The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

EDUCATION

400 GCG students awarded prizes
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, March 2 — More than 380 students of Government College for Girls, Sector 11, were awarded prizes at the 44th annual prize distribution ceremony by the Home Secretary, UT, Mr Raminder Singh Gujral at the college here today.

Congratulating students on the occasion, Mr Gujral, who was the chief guest at occasion, related his own experience of having participated in a debate hosted by GCG-11 when he was in college and went on to advise that those who had stood first not to relax but work harder to keep up their position.”There is nothing that is not achievable, if you set your heart to it.” he stated. Mr Gujral also agreed to do his best to get the college building extended and build a gymnasium in the college. He also agreed to provide complete support for starting Masters course in English in the college.

While Amrit was given a prize for the best in dramatics award, Sonal Thakur was declared the best NCC cadet of the year. Manisha got a prize for being the best blood donor of the year, Gayatri got a prize for being the best artist of the year. Sangeeta was declared the allround best player of the college and Gurinder Kainth was given a prize for being the best vocalist in the undergraduate category. Madhvi was declared the best dancer of the college. Sarika was given the Saraswati Award for being best in music (vocal) at the post graduate level, while Anu got a prize for the best performance in music (instrumental) at the post graduate level. Harpreet Ahuja got the Natraj prize for dance at the post graduate level. Monika Manik was declared the best NSS volunteer.

Ranjana Sharma was awarded the Reena Saraon scholarship, while Saroj Bala became the first student of the college to receive the Nirmal Vasudev Scholarship of Rs 6,000 per annum, instituted for the first time in the college.

Other than these, more than 275 students of the college received awards in academics, while 37 students were given college colour in sports and 10 signed the college roll of honour in sports. 10 of the Society Presidents also received prizes.

Earlier, the Principal of the college read out the annual report of the college relating the achievements of the college in various fields. The Principal also requested the chief guest to fill the sanctioned vacant posts of lecturers, clerical staff and Class IV employees of the college well in advance for the coming academic session. She also stated that the college hostel required a night nurse and a visiting doctor on the premises.

The college also presented a draft of Rs 40,000 to the Home secretary towards Gujarat Earthquake Relief Fund in addition to the earlier donation of Rs 1,95,000.

Principals to be in charge of exam centres
Tribune News Service

SAS NAGAR, March 2 — The Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) has decided to revert to its earlier practice of making school principals in charge of examination centres in their respective schools. This, say the board officials would help in conducting the examinations in a better way.

Last year, the board had decided to make supervisors, brought from outside, in charge of the examination centres. In the fresh decision in the rural areas the examination coordinators would look after five centres each and in urban areas there would be eight examination centres each allotted to one coordinator.

In a related decision, observers would have powers at par with the flying squads. In the examination centres in colleges, the senior secondary level staff would be made in charge of examination duties. An official said, from this year district education officers had been asked to arrange for employees to be put on examination duties.

Meanwhile, the roll numbers of regular candidates appearing in the middle class examination would be disbursed at the district text book depots and at tehsil level between March 15 and March 20.

CSIO holds workshop
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, March 2 — A four-week management programme on operation, maintenance and repair of analytical instruments for delegates from third world countries concluded at the Central Scientific Instruments Organisation here today.

A statement issued here said that 10 delegates from Jordan, Kazhakistan, Mexico, Tanzania, Zambia and Vietnam attended the programme, which was sponsored by the Ministry of External Affairs.

The course consisted of theoretical as well as hands-on sessions. Participants were also taken to various institutions like Regional Sophisticated Instruments Centre, Panjab University; Institute of Microbial Technology and various industries in Panchkula and Ambala.

Though the CSIO has been organising such training sessions for foreign delegates for the past many years, this is the first time, one such workshop has been conducted on analytical equipment.

Dev Samaj College gives 127 prizes to students
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, March 2 — More than 127 students of Dev Samaj College for Women, Sector 45, received prizes from Mr Raj Kumar Goyal, Mayor, Chandigarh, at the annual prize distribution ceremony held in the college here today.

Anju Sood of BBA final year of the college was adjudged the best student of the session, while Harleen Sachdeva of B.Com final year won the prize for being the best speaker. Poonam Rani was declared the best sportswoman for the session and Ekta bagged the prize for being the best dancer. Gurpreet was given a prize for best mono acting.

The Mayor congratulated the students for their laudable efforts and blessed them for achieving even greater heights in future. Mr Goyal also inaugurated the new library hall of the college. Earlier, the Principal, Ms Vimal Bhargava, read out the college annual report relating the achievements of the college in various fields. A brief cultural programme was also presented on this occasion.

COURTS

BHATNAGAR CASE
Defence plea overruled
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, March 2 — The general court martial trying Major Maneesh Bhatnagar today overruled the defence submission that it be allowed to examine the accused officer as a witness in support of its plea in bar.

After the court had declined to summon two witnesses, the General Officer Commanding, 14 Corps, and the Assistant Adjutant General, 14 Corps, sought by the defence yesterday, it had submitted that as per of the Indian Evidence Act, it be allowed to examine Major Bhatnagar as a witness under oath.

The prosecution contended that there had been no precedent in examining an accused as a witness. The Judge Advocate, in his advice to the court, stated that there was no provision under Section 52 of the Army Act under which an accused officer might be examined as a witness. He added however, that in the interest of justice and on the specific request of the defence, the court might allow the submission if it was forwarded in writing.

After the submission was overruled, the defence contended that the material witnesses as well as the accused himself had not been allowed to be examined in order to suppress the truth from coming on record. The defence further contended that it had a lot of material which it could produce before the court to show that the charges against the accused were misconceived and that the accused was being put on trial for mala fide reasons. Alleging arbitrary exercise of power by the court to deprive the accused of justice, the defence argued that in these circumstances, the court might consider deciding the matter “as it is”.

When the court asked what inference could be drawn from the defence’s statement “to decide the matter as it is”, the defence counsel said that since the court was not allowing the defence to examine witnesses, it was up to the court to interpret the statement. On being asked specifically by the court if the defence wished to close its case as far as the plea in bar was concerned, the defence said that it was not its intention and asked time till March 12 for preparing arguments. The court has been adjourned till March 6.

Failure on part of court-marshal?
By Vijay Mohan
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, March 2 — The failure of a Summary General Court Martial to take on record, a vital evidence may have resulted in the dismissal of a junior commissioned officer, who was being tried for his alleged involvement in a petroleum scam unearthed at Leh.

While the JCO, Sub J.S. Shekhawat, has been exonerated of involvement in the scam, the court found him guilty of remaining absent without leave, and one other charge of an Act prejudicial to good order and military discipline (Section 63).

It is learnt that a certificate issued by the Zila Sainik Board, Jaipur, certifying that the JCO was admitted in hospital, was not attached to court proceedings. It is further learnt that certificate has “Exhibit” written on it in the judge advocate’s own handwriting but exhibit serial number is not stated. He was verbally told during court proceedings that the certificate had been attached to the proceedings, but the absence of a serial number indicates otherwise.

The other charge of which he was found guilty was contended to be time barred, besides, having been condoned earlier as an inadvertent error. The JCO had failed to make an entry in one of the registers even though the documents were complete. A board of officers convened to look into the matter had termed it as inadvertent and it was confirmed by a competent authority.

The SGCM concluded at Chandigarh last week.

Subedar Shekhawat was serving as the JCO-in charge Receipt and Despatch Section of the Field Petroleum Depot, when malpractices and corruption resulting to the loss of Rs 90 lakh had come to light in September, 1996. The then GOC 3 Division had ordered disciplinary action against 14 Army personnel, including three officers.

He had been charged for intent to defraud and four counts of acts prejudicial to good order and discipline, besides desertion. Charges against him included getting challans for kerosene cleared fraudulently, failing to maintain proper records, documents, receipts and ledgers and failing to take on charge over 24,000 litres of kerosene. The charge relating to intent to defraud and three other charges could not be proved by the prosecution.

HC questions UT Admn
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, March 2 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court today asked counsel for Chandigarh Administration to show as to whether or not a budget allocation had been made for raising construction in government houses.

Pronouncing the orders in the open court, Mr Justice Jawahar Lal Gupta and Mr Justice Mehtab Singh Gill observed that counsel appearing on behalf of the Administration “has filed a survey report along with other documents. He asked for time to produce the original records including the sanction of funds. It would also be shown as to whether or not a budget allocation had been made for the purpose.”

The directions were issued on a petition filed by a Sector 30 resident, Mr Darshan Lal Chawla, against the Chandigarh Administration, the Chief Administrator and the Estate Officer.

In his petition, Mr Chawla had sought directions for quashing an order passed by the Estate Officer for cancelling the allotment of house number 1299/1 in Sector 30-B on the grounds that unauthorised construction had been raised on the government land.

The High Court, it may be recalled, had earlier directed the allottees of the government houses to file separate affidavits giving details of the area covered, besides the nature of construction.

The Bench had also asked them to furnish details of the “agency which had executed the job”, besides, the cost incurred, along with “the source from which the money was spent”.

Taking photographs banned in District Courts
From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, March 2 — Terming it as a security measure, photography has been banned in the District Courts Complex by order of the District and Sessions Judge. Boards stating the order “Photography is strictly prohibited in courts complex” was displayed at various entrance gates of the courts.

When The Tribune contacted the UT District and Sessions Judge, Mr H.S. Bhalla, he informed that Photo Journalists could take photographs in the court premises, but only after due permission from the District and Sessions Judge. The decision was taken after a letter regarding the security measure was sent by the Chandigarh police to the District Courts authority.

Notice issued to ASI
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, March 2 — The Additional Session Judge, Mr S.K. Goel, today issued a notice to ASI Ram Rattan for March 5 on a revision petition filed by the Chandigarh Administration against the order of Mr Ashok Kumar, Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, granting bail to the ASI.

He also refused to grant remand to the prosecution.

In its petition the Administration claimed that the respondent had not made any ground for the grant of bail. While passing the order, the trial court had bypassed the observations made by the Additional District Judge as also by the Punjab and Haryana High Court on February 23. The Administration claimed in the revision petition that the accused had surrendered in the court of the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate on February 24 in the forenoon and bail had been granted to him instantly on the same day.

The police had demanded remand for four days for recovering the dowry articles. The Public Prosecutor told the court that the counsel of the respondent had offered a demand draft of Rs 46,000 in lieu of the dowry articles before the High Court. However, this offer was turned down by the High Court.

Praying for the cancellation of the order of the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate passed on February 24, the Public Prosecutor requested the court to direct the Magistrate to hold a fresh enquiry into the matter in accordance with the procedural laws.

It may be recalled that a case against ASI Ram Rattan was registered by the Chandigarh Police on October 19 last year, for allegedly demanding dowry, including a car and Rs 1 lakh in cash, on the complaint of Mr Surinder Sharma, a resident of Kurukshetra.