 |
|
| Wednesday,
June 20, 2001, Chandigarh, India
|
|
||||
SPECIAL
STORY Chandigarh, June 19 It was decided in principle that in UT there should be no middle school and after primary schools there should be only high schools and, thereafter, senior secondary schools. It was decided to upgrade all middle schools to high schools. At present, there are 13 government middle schools functioning in UT, out of which, six are model middle schools in Sectors 25, 39, 42, 46, Sarangpur and Mani Majra. Seven non-model schools are situated in Daria, Karsan, colony No. 4, Sector 12, Sector 26, Kaimbwala and Raipur Khurd. A detailed study by the Education Department, UT, reveals that out of the 13 middle schools the following have adequate space and building to be upgraded as high schools. The schools include Government Model Middle School in Sector 42, Government Model Middle School in Sector 46, Government Model Middle School in Mani Majra, Government Middle School in Daria, Government Middle School in Karsan and Government Middle School in colony number 4. According to official sources, in addition to the above mentioned six middle schools, Government Model Middle School, Sector 39, and Government Model Middle School in Sector 25 can also be upgraded in case it is decided to run double shifts at the school. For the purpose of upgradation, additional blocks will have to be built in each of these two schools where sufficient space is available for extension in building. Similarly, the Administration is running a middle school in a sarai given by the PGI. This school was earlier functioning from the barracks in the PGI which has since been demolished for the construction of a cardiac centre coming up in PGI. The PGI has, however, earmarked a five-acre plot for construction of school building and it will take at least a year-and-a-half before a new building can be raised there. Government Middle School, Sarangpur, is also functioning in the sarai of the village panchayat and there is hardly any scope for this school to be upgraded to high school till a new building is constructed by the Engineering Department on the site allotted to the Education Department, UT. At least three middle schools situated at Sector 26 Kaimbwala and Raipur Khurd, respectively, cannot be upgraded and also there is lack of space for construction of any additional block. In addition to the construction of buildings in some of the schools as detailed above, each middle school would require additional minimum staff consisting of one headmaster, five trained graduate teachers, one clerk, one librarian, two laboratory attendants and three class IV employees before it can be upgraded as a high school. As per the official sources, regarding extra staff, including supporting staff, the UT Education Department has already moved to Government of India about two years back for 313 posts of teacher and supporting staff. In lieu of this long-pending issue, the Administrator, UT, Gen J.F.R. Jacob (retd), met Dr Murli Manohar Joshi, Minister Human Resource Development and Science and Technology, on June 1, 2001. The Union Minister is reported to have decided that the case for creation of posts of 313 teachers will be progressed quickly and will be processed and sent to the Finance Secretary for sanction. |
|
‘India can become IT superpower’ Chandigarh, June 19 This was stated by the Haryana Governor, Babu Parmananad, after inaugurating the Turning Point Computer Education and Training Centre in Sector 17 here. He said the world was getting smaller due to the rapid growth of information technology, and expansion of means of communication had accelerated the speed of development in every field of human endeavour. Master Mohan Lal, Punjab Higher Education Minister, also expressed his views on the computer and information technology and blessed the organisers. Mr Indresh Kumar, Major Rajnish Garg and Mr Kamlesh Gulati, all computer experts, also spoke at the function and highlighted the importance and utility of computer education and training. |
|
|
Admission brochures
at SBI counters Chandigarh, June 19 In Chandigarh, the forms will be available at the bank branch at PU, in Ludhiana at the Civil Lines branch and at the bank counter of Delhi University. The last date for submission of application forms is June 28. |
HIGH COURT Chandigarh, June 19 In her petition before the Bench, comprising Mr Justice S.S. Sudhalkar and Mr Justice K.S. Garewal, Ms Sarabjeet Kaur had earlier stated that the termination orders were passed due to the “personal vendetta of the Vice-Chancellor”. Giving details, her counsel had added that a close friend of the petitioner’s husband had earlier challenged the VC’s appointment and as such she was being victimised. Going into the background, counsel had stated that the petitioner was served a show-cause notice before the termination orders were passed on the ground that she had not cleared her second year of Bachelor of Arts in second class. Challenging the order, he had stated that a committee earlier constituted by the respondents had concluded that the petitioner was possessing the requisite qualification as after her graduation she had completed one year course of “limited status” from the University of California before clearing her post-graduation. The report, counsel had claimed, had been accepted by the respondents. He had added that the essential qualifications otherwise also were to be taken into consideration at the time of initial appointment and not after three years of service with good record. SSP told to give
security Directing Muktsar’s Senior Superintendent of Police to inquire into the allegations levelled by a Malout resident claiming the demolition of a room in his fields for cutting an illegal water course, Mr Justice R.L. Anand of the High Court on Tuesday also asked him to provide adequate security to the petitioner to prevent harassment. In his petition, Kuldip Singh had earlier stated that the room was demolished by Malout’s Deputy Superintendent of Police, along with 150 police personnel, as certain respondents “close associates of the Punjab Chief Minister” wanted to cut an illegal course. The respondents, the petitioner had added, had clearly told him that there were clear instructions from the Chief Minister. The motive behind the demolition, counsel for the petitioner had added on his behalf, was that the respondents wanted to destroy the existing water course and cut a new one before the inspection of the site by a Local Commissioner. During the proceedings, the Chief Minister’s name was deleted from the list of respondents. After hearing the arguments, Mr Justice R.L. Anand observed: “The petition is disposed of with a direction to the state of Punjab and the SSP to inquire into the allegations of the petitioner and if he came to the conclusion that a cognizable offence was made out, to register a case against the offenders”. Demolition
of shops Issuing notice of motion for July 13 on a petition alleging demolition of shops in Pipli on land owned by the defence authorities, a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Tuesday directed the Union of India, the Defence Estate Officer and four other respondents against removing the “building material of the demolished shops”. In their petition taken up by the Bench, comprising Mr Justice S.S. Sudhalkar and Mr Justice K.S. Garewal, Mr Gurbax Singh and 15 other petitioners had earlier stated that the Sub Divisional Magistrate, along with a Deputy Superintendent of Police and 600 other constables, started demolishing the shops without issuing notice on May 28. Giving details, the petitioners had stated that the Ministry of Defence had sanctioned lease in their favour as they and their forefathers had being carrying on with their business on the land. Seeking directions to the respondents to permit them to reconstruct the shops with the building material, counsel for the petitioners had added that the lease money was being paid to the Union of India and the Defence Estate Officer. He had further added that the petitioners were tenants under the respondents and had paid rent till date. Arguing before the Bench, counsel stated that reconstruction would not be carried out on the land. After hearing the arguments, the Bench directed the respondents against removing the “building material” of the shops while issuing notice of motion. |
||
|
Charges against
Madhan ‘proved’ Chandigarh, June 19 Discussing in detail the evidence in support of each charge separately and citing reasons in support of his contention, Colonel Malhotra, in his 62-page address, maintained that there was no evidence to suggest that any animosity existed between the accused and prosecution witnesses, including Col M.B. Ravindranath, Lt-Col Sandeep Kala, Maj S. S, Bajaj and Capt S. Basu, which might have led them to depose falsely against the accused. He contended that the defence had cross-examined the prosecution witnesses at length. The replies of the witnesses were on record and these were cogent and reasonable. Stating that it was substantive evidence that the witnesses had deposed before the court and not what they might or might not have stated earlier, he added that it was for the court to evaluate and see whether to discredit their testimony. He said the witnesses had deposed before the court about two years after the incident occurred and minor discrepancies on collateral matters were bound to occur. Contending that factors like lapse of time, grandeur of the court, excitement and other diversions tended to create discrepancies in the statements of a witness, he added that minor contradictions and discrepancies strengthened the prosecution case rather than weakening it. Mathematical accuracy in the deposition would be contrary to human nature and it was because of this fact that the law does not require mathematical precision in the deposition of witnesses, he maintained. Major Madhan of 2 Rajputana Rifles is being tried on four charges relating to acts prejudicial to good order and military discipline. |
Few buyers for works of art Chandigarh, June 19 Going by a rough estimate, at least two exhibitions open up every week in the three prime art galleries of the city, namely — the Indus Ind Bank Art Gallery, Art Folio in Sector 9 and the Punjab Kala Bhavan Art Gallery. During the winter months the number of shows tend to double. Apart from these three galleries — the galleries of Alliance Francaise in Sector 36 and that of the Government Museum in Sector 10 — are also much sought after by artists who wish to display their works. The number of exhibitions in the latter two galleries are, however, restricted on certain accounts, but the other three are hugely frequented, especially the Indus Ind Bank Art Gallery in Sector 8, which offers its space to the artists free of cost. Free exhibition space happens to be part of the art promotion campaign of the bank. It is, however, difficult to say how far the campaign of art promotion has been successful in the city. Art may be a product of artist’s deepest sensibilities but it does require buyers for survival, unless the artist is famous enough to be hounded by art collectors of the country. Most of the local artists find themselves struggling in this context. They have invariably found themselves discouraged on account that their show fails to attract visitors after the day of inauguration. In most cases, young artists had to return their creations to their personal studios. This problem is faced in almost all art galleries of the city. A random survey of the galleries has confirmed this trend. The city might come up as a great admirer of bodies of art works but it fares miserably when it comes to gaining the reputation as an equally good art collector. Experts in the field of art link the problem to lack of paying capacity as also the required will when it comes to buying pieces of art. Interestingly, recent times have also seen art galleries being booked by artists for showing creations in bone china, pottery, wrought iron and antique furniture. Strangely, these products fare well when it comes to the question of demand. About three months ago, two Delhi-based artists had displayed their creations of bone china at Art Folio. They sold off almost everything they got. The same is, however, not true of works of art which derive their value solely from the power of the artist’s stroke and not from their ability to serve or be utilised. This is perhaps one reason why many city residents admire the paintings, sculptures and works in other media, but express reluctance when it comes to buying those pieces. Courtesy this trend, many upcoming artists have started pricing their creations quite low. The range is seldom above Rs 1,000 to Rs 3500. The managers of art galleries also have no qualms about admitting this problem. Many feel that the sensitivity towards art is still lacking. That is why visitation to the galleries drops by about 80 per cent after it has been inaugurated with all pomp and show. |
|
Jaggi’s real
debut SAS Nagar, June 19 At a press conference here today, Jagtar Jaggi, who has produced 14 audio cassettes with better-known-comedian Bhagwant Mann, said his latest album had two songs. He has himself sung the title sond ‘Gup Hai Ji Gup’, while the second sond ‘Manda Chaldai Manda’ has been sung by a new atriste, Mandeep Mahi. Jarnail Ghuman has written the lyrics of both songs. The cassette covers aspect of rural and urban lifestyles with a controlled satire. The comedy items include ‘Boohe’ch Mori’ (about drunkards). ‘Chaul Baran Rupai Darjan’ (about increasing prices) ‘Kafan Nu Jaib; (a satire on those who take bribes) and ‘Post-mortem’ a satire (on the conditions of hospitals). Though Jaggi did not spell out clearly why he had split Bhagwant Mannm the album presenter, Jarnail Ghuman, said this had happened because Jaggi had not been getting his due shore in money and recognition. “It was a question of cash and credit, “he said. However, in his CV that was given to mediapersons, Jaggi written that his favourite comedians were Bhagwant Mann and Amanullah of Pakistan. Jaggi said his decision to split up with Bhagwant Mann was a big one. “With that, my career almost came to a halt and I had to start all over again, but the response that I got afterwards inspired me to release my own album,” he said. He said his comedy serial ‘Jugnu Kahenda Hai’ was being aired on Alpha Punjabi. His forthcoming serials are ‘Zindgi 52 Kilometre’ and ‘Panga No 1. |
 |
| Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir | Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs | Nation | Editorial | | Business | Sport | World | Mailbag | In Spotlight | Chandigarh Tribune | Ludhiana Tribune 50 years of Independence | Tercentenary Celebrations | | 121 Years of Trust | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
