EDUCATION

400 MCM students get prizes from Jacob
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 27 — As many as 400 students of the Sector 36 MCM DAV College for Women received prizes and certificates from the UT Administrator, Lieut-Gen J.F.R. Jacob (retd), at the annual prize-distribution function of the college here today.

The Administrator, in his address, told students that their character would shape their destiny. He said the administration was trying to create employment avenues for the youth here by promoting information technology. He said an IT park that was coming up near Mani Majra and the skilled manpower available here would attract IT companies to the city. He said girls should equip themselves for the cyber age.

More than 250 girls of the college received prizes for academic achievements, while 150 got prizes for sport and cultural activities. About 50 students received the college colour. Ms Kiran Raghav, Senior Under Officer of the NCC unit of the college, was given a special prize for participating in the Republic Day parade in New Delhi. Deepika Laroia received a special prize for her achievements in academics, while Manju Hooda was honoured for being the best athlete of the college.

Earlier, the college Principal, Ms Usha Gupta, read out the annual report that highlighted the efforts of students in protecting the environment. The report said the college had won the PU Women’s General Efficiency Shield for 30 years out of 33.

Justice Pandit was the guest of honour, while Justice G.L. Bahri, welcomed the guests.

Nagaland students call on Jacob
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 27 — A batch of students from Mokokchung district of Nagaland who are on visit to Chandigarh under North Eastern School Students Cultural Exchange Programme of Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan, today called on the Punjab Governor and UT Administrator, Lieut-Gen J.F.R. Jacob (retd), at Punjab Raj Bhavan.

The students, who are in Chandigarh since February 18 have already finished their “home stay” and during this period they have remained with local families and enjoyed Punjabi hospitality in all respects of everyday life.

Mr K.L. Khanna, Zonal Coordinator of Nehru Yuva Sangathan, informed the Governor that the delegation has already visited three villages of Patiala district and they have exchanged cultural programmes with Ghoomer Academy of Panchkula. They have also visited Anandpur Sahib and the Bhakhra Dam.

General Jacob shared his experiences of his north east stay with the children. The children also presented their traditional shawl to the Governor on the occasion. 

Losar celebrated
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 27 — Dharamshala-based NGO, ‘Students for Free Tibet’ in collaboration with Regional Tibet Youth Congress (Chandigarh Chapter), celebrated Losar — Tibetan New Year, in Valmiki Bhavan, Sector 24, Chandigarh.

The Chief Guest of the day was Mr D. Goswami, president Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Punjab and his Tibetan counterpart, Acharya Yeshi Phuntsok, President National Democratic Party, Dharamshala, and Convener of Bharat Tibet Sahyog Manch.

Auspicious rituals and prayers were held to celebrate Losar on the Valmiki Bhavan premises. Acharya Phuntsok stressed the need of coordinated efforts in the attainment of a free and prosperous Tibet.

Later in the day, a group marched past the Sector 17 Plaza and other sectors of Chandigarh imparting the message of peace on their way to Ambala.

A 30-member team, which includes some foreigners, nuns, monks and students who started the peace march from Dharamshala on February 15, 2001, are expected to reach Delhi on March 9. The peace march will mark the National Uprising Day on March 10 at New Delhi. 

Regular pay scales recommended for NET 
cleared teachers
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 27 — The UGC NET cleared teachers, teaching in the affiliated colleges of Panjab University, should be paid the regular pay scales in additions to other payable benefits.

This was recommended by a high-level committee which met under the chairmanship of Prof Ashok Sahni, DUI, here today. It was also recommended that a uniform pay scale for non- NET cleared teachers be decided.

The committee was constituted following a debate in the Senate over the problem of under-payment prevalent in majority of the colleges affiliated to the PU.

Mr Satish Kumar said many colleges were indulging in the practice of under-payment but little action had been taken on this account.

Prof Charanjit Chawla said that the university Senate had resolved earlier that UGC NET cleared teachers be paid as per university calendar. Colleges receiving 95 per cent grant-in-aid were liable for payment of full salaries.

It has been commented that colleges not accepting university recommendations on account of payment to teachers be disaffiliated. Even in case of government colleges the guest lecturers were being paid Rs 75 against Rs 250 recommended by the university house. This issue, however, faced reservation from Mr A.C.Vaid, Principal, SD College, Sector 32.

COURTS

BHATNAGAR TRIAL
Plea to remove judge advocate rejected
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, February 27
Defence counsel in Major Maneesh Bhatnagar’s trial today questioned the basis of the accused being brought to trial when no adverse remarks were made against him by any witness during the court of inquiry and the subsequent hearing of charges and recording of the summary of evidence (SOE).

During the examination of an independent witness, Major S. Sebestian, the defence contended that when no adverse remarks had been made by any of the three witnesses during the hearing of the charges by the accused’s commanding officer, the charges levelled against him, as per the Army Act, should have been dropped at that stage.

Earlier, the general court martial (GCM) dismissed Major Bhatnagar’s submission seeking the removal of the judge advocate on account of his alleged misconduct and transferring of the trial to a competent civilian court.

The court observed that the allegations levelled by the defence against the judge advocate were unfounded and baseless, and that the court was satisfied by the record of the court proceedings as well as the conduct of the judge advocate, who was impartial and unbiased.

The court further observed that the accused was being tried for an offence which was purely military in nature which took place in the field while on active service. The transfer of the case to a civilian court, therefore, does not fall within the purview of this GCM.

The defence contended that in view of the submission being disallowed, it wished to approach the GCM’s convening authority to challenge the court’s order. It maintained that the proceedings be stayed till directions on the order were passed since the accused was likely to be severely prejudiced in making his defence if illegal actions continued, and since he was also not expecting a free and fair trial from this court.

The prosecution replied that these were ancillary matters and consequent adjudication on them would not affect the disposal of the court proceedings. The prosecution counsel, while stating that he was not aware of any provisions under which the defence could get the proceedings stayed, sought the advice of the judge advocate on the matter. The defence objected to the prosecution counsel seeking such advice in the course of his reply without seeking the court’s permission. The defence also contended that the judge advocate advised the prosecution in open court, which amounted to a decision by the court.

After the plea to stay the court proceedings was disallowed by the court, the defence began with the examination of Major Sebestian, who had been detailed to record the SOE by the Commanding Officer of 503 ASC Battalion.

Pritha murder case: police remand for accused
From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Feb 27 — Mohammad Sallauddin, an accused in the Pritha murder case, was produced in the court of the Judicial Magistrate (First Class), Mr Justice Naval Kumar, here today, and sent to the police remand till March 2.

Case adjourned:
The UT Civil Judge (Junior Division), Mr Justice Mahinder Singh, today adjourned the case regarding the staying of Chandigarh Club elections till March 1. Today, 341 members of the club became the party in the case.

Six-month RI:
Parminder Pal Singh, a resident of Sector 40, was sentenced to six-month rigorous imprisonment by the UT Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mr Justice Sant Parkash, in a case of a bounced cheque.

The case had been registered under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act. The complainant, Mr Ram Niwas, one of the partners of the Sector 35 Laxmi Building Store, had alleged that Parminder, a contractor of the Public Health Department and the Chandigarh Housing Board, had bought some sanitary goods from him in January 1997.

Parminder had also issued three cheques on February 14, 1997, for Rs 4 lakh, two for 3.30 lakh and Rs 2.19 lakh, respectively, on February 17, 1997, drawn on the Sector 17 branch of Punjab National Bank. The cheques bounced.

Parminder had sought a lenient sentence on the plea that this was his first offence and he was the only earning member of his family that included minor children. The Magistrate said white-collar crime was increasing and a lenient sentence would only encourage such offenders. Parminder will also have to pay a Rs 30,000 fine.

Bail denied:
The UT Additional District and Sessions Judge, Mr Justice R.C. Godara, today dismissed the bail application moved by a resident of Bathinda, Surinder Singh, in a case of violation of the NDPS Act.

The accused had moved the application under Section 439 of the CrPC. The city police had seized 1 kg opium from the accused on February 22.

Plea dismissed:
The UT Additional District and Sessions Judge, dismissed the bail application moved by a resident of Dadu Majra, Mangat Ram, in a case of attempt to murder. The case against the accused had been registered under Section 307 of the IPC at the Sector 39 police station.

The complainant, Rajesh, had alleged that the accused had stabbed him in the stomach.

HC directive to city police
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 27 — Directing the Senior Superintendent of Chandigarh police to look into a complaint submitted by a Sector 18 resident before filing a petition for registering a case against his mother and other relatives, Mr Justice V.M. Jain of the Punjab and Haryana High Court has asked him to take necessary action in accordance with the law.

Seeking the registration of a case against the respondents, counsel for the petitioner stated that Mr Ravinder Pal Singh was not in India when an alleged family settlement took place. He added that the petitioner’s signatures on certain documents were forged.

CULTURE

Epistolary paintings explore possibilities
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 27 — The concept which Sanjeev Kumar has worked on may not be entirely new, but it has certainly been projected in a form which is novel in its own right. On the surface, the works now on display at the Sector 9 Art Folio are strange in form and meaning. They reflect a certain mystery basic to all existence.

There are colours galore and each colour has been employed to convey a specific theme. The beauty of works lies in the fact that when viewed with a little sensitivity, they open up to embrace the viewer. Instantly, the black and white spiral, —the reigning complexity of some relationships, and the persisting purity in some others, starts making sense.

Talking to the artist helps a lot in relating directly to his works. There are two main series on display. One titled, Series of letters, where the artist creates images in relation to the great artists. So Sanjeev, currently working as an Arts Teacher with Hansraj Public School, Panchkula, communicates with Van Gogh in colour by depicting a bandage on the frame. For a personal touch to the so-called letter which he writes, Sanjeev paints a yellow flower. The artist then goes on to depict Van Gogh’s reply to him — all in colour. A little weird, the concept aims at philosophical and intellectual representation of works of the great artists as Sanjeev perceives them.

There are various such letters written to artists like Kosudh, Degas, Monet and Manu Parekh, and there are many ‘reciprocations’ to each such letter. The artist uses his technique to come closer to themes which the famous artists once conveyed. As Sanjeev himself adds, “Over a period of time, I have closely studied the life and works of these artists, their attitudes, styles, ideas and philosophy. To portray all their qualities, and to represent their lives and those times in a detailed manner. I have chosen this medium to communicate with them in spirit.

The second series of works is titled: Between Earth and Sky. In this series, the artist explores extremities. The thought process here swings between light and darkness and this concept is used by the artist to depict a universal truth — that opposite principles compliment each other and lend meaning to creation. Where without light, darkness has no meaning, without a woman, manhood is meaningless. Many such universal principles have been explored in colour by Sanjeev, who has with this exhibition raised expectation by a notch or two.