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| Wednesday,
May 2, 2001, Chandigarh, India
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Foreign students’ hostel
conditions appal Jacob Chandigarh, May 1 Continuing with his surprise checks for the second day today, the UT Administrator, Lieut Gen J.F.R. Jacob (retd), on a visit to the foreign students hostel, countered overflowing sewerage manholes and water tanks, a dirty kitchen , an under-utilised mess, open electric junction boxes with loose live wires hanging around, courtyards being used as garbage dumping grounds, total lack of coordination, filthy rooms, broken furniture and dark and dingy corridors. Appalled at the total mess, General Jacob told officials, “I have never seen such decay.” He was shocked to see that open spaces in the hostel were being used as a dumping ground. Mr D.P. Singh, Principal, Government College for Boys, Sector 46, tried in vain to give an explanation but the Administrator was intent on finding out as to why hostel, located in the heart of the city in Sector 15, Madhya Marg, was not maintained from the beginning leading to its sorry state. Accompanied by the DPI (Colleges), Ms Madhavi Kataria, the Administrator reached the hostel without any prior notice. He was stunned to see the total chaos all around. The DPI informed the Administrator that the students of Government College, Sector 46, were sharing this hostel with students of Arts College and resident doctors of PGI. He said that the maintenance of the hostel was a contentious issue and had, in fact, started only 15 days back. As many as 35 students from Government College, Sector 46, another 25 students from the Government College of Arts and 30 resident doctors of PGI have been staying in this hostel. The students present in the hostel complained that the mess of the hostel was not working for the past many years and they had to go to the market to take their meals. The Governor was appalled to see the status of toilets, the overflowing sewerage, broken windows and live wires hanging around. Residents of nearby houses also came to the Governor with complaints that overhead tanks and water pumps of the hostel usually kept on overflowing, wasting precious water. They said due to the overflowing pumps in the hostel, the supply to the rest of sector was on a low pressure and the upper floor residents were not getting adequate water supply. When the Administrator visited the kitchen and mess, he found that the kitchen gave a “primitive look” with earthen “chullhas”, half-burnt wooden logs, broken furniture all around and sinks laced with algae. The Governor said that he would send the Chief Engineer to take immediate action for maintenance of this hostel. He also instructed the DPI and Principal of the college to regularly visit every college and hostel and ensure better maintenance. Later, the Administrator also visited the general boys hostel in Sector 15, being used by the students of Government College for Men. He was shocked to see the status of the kitchen, which was being washed probably on a cue that of the Governor was arriving in the hostel. There were flies infecting the food kept in open containers. There was much smoke as food was being cooked on a traditional “Chullah”, with firewood. The Administrator said that the kitchen should be made fly-proof and food should be cooked on LPG stoves. The Governor was shocked to see how the plates were being washed. He asked the Principal of the college, Dr S.N. Singla to take immediate action for proper maintenance of the kitchen. He asked the principal to provide more indoor games and also equipment for volleyball and badminton for the students.
Row over seniority
in city colleges Chandigarh, May 1 Colleges have started printing their prospectus and listing faculty members seniority-wise, where most of the heads of departments are deputationists, and senior administrative posts, including those of the Vice-principal, have been given to them. This move on part of college authorities is being resented by UT lecturers, who say that it is they, who deserve to be in these positions and not the deputationists, ‘‘Who first of all are not allowed by rules to be here and secondly, have no seniority claims,” they allege. While the college principals state that they have no orders that the prospectus be printed in a manner which is different from that done in the previous years, the deputationists are of the opinion that as long as they are in the college, they are entitled to all service rights and are equal in every way to UT lecturers. ‘‘Seniority in the colleges is established in accordance with the length of service of the lecturers, whether they are deputationists or UT employees. These lists, printed in the prospectus, are prepared in accordance to that. Even if one were to judge their seniority on the basis of their class status, the deputationists are Class II employees while the UT lecturers are Class III employees.’’ says a Government College principal. Counter-questions one UT lecturer, ‘‘As far as the
positions of principals in these colleges are concerned, these have been occupied by senior-most persons of the UT cadre after getting their names recommended through the Departmental Promotion Committee even though a large number of lecturers serving in these colleges on deputation are much senior to these principals. If their seniority had not been considered for the post of principal, why are they being made head of departments, bursers, registrars etc?’’ The UT lecturers are adamant. These lecturers also take the plea that more than 50 per cent of the posts in the city government colleges have been filled by these deputationists, blocking entry for the fresh passouts with UGC-NET qualification, who should have a right on these posts. The deputationists, however, feel that they have all the right to remain in these colleges as they have been sent here after a decision of their respective governments and the UT administration. ‘‘The matter is sub-judice and so no comment can be made on this
issue." says Ms Madhavi Kataria, Director Public Instructions, (colleges) UT administration. |
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CAMPUS BEAT Chandigarh, May 1 A delegation led by Dr A.S.Chahal, a member of the PU Academic Council, and Dr Karamjit Singh, secretary of the local unit of the PCCTU, met the VC and said Rs 6 per copy was a “very poor” fee for evaluation duty. The VC is understood to have assured the teachers that the matter would be looked into immediately. There was a proposal to study the comparative rates in Guru Nanak Dev University and Punjabi University. May Day rally A rally was organised by the Panjab University Non-Teaching Employees Federation here on Tuesday to commemorate the May Day celebrations. A number of top unionists addressed the rally. They spoke on the vital contributions and sacrifices made by workers for the cause of workers’ rights. The NSS Department of PU in collaboration with the Department of Lexicography celebrated the day at Labour Colony, Sector 25, here. Local residents and social workers were present on the occasion.
School’s annual
function Chandigarh May 1 The function started with ‘Saraswati vandana”. The Principal, Ms Bushra Ahuja, read out the annual report describing the various achievements of the school. Cultural programme by the children enthralled the audience. Giddha and Bhangra were the main attractions of the programme. Rajasthani dance, Naga dance , patriotic and devotional songs also won applause by the audience. The chief guest gave away prizes to the students for their outstanding achievements in sports, academics and extra curricular activities. |
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Folk song competition Chandigarh, May 1 The winning team comprised of 14 students between eight and 11 years of age. The students rendered a melodious composition based on ‘raag mishr kafi’. It was an Avadhi recital giving a vivid picture of Ram and Lakshman playing Holi on the banks of river Sarayu. |
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Talent search competition Chandigarh, May 1 The participants were categorised under Category A and Category B by a panel of judges comprising Mr Surinder Khurana and Mr Deepak Malhotra. “Category A children will be given an opportunity to perform on the final phase of the audition to be held on May 5,” said Mr Lokesh Obrai, Event Organiser of the group. However, the participants falling under Category B will be trained and
provided similar opportunities in the future, said Mr Tarun Mehta of the organisation. On May 5, the producer-cum-director, Rafique, who is on the look out for fresh faces for his children-oriented movie “Pal Pal Dil Ke Pass”, will also be present. |
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Bhatnagar
case Chandigarh, May 1 The defence counsel, Capt Rajneesh Bhatnagar, had yesterday submitted that a copy of the leave certificate be brought on record as it contradicted the claim of the accused’s Commanding Officer. Following the advice of the Judge Advocate, the court today declined to bring the certificate on record. The court also warned the defence counsel as well as the accused on their conduct in court and the use of acrimonious language in the submission. The defence counsel, thereafter, submitted that in the light of the court repeatedly rejecting his submissions and disallowing questions to be put to the witnesses in a summary manner, it was not possible for him to carry on with the trial. Quoting provisions of law, he also sought permission from the court to withdraw from the trial. He contended that he was being issued warnings without reason and the court had no powers to approach the Bar Council without an independent inquiry being instituted into his alleged misdemeanour. The prosecution counsel contended that the permission of the court for withdrawing was not required and such a step was only dependent on a counsel’s relationship with his client. Major Bhatnagar, in response to the prosecution’s reply, stated that the Judge Advocate and the prosecution had been supporting each other continuously, which was apparent from the records. He added that instead of assisting him in putting across his defence, the prosecution, the Judge Advocate and in the end the court had, in gross violation of Army Rule 77, suppressed material evidence from coming on record. The Judge Advocate, in his advice, stated that the accused had again cast aspersions on the court and warned him on his conduct in court. He added that under the Army Rules, the permission of the court was not required for a counsel to withdraw. The defence submission seeking withdrawal, thereafter, was overruled. |
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DISTRICT
COURTS Chandigarh, May 1 They were arrested on the complaint of Mr Mewa Ram.
Police remand The duo — Rupider Singh and Balkar Singh — who were arrested by the city police in a case of kidnapping on Monday, were sent to police remand till May 4 by the UT Judicial Magistrate (First Class), Mr K.K Goyal. It was alleged that the accused along with others kidnapped a Punjabi film actor and producer, Mr Pardhuman Kakkar, on Monday.
Judicial remand Karambir Singh, who was arrested in a case of theft of several cars, was sent to 14-day judicial remand by the UT Judicial Magistrate (First Class). The accused also tried to stab himself on April 29. He had also been granted bail in this case on furnishing a bail bond of Rs 5,000. |
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Lawyers’ stir unjustified,
claim litigants Panchkula, May 1 From Kajiana village of Pinjore, 56-year-old Ganpat Ram, a farmer, says, “I have come all the way from my village, spending Rs 30 in the process, for the case of very little payment for my land taken by way of acquisition. All I have got is another date in view of the strike by lawyers.” Over 90-year-old, Chaudhary
Ram, has got another date in a case pertaining to death of his cow by an electric current. “I have nobody in my house to attend to court dates. Having come from
Bohana, Pinjore, it is unjustified to be turned away like this. The lawyers could have limited their strike to a couple of hours during the day and carried on with work for the rest,’’ he adds. Another harassed litigant, Mohan Lal Sharma from Morni, rues, “All this in nothing but sheer indifference towards us. I have been running from pillar to post to get a notice prepared. Nobody thought of us when it was decided to begin this strike. They do not even tell us when it will end.’’ The lawyers, on the other hand, have their own side of the
story. "Unless we protest by suspending work, nobody seems to take notice. The raid at the house of the lawyer was uncalled for and everybody has been mum on the issue. This is the only way of lodging a protest and getting our way,’’ claims Mr Rajnish Bhonsle, a lawyer at the
court. Vocing similar thoughts, Mr Ajay Mehta, supports the strike.
"We can do this and file a case in court. While the strike will continue till our demand for transfer or suspension of the DSP is met, we will file a case in the High Court as well,’’ he added. “While all of us know that the strike is causing inconvenience to the public, we can do little about it in the face of an indifferent administration. We are committed to making ourselves heard, however long it takes,’’ Mr Satish Kadian, another lawyer says. Meanwhile, a meeting of the District Bar Association was held with the President of the Bar Association of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Mr GK
Chatrath, and senior lawyers, Mr IS Balhara and Mr DK Gupta. While members expressed divergent views on continuation of the stir during the meeting, they said the final decision had been put off till May 3, when a second meeting would be held to review the situation. Till then, the strike would continue. the lawyers would file cases in the district courts as well as the High Court against the raid. Later, the lawyers marched to the Mini-Secretariat and raised slogans against the Superintendent of Police, Dr CS Rao, and DSP Sultan Singh. |
Investing dead wood with
life Chandigarh, May 1 Such is the finesse of creations on display that on many an occasion wood appears to be like metal — moulded and finished with amazing precision and skill. For Piara Singh working in wood is as easy as breathing. Says the distinguished artist, who retired as curator of Museums from the Directorate of Culture Affairs, Archaeology and Museums, Punjab, “When I began the artistic journey, I thought I would face major problems on account of lack of academic knowledge of sculpting. But I am the fortunate one that the art came naturally to me.” Piara Singh now works on wood in his quiet abode in Sector 70. He also owns a studio there. The works on display cover a wide span of his thought as an artist. He seeks inspiration from nature, and in each of the sculpted works, he tries to achieve the power and energy, so specific to nature. Other characteristics which his works portray are grace and poise. Most of the works emerge from a single piece of wood that has been carved with love and labour to breathe life into the product. The mediums employed by the artist are challenging — sometimes he picks up a huge stem from Sandhwan Kala near Faridkot to shape it into hippie dancers; sometimes he chooses to make a dancing peacock out of the kikar stems. Bamboo somehow dominates the ensemble. Most of the forms, though come across as drift wood, hide magnificent and powerful forms which only an artistic eye can discern. Many works stand out for their flow and harmony, especially the Shiva Parivar, Ganesha, the struggle for victory and the dancing girl. The artist creates a lot of winged figures, exhibiting his urge to break free. “Freedom is basic to life. For an artist, its significance is tremendous. Unless he respects freedom, he cannot create,” says Piara Singh. Among the works in evidence are the best pieces that Piara Singh has created over the past 30 years. The figures include humans, birds, animals and deities. The exhibition will be on till May 9 between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. |
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