EDUCATION

Tota Singh’s plea to teachers
From Our Correspondent

SAS NAGAR, Dec 29 — Mr Tota Singh, Education Minister, Punjab, has appealed to the school teachers in the state to pay full attention to the studies of students so that the latter do not suffer in the present day competitive world.

Addressing a press conference here today, he said the teachers should try to win back the respect that this community once held. At the time of making demands they should not forget their duties towards society.

He appealed to the teachers of Classes VIII, X and XII to spend an hour on extra coaching everyday for two months as the examinations were round the corner. He said teachers who showed 70 per cent results would be honoured by village panchayats.

He said the previous government’s policy of not detaining any student up to Class V proved to be very harmful as students lost interest in studies. Later they indulged into the habit of copying during examinations. This problem had to be tackled in a serious way. Now five sets of questions papers for one examination were distributed at the time of examinations which has helped in solving the problem. Copying now was being done only by those students whose parents personally intervened. In such cases the superviser and the superintendent of the examination centre were held responsible.

When asked about the delay in announcing examination results by the education board each time, Mr Tota Singh said this time the board authorities had been directed to announce the results within 60 days after completing the exminations.

He said the government school in Phase XI was being upgraded to the level of a high school.

He appreciated the role being played by NRIs in helping the government to improve the government schools in the state.

Mr Tota Singh had come to the town in connection with a camp organised to provide jobs to the dependents of staff members of the Education Department who had lost their lives during service. He said so far 1,200 persons had been given jobs.

Warm send-off to PEC principal
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 29 — The Principal of Punjab Engineering College, Prof Rajnish Prakash, was given a warm send-off by officers technical staff and students here today.

Dr R.S. Gupta of the Mechanical Engineering Department, who takes over as the new Principal, spoke about noticeable developments on the campus during the tenure of Professor Prakash.

Two different functions were held and the academic and administrative achievements of Professor Prakash were highlighted since he took over charge.

COURTS

Forum tells firm to pay compensation
From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Dec 29 — The UT District Consumer Dispute Redressal Forum has directed SM Finance Limited to pay compensation to Ms Jamuna Devi in nine different cases. The forum also directed the firm to pay costs of Rs 550 to her and directed the finance limited to refund the deposits made by the complainant in accordance with the schedule formulated by the Company Law Board.

The complainant, a resident of Sector 35, had deposited different amounts in various periods. The complainant had alleged that despite the maturity of the deposits, the company had failed to return the matured value. That led the complainant to file a complaint before the forum.

Murder accused sent to judicial remand
From Our Correspondent

PANCHKULA, Dec 29 — A Panchkula Duty Magistrate today sent Rahul, an accused in the Gopal murder case, to judicial remand till January 12.

The accused had surrendered before the Pinjore police yesterday evening and is allegedly responsible for the death of 11-year-old Gopal, a domestic helper of Mr A.K. Malhotra, Joint General Manager, HMT, Pinjore.

Earlier, the police had registered a case against the accused under Section 302 of the Indian Panel Code on the complaint of Mr Kishan Bahadur, brother-in-law of Gopal. He said Gopal had been staying with the Malhotras at their resident in Pinjore for the past five months.

The complainant has alleged that on December 20 Mr Malhotra called him to his house and informed that Gopal received injuries as he fell on wires. Mr Malhotra also asked me to take Gopal for treatment. The injured was then admitted to a local nursing home.

Kishan further added that Gopal’s health deteriorated and was referred to the PGI in Chandigarh where he died on December 23.