EDUCATION

Students left in the lurch?
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, March 28
The academic session in Doon Public School, Sector 21, ended on a sour note and is unlikely to begin on a positive note with parents of students of Class IX declaring war on the school management for not starting Class X in the coming session and going back on their word.

The school authorities informed parents of wards to begin applying in other schools since starting Class X was not a feasible proposition. Since then, parents claim, they have been trying to talk the school authorities out of the plan, but have failed. They have reportedly even sent a memorandum to the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, to intervene and save one year of the students.

“This came as a bolt from the blue to us. After seeking admission in the school in Class IX, my daughter, Ruby Bansal, is regretting it. It is not wise to change school in the final year and adjustment at a new place takes time, which students can ill-afford,’’ Mr G. Bansal, a parent, says.

They rue that the school delayed informing them of the decision, which may cost some of the students a whole academic year, with the last date for submission of forms and tests already over for most schools.

However, the school Principal, Capt Sanjay Anand (retd), says the starting of Class X would amount to foolishness on the part of the authorities since a poor result was inevitable with the kind of students who were coming. ``This was to be the first batch to pass out of school and we obviously wanted a good result since our reputation would depend greatly on that. We are willing to wait but will definitely not put our reputation at stake,’’ he holds.

Capt Anand alleged that of the 11 students studying in the school, eight had failed in Class IX. Of the three students who had got pass marks, two had decided to change school, leaving only one for the first batch of Class X.

“The attitude of the students throughout the year was deplorable. We started extra classes for them at no additional cost, realising they were very weak in studies and could do with some coaching. Defeating the purpose of the exercise, the students bunked extra classes and even attendance during school hours was irregular,’’ he informed.

He stated that it was on school records that the parents had also been summoned but had failed to show up. Faced with such a situation, the school decided to hold on beginning a batch for Class X for another year while helping students seek admission in other schools.

“The cause of dispute, now, is that the parents want a pass certificate which I cannot give. This would mean tampering with records which I am unwilling to do. They can go to court if they want to,’’ he reiterated.

Ambedkar institute's annual day
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, March 28
The annual day of the Dr Ambedkar Institute of Hotel Management, Catering and Nutrition, Sector 42, was held here today.

The students of the institute made the evening colourful by their cultural items and dances.

Ms Anuradha Gupta, Director of Higher Education, Haryana, who was the chief guest, gave away prizes to the students.

The following students were awarded special prizes Vikas Sawhney (most dedicated student), Vinod Sharma (most regular student), Harshpreet Kaur (best in academic), Daksh Morada (gentleman of the year), Monika Seth (lady of the year), Shamsher Singh Pandu (allround best), Kanwar Kaul (sportsman of the year) and Sukriti (sportswoman of the year).

PU despatches roll number cards
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 28
Panjab University has despatched the roll number cards of students appearing in the coming annual examinations of MA, M.Sc., B.Ed., M.Ed., and MFC, an official press release said here today.

Candidates who do not receive their cards should approach the office of the Joint Controller of Examinations on April 9 or 10. The candidate concerned should bring with him an attested passport size photograph and an application.

The university had decided to set up an examination centre at GGSDAV Centenary College, Jalalabad, for private candidates of the undergraduate classes who had originally opted for this centre. Candidates could contact the principal of the college if they had not been allotted the centre opted for, the release added.

COURTS

Redressal panel dismisses HUDA appeal
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, March 28
The UT Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission today dismissed the appeal moved by the Estate Officer, Haryana Urban Development Authority, Gurgaon, and Chief Administrator of HUDA, Chandigarh, against the order passed by the District Consumer Dispute Redressal Forum-II.

The Consumer Forum-II had allowed the complaint of a city resident, Ms Shashi Jain, with consolidated costs of Rs 25,000 and directed the HUDA authorities to pay interest at the rate of 15 per cent on the amount deposited by the complainant from the date of deposit till the offer of possession of an alternate plot is made to the complainant and also directed it to pay Rs 2.25 lakh on account of increase in the cost of construction.

The complainant, Ms Shashi Jain, had stated that she was allotted a residential plot in Sector 22, Gurgaon. The complainant had made full payment towards the cost of the plot. The complainant alleged that in spite of making full payment she did not get the physical possession of the plot. However, she received a memo on July from the Estate Office HUDA asking the consent of the complainant for the allotment of an alternate plot by draw of lots.

The complainant rejected the offer and then she received another letter on September 4,1998, from the Estate Officer that the possession could not be delivered due to the plot not being available at the site after demarcation. The complainant then wrote a number of letters for giving her the possession of the plot but all in vain. She alleged that she had suffered financial loss on account of escalation in the cost of construction and mental and physical torture.

Then only she had filed a complaint before the forum. The complainant had claimed interest at the rate of 24 per cent per annum on the amount deposited by her from the date of deposit till the date of delivery of an alternative plot. She claimed damages to the tune of Rs 2.5 lakh on account of escalation in the cost of construction and a sum of Rs 1 lakh as compensation on account of mental agony and harassment caused to her due to deficient and negligent services on the part of the respondents. 

Suryakant Sharma is Senior Advocate
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 28
The Chief Justice and Judges of the Punjab and Haryana High Court have designated Mr Suryakant Sharma as Senior Advocate with effect from March 19. Thirtynine-year-old Sharma joined the legal profession on July 29,1984, and took over as Advocate-General (Haryana) on July 7.

CULTURE

Film project on City Beautiful ready
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 28
For long, the city residents have been waiting for some kind of a project which offers a visual depiction of the City Beautiful. With the completion of shooting of the film titled Chandigarh as a modern city, this wish will soon be granted. The film, developed under the aegis of the UT Administration, has been produced by Ad-venture, New Delhi, in collaboration with BETACAM.

The film captures the beauty of tranquil and pollution-free environs of the city, apart from focusing on its wide roads lined up with greenery on both sides, as also the well-defined and majestic buildings. A special focus has been laid on the Capitol Complex located at the head of the city against the backdrop of the Shivaliks. Le Corbusier's architectural might is reflected in the unfinished concrete of the buildings of the Capitol Complex.

Giving information in this regard, the UT Home Secretary, Mr R.S. Gujral, said that Chandigarh was the only city in India which has two legislations for protection and preservation of trees.

As per this preservation order passed in 1952, tree-felling activity cannot be carried out without the prior permission from the Administration.

The Home Secretary added that the film will deal extensively with architecture of the city, areas of tourist interest, with a special emphasis on the Rock Garden, Sukhna Lake, commercial sectors like Sectors 17 and 34, the inner view of offices of IT Companies like Quark and Pugmark, hospitals, education, institutes and other major institutions of the city like the PGI, PEC, College of Art and College of Architecture.