was felicitated at the international conference on number theory and discrete mathematics being organised by the Centre for Advance Study in Mathematics here this evening.

Prof Bambah, a former Vice-Chancellor of Panjab University, is a trustee of The Tribune group of publications.

Professor Bambah has been honoured with the Srinivas Ramanujan Medal; Distinguished Service Medal by the Mathematics Association of India; Meganad Saha Award; the coveted Padma Bhushan; Ramanujam Memorial Lecture Award; Jawaharlal Nehru Birth Centenary Lecture Award and the Aryabhatta Medal of the Indian National Science Academy, among others.

Professor Bambah has been the president of the Indian Mathematical Society (1969), vice-president of the Indian Science Congress Association, a member of the University Grants Commission and Chairman of the governing body of the Inter-University Centre of Astronomy and Astrophysics.

Prof R.J. Hans-Gill introducing the special invitee, highlighted various areas where Professor Bambah’s contribution deserved a special mention “particularly the areas in the number theory”.

“Professor Bambah developed the theory of coverings and proved results corresponding to those of packings. One major area is involving a symmetric convex body”.

Prof S.K. Trehan, Prof Sudesh K., Prof M.M. Waldschmidt also spoke on the occasion. Prof I.S. Luthar, a senior former faculty member, presented a shawl to Professor Bambah. Prof A.K. Aggarwal, Convener, proposed the vote of thanks.

School’s anti-worker policy flayed
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 5 — The agitation by the non- teaching employees of KB DAV Centenary Public School, Sector 7, in support of their demands entered the second day here today. The General Secretary of the non- Teaching Employees Union in a press note alleged that the attitude of the representatives of the school management committee was “anti-worker”.

The press note further stated that a meeting of the employees was held in the office of Assistant Labour Commissioner where the representative of the school put the condition to end the agitation first. The union condemned the policy of the school management and demanded that it should consider the genuine demands of the employees.

The workers were addressed by Mr Subhash Talwar and Mr JS Bajaj, general secretary and vice president, respectively, of the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh. 

Nature Club holds exhibition
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 5 — The Nature Club of Government Senior Secondary School, Sector 46, celebrated World Habitat Day by organising an exhibition on “Best out of waste.”

Some of the exhibits truly reflected the imagination and creativity of young minds who had made utility items, decorative pieces and toys from waste material like coconut, egg shells, broken bulbs and sanitary wares.

1 teacher for  325 students
From Our Correspondent

KHARAR, Oct 5 — On one hand the Punjab Government is spreading propaganda of improving the standard of education in government schools in the state, and on the other hand there is only one teacher to teach maths to about 325 girls in Government Girls High School in nearby Gharuan village, which has a population of about 10,000.

Mr Kamlesh Sharma (ex sarpanch of Gharuan), Mr Gurmeet singh, president, B.K.U., and others, in a press note issued here today, have alleged that the school has about 325 girl students and has 9 sections from class VI to X. According to the press note there were two teachers here since 1976 but about one and a half months back one teacher was transferred from here. The government should have deputed another teacher here but now the Punjab Government has shifted the post from here to another school near Chandigarh.

They want to know whether it would be possible for a teacher to teach math to 325 students. They have demanded early action about this.

COURTS

Ajaib Singh’s plea goes to another Judge
By Our Legal Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Oct 5 — The writ petition filed by Dr Ajaib Singh, a candidate for the Punjab University Senate from the registered graduate consitutency, challenging the rejection of his nomination papers by the Vice-Chancellor of Punjab University, Chandigarh, was today referred to a third judge by a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court due to difference of opinion among the judges, who heard the writ petition.

Mr Justice Amarbir Singh Gill and Mr Justice V.S. Aggarwal, who pronounced the order, wrote separate judgements in the matter and directed the writ petition to be placed before the Chief Justice of the High Court for referring it to another Judge.

The main question with which the Bench grappled was concerning the jurisdiction of the Vice-Chancellor in hearing the appeal and deciding the matter himself, when the Registrar of the university, who is also the returning officer, had accepted the nomination papers of the petitioner.

It was, inter alia, submitted on behalf of the petitioner that as per the provision in the Punjab University Act, the appeal against the acceptance of nomination papers could only be preferred before the Chancellor of the university, who was competent to decide the matter.

But the contention raised on behalf of the university was, that the election could be challenged before the Chancellor only by way of election petition after completion of the election process and declaration of the result, but the university calendar provided that the illegal acceptance of nomination papers could be challenged before the Vice-Chancellor on the question of eligibility.

It was submitted that the Vice-Chancellor was fully competent to decide the question of acceptance of nomination papers on the ground of ineligibility of the petitioner from contesting the election, which was questioned before him. The Chancellor came into the picture only after the election process was complete. It was contended that the Vice-Chancellor had decided the question of eligibility of the petitioner after hearing the parties concerned at length. 

UT ex-Home Secy’s bail plea dismissed
From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Oct 5 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court today dismissed the bail application of former U.T. Home Secretary N.K. Jain, who has been arrested by the CBI under the Prevention of Corruption Act and had been lodged at Model Jail, Burail, since May 18.

Mr Justice Surinder Singh Nijjar handed down this order after hearing arguments of the CBI and petitioner’s counsel this afternoon.

Opposing the bail application the CBI counsel said, a U.T. official K.B. Goel, was collecting money on behalf of Mr Jain. He was placed under suspension by the former Home Secretary Anuradha Gupta but was reinstated and started collecting money from various officials.

Mr Justice Nijjar said: “The aforesaid charges make it abundant clear if charges are proved the petitioner will face serious consequences”.

The petitioner’s counsel, however, said, Mr Jain was in judicial custody since May 18, the FIR was registered on April 6 and despite being in CBI custody nothing incriminating was recovered from him. The petitioner having been suspended and transferred was unlikely to influence witnesses or tamper with the evidence or record.

Moreover, counsel said Mr Jain was a heart patient and needed special care which is not available in the jail. There are 68 witnesses in the case and the trial would take a long time and because of that petitioner deserved to be released on bail.

However, Mr Justice Nijjar, while dismissing the bail observed: “By perusing the allegations, which if taken at the face value showed that the petitioner misused his official position to favour those who bribed him”.

30 pleas for higher gratuity rejected

A Division Bench of the High Court today dismissed as many as 30 writ petitions filed by over 600 Haryana Government retirees seeking enhanced gratuity and other retiral benefits as applicable to the employees who retired after April 1, 1995. The petitioners had retired on or before that date.

The Bench, comprising Chief Justice Arun B. Saharya and Mr Justice V.K. Bali, handed down the order on writ petitions filed by Mr Nathu Ram Aggarwal and others who retired before April 1, 1995, and claimed for “death-cum-retiral benefits and gratuity as given to persons who retired after that date.

The bench while dismissing the writ petitions observed: “In view of the decision taken by the Supreme Court in the state of Punjab and others versus Buta Singh and another case, the writ petition is dismissed.”

Notice to Punjab on patwaris’ sack

Our Legal Correspondent adds: Mr Sucha Singh and some other dismissed patwaris challenged the Punjab Government action in dismissing them for participating in a state-wide patwaris’ strike in June 1999.

A Division Bench of the High Court comprising Mr Justice J.S. Khehar and Mr Justice R.C. Kathuria issued notice of motion to the state of Punjab, the Deputy Commissioner of Nawanshahr and Commissioner of Jalandhar Division for February 22.

It was submitted by counsel for the petitioners that in January, 1999, the Revenue Patwari Union served notice on the Punjab Government for acceptance of their demands. When its demands were not accepted, the petitioners along with 5000 other patwaris went on strike. On June 11, 1999, they were sent to judicial custody for violating prohibitory orders issued under Section 144 Cr. P.C.

Thereafter, the petitioners were placed under suspension. While they were in judicial custody, they were dismissed without holding any departmental enquiry, as required under Rule 8 of Punjab (Punishment and Appeals) Rules, 1970.

RI for Maloya resident
From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Oct 5 — The UT Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mr Sant Parkash, sentenced Shivaji, a resident of Maloya, to three months’ rigorous imprisonment in Food and Adulteration case.

The Food Inspector inspected his shop, Pooja Karyana, at Palsora village in 1993 and took three packets of iodised salt as sample. The samples was sent for public analysis to a laboratory and from the analysis it was revealed that the packets had been misbranded. The Judge also imposed a fine of Rs 500.

3 months’ RI: In another food adulteration cases of Samerjit, a resident of Palsora, was sent to three months’ rigorous imprisonment by the Chief Judicial Magistrate.

His shop at Palsora village was inspected in 1993 and the Food Inspector recovered salt packets. The samples revealed that the packets had been misbranded. The Judge also imposed a fine of Rs 500.

Police remand for Excise official
From Our Correspondent

KHARAR, Oct 5 — Mrs Neelam Arora, Duty Magistrate, Kharar, today remanded Surinder Sethi, who was arrested by the Vigilance Department, Punjab, yesterday taking a bribe of Rs 100, in police remand till October 6.

The accused, an Inspector with the Excise and Taxation department, was posted at Information Collection Centre at Balaungi village and he arrested by the Vigilance Department while taking Rs 100 as bribe from Mr Dilbagh Singh of Jhalian Kalan village for permitting his tractor-trolley loaded with poplar logs to pass through the barrier.

An officer of the Vigilance Department who appeared before the court today informed the court that information was yet to be gathered from the accused regarding various properties owned by him.

CULTURE

Exhibition, play by children
From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Oct 5 — A month long Community Theatre and Play Production workshop culminated today with an exhibition of the creative work done by the children and the performance of a play’Raja Kithe So Gaya’.

It was conducted by the Centre for Education and Voluntary Education (CEVA) with students of Government High School, Sector 40-A, Chandigarh.

Interestingly the play was based on the creative writing, stories and poems written by the participating children during the workshop. These have been brought out in the shape of books, also prepared by the children and will be on display at the exhibition together with other things.

The workshop was sponsored by the Ministry of Human Resource Development as a part of their project for strengthening of art, culture and values in education. The process was designed to inculcate creative thinking skills, development of self-discipline and creative self-expression in the participants. Typically, the workshop would start with a meditation session, followed by theatre excercises, physical and psycho-physical exercises, rhyming and improvisations.

The workshop was conducted by Munna Dhiman who was assisted by Neeraj Chaitley, Gyandev and Aarti.