EDUCATION

Schools asked to follow policy
Tribune News Service

SAS NAGAR, Oct 24 — Authorities of schools affiliated to the Punjab School Education Board have been asked to adhere to the new policy of affiliation. Any violation of the policy will make the authorities impose a heavy fine on the defaulting schools. For instance, action can be taken against schools that admit more than the permitted number of students in a class.

The board has already disaffiliated some schools. Sources in the board said, earlier, private candidates used to be shown as regular ones on the rolls of the schools in the absence of any check by the board. School authorities have now been asked to keep the number of students in a respective class within the permitted limits.

To convey this message, a meeting of the affiliated schools was called by the board authorities yesterday. Authorities of any school that has more than the permitted number of students in a class will have to pay a fine at a rate of Rs 500 per student. The sources said the results of the students of some of the defaulting schools had been withheld this year. The school authorities had also been fined. However, the association of the affiliated schools took up the issue with the State Education Minister, Mr Tota Singh.

To streamline the process of checking which schools were violating the affiliation guidelines, a subcommittee of board officials and representatives of the association has been constituted. Mr Ram Lal Sewak, a member of the committee, said the schools had been asked to take permission for increasing the strength of students in classes.

Mr Sewak said, earlier, the schools which had been affiliated to the board before 1988 had not been covered by the new terms and conditions of affiliation. He said now the conditions were applicable to all schools. The association had urged the board to check the reports regarding the strength of students that were sent in September each year.

The issue of poor sale of textbooks that were approved by the board was also taken up at yesterday’s meeting. A subcommittee has already been constituted to monitor the sale of the approved textbooks.

COURTS

ASI denied bail in dowry case
From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Oct 24 —The UT Additional District and Sessions Judge, Mr R.C. Godara, today dismissed the anticipatory bail application moved by Assistant Sub-Inspector, Ram Rattan, in a dowry case.

The Judge also dismissed the anticipatory bail application moved by other members of the ASI’s family in the case. The case against the accused had been registered on October 19 for allegedly demanding a car and Rs 1 lakh from his would-be in-laws just a day before his marriage.

A case of a criminal breach of the trust, besides under provisions of the Prevention of Dowry Act, was registered against him after an inquiry was conducted by DSP Surjit Singh following a complaint by the would-be bride’s father to the IGP.

2-year RI for three:
Baldev Raj, Bansi Lal and V.P. Nand were sentenced to two years rigorous imprisonment today by the UT Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mr Sant Parkash, in a cheating case. The Judge acquitted Ajay Aggarwal and Ranjit Singh in the same case.

The CBI had registered a case against V.P. Nand, Baldev Raj, Bansi Lal, Ajay Aggarwal, and Ranjit Singh under Sections 120-B, 420, 467 and 471 of the Indian Penal Code on March 4,1983. It was alleged that the five accused had cheated Punjab National Bank of Rs 40 lakh.

Bail granted:
The UT Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mr Ashok Kumar, today granted bail to a resident of Panchkula, Shiv Kumar, in an eve-teasing case.

The case against the accused had been registered under Section 294 of the Indian Penal Code on January 12,1998.

The accused was granted bail on furnishing a bond of Rs 5,000 and a surety of the same amount.

Jerath’s bail plea dismissed
From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Oct 24 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court today dismissed interim bail applications filed by a former UT Chief Engineer K.K. Jerath and Secretary N.K. Jain. Mr Justice K.S. Garewal observed that Divali pooja is not a sufficient ground for grant of interim bail.

The petitioners had sought interim bail so that they could perform Divali pooja with their respective families.

Opposing the bail application of Mr Jain, CBI counsel stated that on March 2 last this court had declined interim bail, but directed the petitioner to be taken in custody on March 4 last for Shivratri pooja “but the petitioner did not avail the concession”. He also contended that the release of the petitioner on bail or permission to take in custody would encourage other similarly situated undertrials to seek similar relief for which there is no administrative machinery.

In Mr N.K. Jain’s case the CBI counsel said “a previous application filed by the petitioner was dismissed on October 5 and no fresh ground has been made out to entitle him to be released on bail”.

Rejecting both the bail applications by separate orders Mr Justice observed “Divali is not such an important occasion for which indulgence can be shown to an undertrial prisoner. Occasionally in cases of death of a near one or even marriage of a child people are sometimes taken in custody for the function but the Divali pooja is not such a case”.

In case of Jain, Mr Justice Garewal observed “The petitioner can very well say his prayers in jail if absolutely necessary. It is not such a case where the petitioner may be sent in custody for conducting prayer. The release of petitioner would definitely entitle the other undertrials to seek similar relief which would lead to filing many petitions .” 

CULTURE

A promising tabla player
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 24 — A mere mention of Avirbhav Verma reassures one’s faith in perseverance. At a tender age of 15 years, this young tabla player from the city is all set to do justice to his lineage. His father Pawan Kumar Verma, also happens to a tabla player of great repute.

Today’s performance by him at the Pracheen Kala Kendra, Sector 35, was just another in the line of many others. There is no stage fear left. The only thing left is the romance of music. Avirbhav happened to be the youngest member of the team which represented India in Shropshire in July this year.

Even today he took on the gathering at the Bhaskar Rao auditorium of the Kendra with immense confidence, and lived up to his reputation of being the son of Pawan Kumar Verma of the Punjab gharana. Beginning his recital with uthan, he went on to play amazing rhythms on tabla. He was accompanied by Sri Niwas on the harmonium.

There was a distinct clarity in his notes, and with every form that he experimented tonight, one knew that he was working hard on the instrument. Nuances of the recital apart, the best thing about the performance was its pleasing value. All that he played was received well by the senses, and that confirmed the good quality of his performance.