The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

EDUCATION

PEC introduces IT course
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Nov 13 — “By 2008, 2.2 million graduates would be required in the IT sector in the world, and by the time the first batch of IT graduates pass out from the college in 2004, there will be three lakh jobs waiting for them,” stated Prof Rajnish Prakash, Principal, Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh, referring to the NASCOM report, at the inauguration of the four year Bachelor of Engineering in Information Technology course in PEC. The course was inaugurated by the Home Secretary, UT Administration, Mr R.S. Gujral, today, at the college. The course has been started with thirty students selected on the basis of the CET conducted by the Panjab University in May 2000.

The admissions to the course were completed on November 10 and 29 of the 30 seats have been filled by PEC students from various branches of the college. One student has joined from outside. The admissions to the consequential 39 vacated seats, too, has been completed. The classes of the course begin from today and examinations for the first semester will be held in January 2001 and PEC has made arrangements for classes during vacations.

Inaugurating the course, Mr R.S. Gujral wished pre-institutions like PEC would maintain its traditions by providing quality IT experts to meet the demands of India. Mr Vivek Atray, Director IT, Chandigarh was also present on the occasion and assured full support for the improvement of IT education. The Principal had earlier welcomed the guests and thanked Mr Gujral and Mr Atray for giving a practical shape to the course. Mr Gujral also visited the computer centre of the college and saw the progress in the networking of the college.

PGI governing body meeting on Nov 16
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Nov 13 — Some important pending issues will be part of the 20-point agenda of the governing body of the PGI which meets in New Delhi under the chairmanship of its president, the Union Health Minister, Dr C.P. Thakur, on November 16.

Although the matter has been pending for more than three years now, the appointment of the Dean, PGI is not part of the agenda this time too. Highly placed sources, however, added that there was a distinct possibility that the matter could be discussed by the governing body as the Health Minister, during his last visit to the PGI, had asked specifically for the bio-datas of its five senior most faculty members.

The names forwarded to Dr C.P. Thakur included Prof R.J. Dash (endocrinology), Prof R.N. Kataria (surgery), Prof A.K. Banerjee (histopathology), Prof Subhash Kumari Gupta (psychology) and Prof Sudha Suri (radiology). At the last meeting of the governing body, the appointment of the Dean was deferred till its next meeting.

The Dean, is the Controller of all examinations for admissions as well as degree courses and is also the coordinator of the total research effort. As a rule, usually the senior-most professor in the institute is appointed to the post. Insiders believe that in the absence of a Dean, the working of the institute suffers as the entire workload falls on the Director.

The agenda for the next governing body meeting includes the ratification of appointments of Assistant Professors to Associate Professors and Associate Professors to Professors. Another important decision will be the confirmation of the appointment of the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the institute that too has been pending for long. Besides, the recommendations made in the last meeting of the Standing Finance Committee (SFC) of the institute will also be taken up.

Another important point in the agenda includes appointment of Dr K.P. Singh as Assistant Professor, endocrinology. The PGI, following a writ petition by Dr Singh, had been directed by the Division Bench of Punjab and Haryana High Court on August 1, this year, to reconsider his appointment as a Assistant Professor in Endocrinology at the next meeting.

Education day on Nov 22
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, Nov 13 — The All India Federation of University Teachers Association (AIFUTA) in collaboration with FEDCUTA will observe, November 22, 2000 as “Save Higher Education Day” on the university campus by organising discussions, seminars, symposia to highlight the crises of the university education in India due to the negative policies of the union and state governments towards higher education, a press note said here today.

It has also been decided that a ‘protest dharna’ be observed in front of the UGC office, New Delhi on the same day from morning to evening to express indignation and resentment against the negative approach of the UGC towards the various issues like release of payment of arrears introduction of super time scales for professors, enhancement of retirement age from 60 to 62 years etc. implementation of revised pay scales in various states and ratification of wrong fixation in revised pay scales etc.

COURTS

Judicial remand of four extended
From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Nov 13 — The UT Judicial Magistrate (Ist Class) today further extended the judicial remand of the four — Dhanu, Jinder, Ravi Satpal — for 14 days, in a murder case.

It was alleged that four accused had murdered Narinder Singh at Mauli Jagran. The victim, Narinder, was a resident of Rajiv Colony, Panchkula.

RI in theft case:
Gahn Shyam, a resident of Burail, was sent to one year’s rigorous imprisonment on Monday by the UT Judicial Magistrate (Ist Class) in a theft case.

It was reported that the accused had stolen Rs 3500 gold and silver necklace in 1994.

Police remand:
Anil Kumar was sent to police remand on Monday by the UT Judicial Magistrate (Ist Class) till November 15, in a kidnapping case.

The co-accused, Roki, was sent to judicial remand till November 25 by the Magistrate. It was alleged they had kidnapped a girl from Halo Majra.

Trainees’ death: case adjourned
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Nov 13 — The General Force Court, which assembled here to try three officers of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) being held responsible for the death of eight trainees, has been adjourned till December 15, it is learnt.

The court had reconvened today after being adjourned for five days. The defence had raised objections on the jurisdiction of the seven-member court last week following which the court had been adjourned to consider these. It was further adjourned today.

The GFC, under progress at the ITBP’s Transport Battalion, is trying three officers, Commandant G.S. Kapoor, Deputy Commandant A.S. Rawat and Assistant Commandant Dawa Tshering. The three are being held responsible for an incident in which eight ITBP trainees died and 11 others were seriously injured during high-altitude and glacial training in October, 1998.

The officers are being tried individually. The cases of the other two will be taken up after proceedings against Commandant Kapoor are over. The GFC is presided over by ITBP Additional DIG, Shimla, Mr B.L. Handa.

The defence had earlier raised objections to the Judge Attorney being junior to the accused officer. As per a Supreme Court ruling, the Judge Attorney, who renders legal advice to the court during proceedings, has to be senior to or of equivalent rank to the accused. In this case, the Judge Attorney happens to be of the rank of Deputy Commandant.

The defence had also raised objections to one of the witnesses being “threatened” during court of inquiry proceedings. The court, however, overruled both objections.

The three officers have been charged under various sections of the ITBP Act, 1992, for dereliction of duty, violation of good order and discipline of the force, ill-treating subordinates and of unbecoming conduct.

As per information available, the incident had occurred at the Khullia Garbia glacier, near Joshimath in UP in October, 1998. A team from the ITBP’s Mountaineering and Skiing Institute at Auli had left Mana on October 15 while on a glacial training course.