EDUCATION

PU to conduct CET
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 25 — Panjab University has been authorised by the UT Administration to conduct the Common Entrance Test (CET) for the session 2001-2002, an official press note stated here today.

The examination includes subjects of physics, chemistry and mathematics for bachelor’s degree courses at Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh, College of Architecture and Department of Chemical Engineering at Panjab University.

The courses at PEC include bachelor’s degree in aeronautical, civil, computer, electrical, electronics and electrical communication engineering, mechanical, metallurgical, production and information technology engineering.

The Department of Chemical Engineering offers courses in chemical engineering and agro-processing and technology, the note added.

Plea to upgrade BCA course
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 25 — A Coordination Committee of the Bachelor of Computer Applications (BCA) has urged the Punjab Technical University (PTU) authorities to upgrade the BCA three-year degree course to four-year degree course to make it relevant to the requirement of the market.

A spokesman of the committee said the industry preferred students with at least 16 years (12 years up to plus two level and four years in degree course) of basic education. As students in Punjab do a three-year BCA degree course, they face problems when they appear in the interviews for placement in various companies. Even foreign employers look for students having passed four-year degree course after doing plus two. For admission in the post- graduate course abroad, Universities ask for the completion of 16 years in formal basic education.

Students said that there were a large number of universities in the country which had already upgraded the BCA degree course to four years from three years. Among these universities were Delhi University, Panjab University, Punjabi University, GND University, and Mahrishi Dayanand University. They said with the upgradation of the course, their degree would come at par with other universities and students would be able to get practical training during the fourth year in some industry.

GMCH hostel inaugurated
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 25 — The Chandigarh Administrator, Lieut-Gen J.F.R. Jacob inaugurated the Rs 7.5-crore GMCH hostel here today. The nurses’ hostel has 208 rooms, the doctors’ hostel has single-room accommodation for 80 residents and the students’ hostel has accommodation for 45 boys and girls each.

Speaking after the inauguration ceremony, he said the budget of the hospital could not be increased. He earlier inspected the complex and interacted with the students. He exhorted them to go to slums and villages to promote preventive medicare.

He was especially concerned about tuberculosis. He also emphasised on oral hygiene and the need to have mobile dental vans for slums and villages.

COURTS

Forest company to pay compensation
From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Jan 25 — The UT District Consumer Disputes and Redressal Forum II, has allowed the complaint of a Panchkula resident, and directed the Managing Director of the of the G P Forest Development to pay compensation to the complainant.

The complainant, Mr J.S Kandah, had stated in his complaint that he had deposited a sum of Rs 15,000 by way of monthly installments of Rs 1250, each in the recurringdeposit scheme floated by the forest development company. The deposit was to mature on July 7, 1998 with maturity value as Rs 16,875. It was alleged that the despite repeated requests and a legal notice served to the company, the maturity value of the deposit had not been paid to him. On this the complainant had filed a complaint in the forum for seeking direction to the company to make payment of the maturity value of the deposit alongwith interest for the extended period as also compensation for harassment and costs of the case.

The Bench comprising the president ,Mr R.P Bajaj and member H.S Walia observed that the copy of the pass book issued by the company depicted the amount deposited by the complainant from time to time totaling to Rs 15, 000, the date of maturity as well as the amount to be paid on maturity. ‘‘The company had failed to present their cases before this forum and the evidence produced by the complainant had gone totally uncontested. It was well settled that non-payment of the maturity value of the deposit made with the company on the expiry of the period of the deposit amounts to grave deficiency on its part’’,the bench added.

The Bench allowed the complaint with a direction to the company to pay a sum of Rs 16, 785 being the maturity value of the deposit alongwith interest at the rate of 12 percent from July1, 1998 till payment of the amount. The complainant will also be entitled to a sum of Rs 1,100 by way of compensation and costs of the case.

Jerath case: court reserves order
From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Jan 25 — Mr Justice V.M. Jain of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today reserved his order on former UT Chief Engineer K.K. Jerath’s petition seeking a CBI probe into the FIR No 1 and 2 registered against him on March 15 and July 8, respectively, last year, by the Vigilance Burean of UT.

Mr Jerath, who argued his case in person, sought the CBI inquiry alleging that Investigating Officer of the bureau has been harassing him and was biased against him. He further pleaded that he had been in the jail for the past one-and-half-year and allegations contained in the FIRs No 1 and 2 were the same which were in an FIR No 3 registered against him in 1998 that is of misuse of official vehicles.

Mr Jerath said allegations levelled against him were cooked up as he was Chief Engineer and the Secretary, Engineering Department, and was competent to use his official vehicles while travelling outside Chandigarh. To strengthen his argument, he produced an order of the present Secretary, Engineering, Mr Rakesh Singh, allowing the present Chief Engineer to use his official vehicle while travelling outside Chandigarh. The Judge after hearing arguments from the sides reserved his order.

Bail plea dismissed in forgery case
From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Jan 25 — The UT Judicial Magistrate (First Class) today dismissed the bail application moved by a city resident, Maninder Kaur, in a cheating and forgery case.

The case against the accused had been registered under Sections 420, 467, 468, 471 and 494 of the Indian Penal Code on January 8, on the complaint of Tajinder Singh.

Rash driving case
The UT Judicial Magistrate (First Class) acquitted a city resident, Harshvardhan, on Thursday in a case of rash and negligent driving. The case against the accused was registered on the complaint of Kulwinder Singh on December 31, 1999. It was alleged that the accused who was driving a car hit the scooter of Kulwinder Singh. The complainant had sustained injuries in the accident. The accused was acquitted as the complainant in the case turned hostile.