The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

EDUCATION

Eight get degrees Down Under
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 14 — Eight students of the Institute of Tourism and Future Management Trends (ITFT), Chandigarh, were recently awarded Masters in International Tourism degree by the Southern Cross University, Australia. The students — who went to Australia to receive their degree and undergo industrial training and do project study as part of their curriculum — returned yesterday.

Dr N.K. Sharma, a Professor of tourism, said the Southern Cross University, Australia, has chosen the ITFT to conduct their one-year degree programme.

The students, during their visit to Australia, interacted with experts in tourism and hospitality and studied the functioning of resorts and hotels. For the project work, the students chose economic and social impact in the recently concluded Olympic Games at Sydney. Ms Indu Sharma, joint director at the local ITFT, accompanied the students.

Sacred Heart wins Aero Quiz-2000
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 14 — Sacred Heart School, Ludhiana, emerged as the winners of the Aero Quiz-2000 organised by the Chandigarh Chapter of the Aeronautical Society of India here today. Bhavan Vidayala, Chandigarh, were the runners-up, with DAV Public School, Faridabad and DAV School, Sector 8, Chandigarh, coming third and fourth respectively.

The winning team, comprising Rishik and Anirudh, received a cash prize of Rs 5,000. The participants also received certificates and mementoes. The quiz was conducted by AESI’s secretary, Wg Cdr D.P. Sabharwal.

Till last year the quiz was conducted in Chandigarh only, with a few outstation teams coming here to participate. This year preliminary rounds were conducted at Jalandhar, Ambala, Faridabad, Panchkula, Patiala and Chandigarh, in which a total of 16 teams participated.

Prizes were also given to winners of the essay writing and painting competition organised by the society earlier. The winners of the essay competition, in the order of merit were: Rohini Juneja (Bhavan Vidyalaya, Sector 27), Akshay Badola (DAV, Sector 15) and Agam Bhatnagar (Hansraj Public School, Panchkula).

The winners of the painting competition in the junior category were: Ankita Budhiraja (St Xavier’s), Bharti Jaiswal (KV Sector 31), Ravi Kant (KV No. 2, 3 BRD), while the winners in the senior category were Akanksha Mittal (Hansraj Public School), Hemlata (KV No. 2, Chandi Mandir) and Rashi Sama (Sacred Heart School).

The prizes were given away by Air Marshal K.S. Bhatia, former Air Officer-in-Charge Maintenance at Air Headquarters, who was the chief guest on the occasion. Ms Shaefali Jain, Regional Business Development Manager of egurucool.com, which sponsored the prizes, also presented a special memento to the chief guest.

COURTS

Assault case : govt told to give report
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 14 — Taking cognizance of the allegations regarding the implication of a Hoshiarpur restaurant owner in an assault case after he intervened in an altercation between his employees and two Punjab police constables following their refusal to pay the bill, the Punjab State Human Rights Commission today asked the state government to submit report by November 23.

Pronouncing the directions, Justice J.S. Sekhon of the commission also ordered the Hoshiarpur Senior Superintendent of Police to “ensure the safety of the complainant and his family so that they can run their business”.

In his complaint, Kashmir Singh had earlier alleged that a case under Sections 307, 324, 323, 148, 149 and 379 of the Indian Penal Code was registered against him due to political influence, even though he and his employees were slapped. Giving details, he had stated that the two constables were posted as escorts with Punjab Health Minister Mohinder Kaur Josh.

He had alleged that the constables, under the influence of liquor, consumed two chickens and got two more packed but refused to make the payment.

He had added that his employees were slapped when they asked for the payment. He too was slapped after he intervened. In the altercation that followed, a constable sustained minor injury on his cheek, he further added.

Husband’s conviction upheld

The Punjab and Haryana High Court today acquitted Mr Jai Narain (father-in-law), Hari Kishan (Brother-in-law ) of Mrs Anita who was murdered allegedly by her husband Hari Om on September 6, 1992 but upheld the conviction of Hari Om by the Additional Sessions Judge, Rohtak.

A Division Bench comprising Mr Justice A.S. Garg and Mr Justice H.S. Bedi handed down this order on two separate appeals filed by Jai Narain, Hari Om and Hari Kishan, all residents of Marohi village in Rohtak district in Haryana challenging the order of the Additional Sessions Judge, Rohtak.

According to prosecution Hari Om killed his wife Anita on September 6,1992 by gagging her with her dupatta (scarf) and by inserting an iron rod into her private part. A team of doctors which conducted the post-mortem examination of Anita’s body had described cause of death due to “asphyxia caused due to strangulation which was antimortem”.

The Additional Sessions Judge had tried Hari Om (husband), Jai Narain (father-in-law) and Bhanwati (mother-in-law) of the deceased Anita under Sections 498-A, 304-B and 302 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) as brother of the deceased, Mr Rajesh and mother Kitabo had alleged that “the accused were causing harassment to the deceased and had been demanding valuables, money and other articles and did not allow her to live in peace”.

The appellant had taken the plea that Hari Om was suffering from schizophrenia and thus was incapable of committing such a crime. However, a doctor of Rohtak Medical Hospital who medically examined Hari Om said the latter was not mentally unsound and could withstand trial to defend himself.

The Additional Sessions Judge, Rohtak had acquitted the mother-in-law Bhanwati but held Jai Narain, (father-in-law), Hari Kishan (brother-in-law) and Hari Om (husband) guilty of offences under Sections 498-A, 304-B and 302 read with Section 34 of the IPC and awarded life term under Section 302 read with Section 34, seven years RI (rigorous imprisonment) under Section 304-B and three years (RI) under Section 498-A. All sentences were to run concurrently.

The Division Bench while accepting the criminal appeal of Hari Kishan and Jai Narain acquitted them, believing that they were living separately from Hari Om. Moreover, a father-in-law could not witness a son inserting iron-rod into the private parts of his daughter-in-law. So is the case of brother-in-law and acquitted both of them while accepting their appeals but upheld the conviction of Hari Om describing his act as the most cruel and story of the defence a cooked up one.

Dowry case against Barnala adjourned
From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Oct 14 — The dowry case filed against a former Punjab Chief Minister Surjit Singh Barnala and his family members by her daughter-in-law Parveshbir Kaur was today adjourned till November 21 by the UT Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mr Ashok Kumar.

She had alleged that her husband Jasjit Singh, father-in-law Surjit Singh and mother in law Surjit Kaur harassed her for dowry. The complaint against Surjit Singh Barnala and his family members was registered under Sections 406, 420 and 498-A of the Indian Penal Code. The statement of Parveshbir Kaur was recorded before the court today.

Woman remanded: Anita was sent to two days’ police remand by the UT Judicial Magistrate (first class) on charges of criminal intimidation. It was alleged that the accused, who had been working as servant in sector 19, had brutally beaten her employer on October 13. A case against the accused had been registered under Sections 308, 452 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code on October 13.

Intolerance unlimited

WHILE remembering the ‘tolerant’ Gandhi, on his birth anniversary, one also looked at the intolerance among us. Remember the Hussain controversy over his painting of Goddess Sarswati that led to many a vociferous protest four years ago?

Recently the painting of a nude mythical figure atop our national emblem, which was to be displayed in an exhibition at the National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi, caused a ruckus in cultural circles.

However, such religio-cultural intolerance is not the sole prerogative of Indians alone. Western societies are equally afflicted by this virus called ‘intolerance’.

In December last, Dennis Heiner, a 72-year-old man, was arrested after he had smeared with white paint a controversial painting of Virgin Mary done by Chris Ofili at the New York’s Brooklyn Museum of Art. Heiner had allegedly smuggled the paint into the museum in a small hand-lotion tube.

The controversy, however, has benefited the museum and the artist alike. While Ofili’s price tag has risen manyfold the museum has recorded an unprecedented increase in the number of visitors. More than 9,000 persons bought tickets, at $ 9.75 each, on the opening day of the exhibition alone, a record in the museum’s 175-year-old history.

How the controversy is going to affect Husain, remains to be seen. However, since no one was convicted of the acts of vandalism that were targeted at Husain and his property, and no museum or gallery has dared to put the controversial painting on view, (rather it was withdrawn by the painter unceremoniously), one cannot expect benefits for Husain, similar to those enjoyed by Ofili and the New York museum.

Recently some UK based religious groups attacked Marks & Spencer for being “insensitive” after their latest outdoor advertising campaign, featuring a naked model, was posted on sites in devoutly religious areas. A spokesman for the Muslim Council of Britain said: “It was highly insensitive to place this explicit picture in or close to the Muslim areas. Our children must be protected from this sort of pornography." The retail giant has been forced to replace the posters with another which feature a clothed woman, at a number of sites following complaints from the local Jewish and Muslim communities.
— Balvinder