The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

CAMPUS SCENE
Lively environs of PAU campus
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Oct 19 — The famed campus of Punjab Agricultural University has become well known not for just the study of agriculture, pests and bugs but also for earning a name for itself for its romantic environs.

Just as days are becoming cooler and pleasant, the air on the PAU campus has been filled with romance. More than ever before, love-lorn young couples can be seen in almost every nook and corner of the sprawling campus. Their more favourite haunts are the lawns of Students' Home and the canteen of the College of Agriculture, though some pairs can be seen securely nestled behind the pillars and columns of numerous buildings.

There are several fine spots where youngsters can be spotted with stars in their eyes and hearts on their sleeves. If you happen to pass by the different lawns in the morning or evening, you will find a number of youngsters sitting and sharing moments together. And many of them get embarrassed if you just look their way and smile.

So absorbed the couples are in their own world of dreams and fantasy that they are usually unmindful of what is happening around them.

One of the favourite dating spots is the road in front of Students' Home where girls and boys can be seen seated on the bonnets of cars and on mobikes comfortably, treating each other with pizzas, soft drinks and burgers.

And then there is a tiny rock garden in the varsity which has its own value for its visitors. It is perhaps one of the most exciting places to get lovy-dovy for the students.

Not only this, students date inside the canteens and even the empty classrooms. One can observe these love birds holding hands and gazing into each other's eyes.

But some students don't come out in the open. They prefer to hide themselves from the public eye. This kind of species is found dating in cars with tinted glasses.

There is no place as safe as the library.

Though the sports stadium is usually thronged by athletes and body-building freaks, young pairs can also be spotted here. They normally sit on the stairs surrounding the stadium. Not only the youngsters, the middle-aged couples can also be observed to work on their beautiful relationship.

A senior teacher of the university, who has been serving here for the past three decades, says that such free mixing of boys and girls on the campus was regarded as a taboo some years back. But it is no longer so. Even those with most orthodox ideas and prudish outlook have eventually accepted the change ungrudgingly. Since the number of girls joining the university has been increasingly steadily, such relationship are bound to be on the rise. Besides, says a faculty member, the young men and women today like to choose their own life partners rather than depending upon the choice of their parents.

Though most of the couples are hesitant to reveal their future plans, others are frank enough to admit their relationship. However, some appear to be serious about their affair and are determined to end it in a nuptial bliss. In fact there are many couples among the teaching faculty whose courtship on the lawns of the university has led to happy married life.

COURTS

Court exonerates two in fraud case
Tribune News Service

LUDHIANA, Oct 19 — Mr S. S. Arora, Sessions Judge, here has exonerated Mr Amrit lal Aggarwal and Mr Pardeep Kumar of charges of misappropriation of funds of Tagore Public School, levelled against them by some residents of Agar Nagar in the city.

Dismissing a review petition filed in the court against a lower court order which had exonerated the two accused, the orders of the Session Judge stated that a criminal case was got registered against the accused by way of pressure tactics so as to dictate terms to them.

According to a copy of the orders received here today, Mr Vijay Kumar and some other residents of the city had complained to the Additional Director General of Police that some records of Tagore Public School, Agar Nagar, along with a sum of Rs 7,000, which were previously with Mr Amrit Lal Aggarwal, the then manager of the school, were missing. The accused were booked by the police and challans were presented against them.

However, the accused were acquitted by a lower court. The court found that relevant records were not found with the accused as alleged by the complainants.

Insurance company told to pay medical claim
Tribune News Service

LUDHIANA, Oct 19 — The District Consumers Redressal Forum has directed the local branch manager of United India Insurance Company Ltd. to pay Rs 30,000 along with interest as medical claim to a resident of Shivaji Nagar here.

The complainant, Mr Gopi Chand Kakkar, had pleaded before the forum that he had got a hospitalisation and domiciliary benefit policy covering the risk of Rs 2 lakh in 1997. Later he had to undergo treatment for then removal of a stone in the urinary bladder. The total cost of the treatment was Rs 30,000.

However, the complainant did not receive the payment even though he had applied in time and according to the set procedure. He said the company demanded a number of documents from time to time which he furnished.

Admitting that the complainant had taken such a policy, the insurance company said he had got it to obtain medi-claim policy with a view to covering the medical expenses of a pre-existing disease. The company also submitted a report by a doctor who said the complainant knew about his problem well in advance and did not disclose the fact to the company at the time of taking the policy. It said this amounted to a violation of the terms and conditions of the policy.

The forum after hearing both parties did not uphold the claim of the company and found that the report filed by the doctor on behalf of the company was not in accordance with the claim. The forum directed the company to pay Rs 30,000 along with 12 per cent interest per annum to the complainant from March this year.

PSEB directed to refund bill amount
Tribune News Service

LUDHIANA, Oct 19 — The District Consumer Redressal Forum today directed the Punjab State Electricity Board to refund an amount of Rs 11, 263 to Mr Gian Chand, a resident of Prem Nagar here.

Quashing the bill amount, the forum termed the bill amount as illegally raised by the PSEB. The Board has also been directed to pay an interest of 12 per cent per annum to the compliant from the date of deposit of the amount till the date of refund.

According to a copy of the order, Mr Gian Chand pleaded before the forum that in May 1998, there was sparking in the power supply meter at his house. The meter was subsequently changed by the PSEB but to the surprise of the complainant, the Board handed over a bill of Rs 11,263 for the alleged tampering of the meter which amounted to theft of energy.

However, the complainant was not invited for the checking of the meter in the Board laboratory which was manadatory under the rules.

Mohan Singh mela begins today
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Oct 19 — The stage is set for the 22nd Professor Mohan Singh Memorial International Mela beginning tomorrow with the garlanding of the statue of Prof Mohan Singh at Aarti Cinema Chowk by the Deputy Commissioner, Mr S.K. Sandhu. The city Mayor, Mr Apinder Singh Grewal, will preside over the inaugural function.

Giving details of the two-day event, featuring literary, cultural and traditional items, Mr Pargat Singh Grewal and Mr Gurbhajan Gill, President and General Secretary, respectively, of the Prof Mohan Singh Memorial Foundation, told that Malkiat Singh (England), Mander Brothers (Canada), Ranjit Rana (New Zealand) and a bhangra group from Great Britain-based Punjabi youth would be the main attractions at the mela.

A seminar on the writings of Prof Mohan Singh in Punjabi Bhavan would mark the opening of the mela. Dr Satinder Singh Noor (Delhi University), Dr S.N. Sewak (Ludhiana) and Prof Kirpal Singh Kasel would present research papers in the seminar which would be presided over by Mr Amrik Singh Pooni, President, Punjabi Sahitya Academy. A veteran Punjabi writer, Prof S.S. Narula, would be the chief guest.

A poetical symposium, to be organised in collaboration with the Punjabi Sahitya and Sabhyachar Manch would follow in which prominent participants would be poets Jagtar, Ajaib Chitarkar, Inderjit Hassanpuri, Surjit Pattar, Sukhminder Rampuri, Sardar Panchhi, Kulwant Jagraon, Tarlochan Lochi, Kanwar Imtiaz, Mohinderdeep Grewal and Gurbhajan Gill. Prof Ravinder Bhattal will coordinate the seminar and the poetical symposium.

Mr Grewal further informed that Prof Mohan Singh rachna gayan (poetry recitation) for school children, to be held in the afternoon, would be dedicated to the memory of late Albel Singh Grewal and Mr Amarjit Singh Grewal. The presidium would comprise Mr Jasbir Singh Heer, Joint Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Mr Bachittar Singh and Mr Gurtej Singh, District Education Officer. Famous folk dance of Haryana ghoomar and Vande Mataram would be presented on this occasion by the artistes from the North Zone Cultural Centre. Folk dancers from Sangrur district would present Malwai Giddha.

Bhangra by the Moga unit of the Baba Farid Foundation, Punjabi plays, sufi songs and a slide show on the history of Prof Mohan Singh mela by prominent photo artist Tej Partap Singh Sandhu would be the other attractions at the mela.

The venue of the mela would shift to Daad village on Pakhowal Road on the second day. Bal gayki (songs by children), dhadi and kavishari darbar, presentation of awards to eminent personalities in the fields of arts, culture and literature and a musical evening with emphasis on folk songs would be the highlights of the day.

Among those to be honoured on the concluding day of the mela are Prof Kirpal Singh Kasel, Mr Karnail Singh Paras Ramoowalia, Mr Gursharan Singh, Mr Amarjit Gurdaspuri, Mr Sajan Raikoti, Mr Balwinder Vikki, Mr Jagjit Singh Zeervi, Mr Tara Singh Raikoti, Mr Kamaljit Neeru and Mr Santokh Singh Mander. The presentation of awards will be made by Dr G.S. Kalkat, Vice-Chancellor of Punjab Agricultural University, Mr S.S. Channy and Dr S.S. Sandhu, Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation.

Writers, artistes to be honoured
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Oct 19 — Ten prominent personalities in the fields of literature, performing arts, music and media will be honoured during the two-day 22nd Professor Mohan Singh Memorial Mela, which will gets begin at Punjabi Bhavan here on October 20.

Giving details, the Mohan Singh Memorial Foundation general secretary, Prof Gurbhajan Gill, informed that the selection was finalised by the committee headed by former Punjab Chief Secretary, Mr Amrik Singh Pooni, who is the president of the Punjabi Sahitya academy.

Among those to be honoured on the concluding day of the mela will be writer Prof Kirpal Singh Kasel of Patiala, who will get Prof Mohan Singh award. Canada-based Kavishar Karnail Singh Paras Ramoowalia will be presented with panj dariya award, while playwright Gursharan Singh will receive the Principal Sant Singh Sekhon memorial award.

Other awardees will be singer Amarjit Gurdaspuri (Ustad Lal Chand Yamla Jat award), lyricist and singer Sajan Raikoti (Nand Lal Noorpuri award), TV artist and producer Balwinder Vicky (Dr Gurnam Singh Tir memorial award), ghazal singer Jagjit Singh Zeervi (Zaildar Kartar Singh Jassowal award), sculptor Tara Singh Raikoti (Sardar Banta Singh award), folk singer Kamaljit Neeru (Sur Shehzadi Award) and sports coordinator Santokh Singh Mander (Punjabi Doot Award).