EDUCATION

Pilferage of books has hit PAU library
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Dec 15 — Out of the numerous problems that Central M.S. Randhwa Library of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) is facing, perhaps none is so serious as the pilferage of books. The library is considered to be one of the most well-equipped for research on agriculture and allied sciences. However, over the years, many useful books and journals, including some expensive and rare ones, have vanished from the library. These cannot been replaced because these are now out of print.

According to Mr S.C. Uppal, Librarian, pilferage of books continues unabated despite all security measures. The persons at the entrance to the library try to ensure that no one takes away any book from the library. However, some smart fellows still manage to smuggle out books from here by hiding these in sheets or clothes. “The possibility of a theft increases whenever there is a failure of power supply,” says a senior library assistant.

The library staff are not aware of the exact number of books that have been lost since the library came into being. However, a senior staffer says that the ratio is of three books per thousand every year. This was found after a stock verification of the library holdings about seven years ago, according to another senior staffer. He also said, stock verification should be carried out after every five years, but it was not possible to do so. For a complete stock verification of over 3 lakh books, the library would have to be closed for a couple of weeks. This would adversely affect the research work of students and teachers.

When the staff conducted a random sample stock verification of 25,000 books, 50 of these were reportedly found missing. The library suffered maximum loss in those 63 days in 1996 when the non-teaching employees of the university were on strike.

“The incidence of theft of books can be checked by installing close-circuit TV cameras,” says the Librarian, Mr Uppal, “but the library does not have adequate funds for buying these gadgets.”

Mr Uppal says that pages of a number of books are torn by readers, rendering these useless. “The facilities for photocopying are available in the university library and these are rather economical. Despite this, the pilferage and mutilation of books has not reduced.”

Some students were even caught for these offences, but were not penalised adequately. Offenders often get away with a mild reprimand or warning. “To check the menace, the authorities will have to frame stringent rules,” says a senior teacher of the university.

Mr Uppal says, “Character building of students in schools would help in curbing this menace.”

Row over appointments in Arya College
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Dec 15 — Confusion prevails over the appointment of lecturers for Hindi, economics and history for which the interviews are scheduled to be held on December 17. While the management is divided over the issue, some lecturers have also opposed the move.

A members of one faction says the college was already facing shortage of funds and more appointments would lead to a crisis. Teachers allege that there were no vacancies in the three departments and an effort was being made to recruit some close relatives of the members of the management.

They said even though three posts were advertised in the month of June this year, but no appointments were made. They said recently these posts were re-advertised and interviews were scheduled for December 10. But, under the instructions of the DPI (colleges), who said that the management was disputed and a case was pending in the Civil Court at Jalandhar, the interview was postponed, they said.

The teachers further said that under a pressure from one on the members of the management, December 17 has been fixed as the new date for interviews. They said the candidates had been sent letters through courier on December 13 which was against the rules of the university which state that the candidates should be informed at least 15 days in advance.

Dr Mukesh Arora, Lecturer in the Hindi department at SCD Government College, said that while he was invited as a member of the selection committee for the interviews, which was earlier scheduled for December 10. But now when the dates have been rescheduled, he has not been invited and he, too, believes that there is some foul play in the appointments.

COURTS

Forum rejects PSEB’s demand
Tribune News Service

LUDHIANA, Dec15 — In a significant decision the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has quashed a demand of Rs 30,623 raised by the Punjab State Electricity Board on Mr Surinder Singh, a resident of Udham Singh Nagar, here on account of excess current load and tampering with the meterglass.

The complainant had complained to the forum that the opposite party had issued him a notice claiming the bill mentioning running load as 18.913 KV and the sanctioned load as 8.6 KV. The complainant said that he got sanctioned an enhanced load of 14,450 KV and it was enhanced from 8 KV. But the opposite party had mentioned running load as 18.913 KV which was 4,560 KV more than the actual.

According to his representative, Mr S.D. Nagpal, the complainant's meter was replaced in September 1998 and the details of the meter reading were brought into the notice of the opposite party. His matter was referred to the Dispute Settlement Committee and he was asked to deposit 40 per cent of the amount claimed and he deposited a sum of Rs 12,250. He wrote to the committee but the matter was decided against him.

The forum in its decision held that the disputed demand was due to the use of excess load by the complainant and for the theft of energy. It said that the meter was removed through Ex. R-1 and was alleged to be removed through Ex. R.2. In the former there was no mention that the glass was tampered with and the latter does not bear the signatures of the complainant and it was not mentioned whether complainant was present at the time of checking or not.

The forum further held that the opposite party had not even produced any evidence to that effect that any notice was given to the complainant to be present at the time of checking which was against the rules of the opposite party. In the absence of the consumer at the checking spot no reliance can be placed on the report of the M.E. lab, held the forum.

The forum found documentary evidence that there was no mention that an excess load was being used and the evidence in the case did not prove that the complainant was using the excess load. Even theft of the energy was not proved and hence the demand was quashed. The forum has directed the opposite party to refund the amount paid within one month of the receipt of the order.

CULTURE

Love Dale kids celebrate Christmas
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Dec 15 — The Love Dale was decorated with Christmas trees and Santa Claus danced with the tiny tots of pre-nursery and nursery classes as they celebrated Chrismas here on Friday. The programme began with a prayer dance on Jai Jai Santoshi maa. The jubilant kids danced to the tunes of various latest Hindi and English songs. A qawwali titled Dil watan hai, jaan watan hai was also presented by the kids of nursery section. The tiny tots of pre-nursery danced on the song Dadi amma maan jao. In a skit titled ‘Princess who never laughs’, the kids conveyed the message that nothing is impossible. Little boys clad in colourful dhoti-kurta with turbans on their heads performed bhangra. The boys danced in a row as they screamed Parre ho ja soniye sadi rail gaddi aayee. The programme concluded with gidha presented by little dolls who wore colourful suits embroidered in silver and golden colours. With their tiny steps, they performed on bolian like Hulle hulare, Kade haan kar ke and Meri sas badi kupatti. Ms Preetima Behl, Director, coordinated the show while the Principal, Ms Ranjit Sikand, appreciated the performance of the tiny tots.