The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

EDUCATION

Issue of re-employment of teachers rankles PU staff
By Chitleen K. Sethi
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 5 — Many Panjab University teachers who would have retired by the age of 60, continue to serve with full pay and allowances. Even as the first teacher of Panjab University to serve till the age of 62 years, retired on November 30, University authorities await the Central Government’s notification of the amended regulations in this regard.

These teachers continue in service on the basis of the Senate’s acceptance of the UGC notification of December 24,1998, which states that the age of superannuation of University teachers will be enhanced from 60 years to 62 years, with the provision that they could be re-employed for a period of another three years, upto the age of 65.

This notification was adopted by the Panjab University Syndicate in toto and passed by the senate. But the new regulations concerning enhancement in the age of retirement are to be notified by the Central Government. The University had sent the amended regulations for notification on December 22, 1999, almost nine months after the proposal was adopted by the senate in March 1999.

The age of retirement of teachers had initially been increased from 58 years to 60 years, in accordance with the 1973, Revision of Pay scales of University and college teachers as approved by the UGC and the Government of India.

Prior to 1986, the University’s selected teachers used to be offered extension in service on a pick-and-choose basis. Many teachers, as a result, got extension in service even beyond the age of 65 years, with full salary and the benefit of housing on the campus. As a result of PUTA’s endeavor, a new scheme called the Partial Re-employment Scheme was worked out, which was to be offered to all active teachers interested in serving the University after reaching the age of 60, for a period of three years. They were given a choice to be selected by a committee of the Vice-Chancellor or the Academic Committee and were given half pay for half work.

But when the UGC increased the age of retirement in its notification, the Panjab University Senate, while accepting it in March 1999, also scrapped this partial re-employment scheme.

Meanwhile, the University’s decision to increase the age of retirement of non-teaching employees to 62 had to be revoked by the University on the orders of the Government of India, and the Chandigarh Administration. Teachers fear that in case the said regulation regarding teachers is not notified by the Government of India, they would not even have the benefit of the partial re-employment scheme.

The then PUTA President, Satya P. Gautam, had pleaded that the abolition of this scheme be delinked from the implementation of the revised pay scales, but the scheme was scrapped and it was also laid down that the teachers who continue in service beyond the age of 60, do so at their own risk and responsibility and do not get the benefit of re-employment after the age of 62 years.

Those who have retired now, face the uphill task of getting their post-retirement benefits and those who continue to serve await the approval of the Government of India.

Handsome research grants for PU departments
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 5 — Cash-crunch-hit research in Panjab University got a shot of strength in the Botany department with a grant of Rs 23 lakh for updating source availability.

The Ministry of Science and Technology has made the sanction for study on clearly identified fields. Research aside, resource availability will lay the base for sound academic work, Prof S.P. Khullar, chairperson of the department said.

The Ministry has also announced a grant of Rs 31.5 lakh for research work in the Department of Statistics. Besides equipment, a large slice of the amount will go into net-working and computational facilities. In the Botany department, Rs 15 lakh has been earmarked for the equipment (to be priorised by the department) and Rs 8 lakh for networking and computational facilities.

A letter by Dr A. Mukhopadhyay, director SERC, division of the Ministry of Science and Technology, says that the Department of Science and Technology had recommended the cash to finance a programme in Botany Department for a period of five years.

The department is expected to give a list of prioritised equipment, with the budget recommended for the purpose, to the SERC division by December 15. By this date, the department is also expected to submit budgetary quotations of equipment recommended for support, and detailed plans for implementing the networking and computational facilities.

The Department of Science and Technology has set conditions for ‘fund for improvement of science and technology infrastructure in universities and higher education institutions’.

Great stress has been laid on working exclusively in an identified field and not going off the mark. Infrastructure in the identified department is expected to be set exclusively on the planned project. The head of the identified department will be the programme co-ordinator. There should be no deviation from the budget heads as approved.

The grant for ‘networking and computational facilities’ will be utilised for creating a central computer centre. The areas of work include — internet connectivity; server, hub and modem; personal computers; and UPS.

The communication says that ‘the institution should also make sure that the grant is not meant for providing PCs to each faculty member”. It is also clarified that there is no provision for overhead charges.’ The scheme also does not provide for any provision for ‘building, construction and recruitment of staff’, the communication says.

“All assets acquired by the grant will be property of the government. The equipment should be purchased at the earliest, to save on escalation of costs. The institution will furnish certificates of use of grant. A register of assets should be maintained. Unspent grant will be surrendered to the government” says a brief of the co-conditions.

COURTS

RI for rash and negligent driving
From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Dec 5 — Vijay Kumar, a resident of Kangra, was today sentenced to one and half years' rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs 500 by the UT Judicial Magistrate in a rash and negligent driving case.

It was alleged that the accused, who was driving a bus, had injured Monica on the Sector 22 and 23 dividing road on April 19, 1996. Monica had sustained multiple injuries in the accident.

Notice issued:
The UT Additional District and Sessions Judge today issued a notice for December 11 on the bail application moved by Jhia Lal allegedly involved in a double murder case.

It may be recalled that accused Jhia Lal had been arrested by the Special Crime staff of the local police on August 22 in a case of theft and criminal conspiracy under Sections 420 and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code.

The accused along with four others had allegedly killed the two employees, 34-year-old Roop Lal and 28-year-old Nand Kishore, sleeping inside the liquor shop owned by Lada Liquor on August 17. The deceased were working as salesmen at the liquor shop.

High Court
Mayor’s election challenged
By Our Legal Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Dec 5 — The election of Mr Brij Mohan Kapur as Mayor of Amritsar was challenged today in the Punjab and Haryana High Court by Mr Sunil Dutt, Municipal Councillor of the corporation. He sought quashing of the result, a recount of votes and restraining Mr Kapur from functioning as Mayor of the Municipal Corporation.

The Division Bench comprising Mr Justice Amarbir Singh Gill and Mr Justice V.S. Aggarwal, issued notice of motion to the State of Punjab, Mr Kapur, Ms Geetika Kahlon (Divisional Commissioner of Jalandhar) and others for December 15.

The petitioner submitted that the Municipal Corporation election was held in 1997 in which Mr Subash Sharma was elected as Mayor, but he resigned and a meeting for the election of a new mayor was held on October 18. He claimed that although Mr Lakha Singh, Senior Deputy Mayor, was in office and present in the meeting, but for extraneous reasons, the Divisional Commissioner Ms Geetika Khalon appointed Bakhshi Ram Arora, a Municipal Councillor was belong to the BJP, as presiding officer.

The petitioner alleged that after the polling, the petitioner got 24 votes, Dharamvir Sarin got 19 votes and Mr Brij Mohan Kapur 23 votes, but the presiding officer by invalidating one vote of the petitioner announced that both candidates — the petitioner and Mr Kapur got 23 votes each and there a tie. At this there was confusion in the meeting and protest.

The petitioner also alleged that there was no draw of lots in the presence of the petitioner. On the instructions of their political masters the Divisional Commissioner and the Presiding Officer declared the respondent, Mr Kapur elected as Mayor.

He contended that the election was mala fide and the requirement under Section 60 of the Municipal Corporation Act had not been complied with.

Pre-arrest bail for ex-minister’s sons

On a petition moved by Mr Ranvir Singh Mann, alias Bobby and Mr Barjinder Singh Mann, alias Bonny, both sons of former minister Tajinder Singh Mann, Mr Justice Amar Dutt of the High Court stayed the arrest of the petitioner and issued notice to the state of Haryana for December 19.

The petitioners apprehended their arrest in FIR No 206 dated October 2 registered under Sections 302, 307, 120-B, IPC in connection with the alleged death of six persons in a land dispute at Chandrao village, in which the accused party tried to take possession of shamlat land of the village. It was alleged that when the villagers tried to stop them, there was firing, resulting in the death of five persons — four from the complainant’s party and one from the accused party.

The petitioners alleged that they had been implicated in a conspiracy to malign the reputation of their father, Mr Tajinder Singh Mann, an influential politician of Karnal. All male members of his family had been implicated in the present case. They submitted that whenever the family of Mr Devi Lal or Mr Chautala was in power, the petitioner’s father was framed in false cases.

Order to conduct police body poll

The Haryana Police Welfare Association through its president, Mr Raja Ram Sharma, filed a civil writ petition seeking a direction to the Haryana DGP and Home Secretary to comply with the bylaws of the association and to conduct the elections to the police general body in terms of approved bylaws of the association.

A Division Bench consisting of Mr Justice A.S. Gill and Mr Justice V.S. Aggarwal has been directed by the DGP and Home Secretary to comply with the bylaws of police association and to conduct elections and to carry out the aims and objectives of the association while disposing of the writ petition.

Notice to Bhajan Lal’s sons

FOC adds: Mr Justice V.M. Jain of the High Court today issued notice to Kalka MLA Chander Mohan and former MLA from Adampur, Kuldip Bishnoi, both sons of former Chief Minister Bhajan Lal, after the state government filed an appeal against them against their acquittal by Hisar’s District and Sessions Judge in a case under the Excise Act registered against them during prohibition in Haryana.

The SHO of Civil Lines police station, Hisar, had registered a case under the Excise Act against the two after the police recovered two bottles of liquor from their premises in 1996 and put the case for trial before the District and Sessions Judge, Hisar. The Sessions Judge acquitted them.

However, the state government filed an appeal stating that order of the Sessions Judge was “wrong and was liable to be quashed”. Mr Justice Jain after hearing the arguments issued notice to the two sons for December 21.