Demonstration of stitchless cataract surgery
Tribune News Service

SAS Nagar, May 17
A one-day live surgery workshop on Small Incision Cataract Surgery was organised at the Sri Guru Harkrishan Sahib (C) Eye Hospital at Sohana here today. Dr Itzhak Isakov, head of Anterior Segment and cataract surgery, University of Tel-Aviv, Israel.

Dr Isakov demonstrated a technique of “ mini-nuc”, a small incision cataract surgery. He held an interactive session with 50 doctors from Northern states. He demonstrated the stitchless surgery without using any injectable anaesthesia and without any help of expensive phaco-emulsification machines. The technique minimises suture-related complications.

He also demonstrated how hypnosis was used to operate apprehensive patients under topical anaesthesia. The one-day workshop was inaugurated by the President of the All India Opthalmological Society, Dr J.K. Pasricha.

Talk on goitre, leprosy
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 17
The Adult Department of the Chandigarh Administration arranged a programme at one of its continuing education centres at Kishangarh here today.

A doctor spoke on leprosy and goitre, highlighting the symptoms, causes and preventive measures of the two diseases. More than 80 women of the area attended the programme.

PGI staff informed about leave rules
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, MAY 17
PGI authorities yesterday issued a circular informing the doctors and employees about the leave rules under the Central Civil Service Conduct Rules. The circular issued by the Director asks compliance with the rules.

As per the rules the employees can not claim leave as a right. Any type of leave applied by the employees may be refused or revoked by the competent authority whenever there is any exigency. A period of unauthorised absence shall be deemed to cause an interruption or break in the service of the employee. Besides this ‘‘ no government servant shall resort to or in any way abet any form of strike and coercion or physical duress in connection with any matter pertaining to his service or the service of any other government servant. ’’

Sources said this has been announced as several of the doctors are on long leave to foreign countries for the last some years.

GCG-42, GGSSS-18 cagers move ahead
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, May 17
Government College for Girls, Sector 42, defeated Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 16, 12-10, while Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Sector 18, outplayed Moti Ram Area Senior Secondary School, Sector 27, 13-6, in the girls’ section of the Chandigarh Junior Basketball championship played here today at the Sports Complex, Sector 7.

In the boys’ section, St Soldier’s International Public School, Sector 28, defeated Sarvhitkari School, Sector 40, 25-12, while New Public School, Sector 18, outclassed St John’s High School, Sector 26, 45-5, and Vivek High School, Sector 38, got the better of Guru Harkishan Public School, Sector 38, 45-17.

Results: girls: GCG-42 b GMSSS-16, 12-10 (half time score 10-10): Scorers: winners — Sarita 11; losers —Kanchan 4, Anita 2, Nisha 2. GGSSS-18 b MRA-27, 13-6 (half time score 7-6): scorers for winners — Harjeet 8, Jagpreet 5; for losers — Rekha 4, Sonia 2.

Boys: St Soldier’s-28 b Sarvhitkari School-40, 25-12 (half time score 9-5). Scorers for winners — Gurmeet 13, Jagpreet 6, Sukhwant 4; for losers-Rahul 10. NPS-18 b St John’s-26, 45-5 (half time score 28-2). Scorers for winners — Akashjeet 8, Sundeep 7, Vikram 5; for losers-Abhey 2. GN Khalsa SS School-30 b Bhavan Vidyalya-27, 45-25 (half time score 21-14): VHS-38 b GHPS-38, 45-17 (half time 29-6). Scorers for winners Vikas 20, Arjun 10; for losers- Varun 13.

Under-14 cricket

The Gyan Bharti Academy, Delhi, and the Coaching Centre, Panchkula, today reached the last four of the MCA Summer Under-14 Cricket Tournament being played here at the PCA stadium, SAS Nagar.

In the first match played between the Gyan Bharti and the MCA ‘B’ team, it was Gaurav Chhabra of Delhi who scored a valiant 103 runs to overpower the MCA, SAS Nagar, team by a margin of 157 runs. In the second tie between CC, Panchkula, and St Joseph’s-44, a fine knock of 35 by Amit helped the centre in winning the tie by three wickets.

Brief scores: Ist match: GB, Delhi; 251 for five in 35 overs.

Gaurav Chhabra 103, Jagdeep 48 and S.Chaudhary 32; MCA ‘B’ : 94 for seven (Harpreet 35, Akash 2 for nine, Ankur 2 for 20, Karan Shah 3 for 11). IInd match : St Joseph’s-44: 143 all out (Bharat Lamba 31, Nikhil 26,Vineet 3 for 38, Chirag 2 for 19); CC- Pkl: 145 for seven in 26 overs (Amit 35, Gurpreet 2 for 25, Akashdeep 2 for 33).

Tomorrow in the first semi-final, Gyan Bharti Academy, Delhi, will play with Chandigarh Coaching Centre XI while MCA ‘A’ will take on CC Panchkula team.

Badminton tourney

The second day of the ongoing All India Civil Services Chess Tournament in progress here at the Sector 42 badminton hall, saw the Regional Sports Board, Mumbai, team leading with 7.5 points. They were followed by RSB, Kanpur, with seven points; RSB Kolkata, 6.5 points; RSB Indore, 5.5 points; Central Sectt, Delhi, 5 points. At the sixth place were RSB, Chennai, RSB, Rajasthan, and RSB, Hyderabad with 4.5 points. MP state was having 4 points followed by RSB, Faridabad, and Punjab state with 3.5 points, each. Karnataka along with RSB, Chandigarh, were having 2.5 points each, Bihar team had 2 points followed by RSB, Vadodara, and NCT, Delhi, with 1.5 points. AP state and Chandigarh Administration have no points.

Gursharan all praise for Punjab cricketers
Arvind Katyal

Chandigarh, May 17
Praising the city and Punjab cricketers, the former Indian test cricketer Gursharan Singh has predicted a bright future of cricket in this region. Gursharan Singh based at Delhi and now a private coach with the Gyan Bharti Cricket Academy, Saket, New Delhi, was here in Chandigarh recently. He had accompanied his boys for the MCA Under-14 Summer Cricket Tournament in progress at the PCA stadium, SAS Nagar.

In the afternoon, he visited the coaching centre of DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 8, and was impressed by the facilities being provided to the young cricketers. He also had a word of praise for school Principal Ravinder Talwar and Sports Authority of India coach Sukhinder Bawa in creating a good environment for trainees. He said it was his desire to see the school for himself which has produced outstanding cricketers such as Kapil Dev, Chetan Sharma and Ashok Malhotra.

It may be recalled that Gursharan Singh had played for India in 1983 and 1990 against West Indies and New Zealand, respectively. He also played an important role in Punjab winning the Ranji trophy in 1993. On the present composition of the Punjab team, he said that it was much better than what it was in 1993 when they had won. He said the potential in Punjab and Chandigarh was enormous with more of quality than quantity.

He said it was nice that the Board of Control for cricket in India had taken a step to start region-based academies to promote cricket. He said the inter-academy matches would help enhancing confidence among cricketers.

When asked about the right age to get into cricket, he said it should be around 11 or 12 years. He said cricketers should also be good athletes. He also stressed the need for green turfs for better practice.

Gursharan said it was Mr R.C. Shekhar, principal of the Gyan Bharti School, who initiated the efforts to boost cricket. The school also helped boys in arranging a visit of the academy players to Australia last year. He stated that there were nearly 125 trainees enrolled with their academy. He said that one of their trainees Gaurav Chhabra (13) was the captain of the Delhi under-14 state team and was progressing in the right direction. He said at present there were nearly 300 cricket academies in and around Delhi and many of these were being managed by prominent cricketers such as Bishan Singh Bedi, Chetan Sharma and Yashpal Sharma which augurs well for the game.

Suspended DSP reinstated
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 17
In what may be a controversial move the Chandigarh Administration tonight reinstated Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Devinder Singh after two years of suspension for his alleged involvement in the infamous “missing files” case in which several files pertaining to various major cases investigated by him and his subordinates, were found missing from various police stations in the city.

In case of Inspector P.K.Dhawan, who was suspended in the same case, the Inspector General of Police, Mr Bhim Sein Bassi, has been authorised to consider his reinstatement. However, the inquiry presently being conducted by the SDM East, Mr Gyanesh Bharti, would continue, sources in the Home Department said. The UT Administrator, Lieut-Gen J.F.R. Jacob (retd) has approved the case to reinstate Devinder Singh and orders, as per protocol for DSPs, have been issued by the Home Secretary, Mr Raminder Singh Gujral.

The case of missing files was first reported by the Tribune On February 12 and 15 in 1999. Following which DSP Devinder Singh and his subordinates were suspended. For the past one years the suspended officials were petitioning to the Administration to look into the matter afresh. The latest move will have no affect on the ongoing inquiry, Administration officials said. They also denied any political interference in the matter. Sources, meanwhile, said that it was an attempt to hush up the case. 

Security arrangements for President
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 17
The city police has made elaborate security arrangements for the brief stopover of the President, Mr K.R. Narayanan, in the city on May 19.

Over 300 policemen will be deployed for the security of Mr K.R. Narayanan. The President will change from his plane to a helicopter here. A large number of cops will be positioned in the technical area. While a large number of cops will be deployed outside the airport, two route alerts will also be arranged — from the airport to the Raj Bhavan and the other to the PGI.

All senior police officers will be deployed at the airport, where the two Governors, Chief Ministers and other senior functionaries of the administration will also be present. The President will be here on his way to Shimla. 

Encroachments removed
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, May 17
The enforcement wing of the estate office removed encroachments in the marketplace by shopowners, here today. In a surprise check, the employees of the department cracked down on open restaurants functioning illegally in the market. Impounding chairs and tables, and stalls where food items were on display, the operation of cleaning up the corridors and pavements lasted nearly two hours.

The move came following inaction despite repeated assurances by the shopkeepers to remove their belongings blocking the corridors and “expansion” by opening of fast-food counters. The anti-encroachment drive assumed significance since the enforcement wing had been turning a blind eye to encroachments in this sector while checking these in other sectors.

During a visit by the Administrator, HUDA, to the sector, he had asked the market association to clear up the corridors, but nothing had happened and no action had been initiated against the violations.