EDUCATION

Colourful show by kids
From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Dec 9 — Students of the Sector 35 and SAS Nagar branches of Aanchal Preparatory School presented a colourful show at their annual function in the auditorium of the 3BRD Air Force Station here today.

Tiny tots who were dressed as Dickey Birds, twinkling stars, Jack with a broken crown, teddy bears and Georgy Porgy enchanted the audience by singing Christmas Jungles. They even made the audience dance with them. Children also presented a skit, Sleeping Beauty.

Tanmay and Shivant, Class III students of the school, showed their karate skills by breaking marble slabs. Students of St Anne’s School and St John’s High School presented a guest item.

Mr Naranjan Singh, Finance Commissioner of Haryana, was the chief guest, while Mr R.C. Jeevan was the guest of honour. Mr S.K. Sood and Mr Bachiter Singh, members of the school society, were honoured at the function. Ms Sood, Principal of the school, praised the performance of the kids. 

COURTS

Petition seeking Mamata’s removal adjourned
From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Dec 9 — A Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court Comprising Mr Justice G.S. Singhvi and Mr Justice Nirmal Singh, today adjourned sine die a PIL filed by Dr D.C. Saxena of Panjab University here seeking removal of the Railway Minister, Ms Mamata Banerjee, and registration of case under Sections 107, 337, 338, 304A and 425 of the IPC against the delinquent railway officials.

The petitioner alleged that railway officials did not comply with the report of the Chief Commissioner of Railway Safety, Dr M. Mani, on the Khanna rail accident because of which on December 2, another rail accident involving Howrah-Amritsar Express occurred.

The petitioner alleged that defective rail tracks having high hydrogen content were still being used notwithstanding the recommendation of the Railway Commission of Inquiry for its non-use. “None of the recommendations of railway safety in the wake of Khanna rail accident in November 1998, by the Chief Commissioner Railway Safety, Dr M. Mani, had been implemented”, alleged the petitioner.

He further stated that what compounds the criminal negligence was that none of the culprits of Khanna accident, including the engineer, Northern Railway, S.M. Singhla, have been punished and have not even been transferred from that post.

The petitioner further alleged that Ms Mamata Banerjee instead of rushing to scour the kin of the dead victims of the tragedy had gone to a rally at Midnapore in West Bengal in her pursuit of the chief-ministership of West Bengal. “She has completely abdicated her constitutional duties and responsibilities as the Railway Minister”, he added. By her inaction on the report of Dr Mani, she had rendered herself liable to prosecution, alleged the petitioner. The Bench directed the petitioner to attach Dr M. Mani’s report with the petition and directed the registry to put it for further hearing after the report is attached and adjourned the case sine die.