The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

EDUCATION

PU’s academic link with UK varsity
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 3
Panjab University established an academic link with the University of New Castle, UK, today. The academic exchange programme aims at providing research-based policy inputs for restructuring poverty alleviation programmes with a view to achieving pro-poor sustainable development.

A team of teachers of the Department of Public Administration led by Prof B.S. Ghumman, who was the link coordinator, managed to establish a link through the British Council.

The other members of the team include Prof S.L. Kaushik, Dr Chiranjeev Singh and Ms Dhian Kaur of the Department of Geography.

The research project is an outcome of a series of discussions within the team as well as the team leaders discussions with the University of New Castle’s counterpart, Dr A.G. Tipple.

The Department of Public Administration is the first department in the PU to establish a link of this variety with the University of New Castle through the British Council. The academic link will continue for three years.

The various activities of the academic link will include three visits of the UK team to India, holding two workshops, a series of a faculty seminars, etc.

PU exams from April 2
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 3
Panjab University has decided to conduct the annual examinations for the current session from April 2, 2002, Mr Ashok Raj Bhandari, Controller of Examination, said while addressing a press conference here today.

Mr Bhandari said that the last date for submission of admission forms by private candidates has been fixed as November 22, while the regular candidates will have to submit their forms by December 22.

The examination branch will declare the results of the re-evaluation and supplementary examinations by then to avoid inconvenience to the students who clear all their examinations in these chances.

The university has made an average progress of more than 40 days on most of the results.

The number of days saved was nearly 150 in one case. In order to sustain the progress this time, the university has drawn up an elaborate plan for the forthcoming compartment examinations during September, Mr Bhandari said.

The university compiled the results of the under-graduate classes on computers. This time the facility will also be extended to the post graduate classes.

Mr Bhandari said that in the case of major post graduation degrees, including English, Hindi, Punjabi, geography, history, political science and mathematics, there was a spot evaluation to save the maximum time.

Carmel school girls win quiz contest
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, August 3
About 43 teams from different schools participated in the regional final of the all-Asia Bournvita quiz contest held at Tagore Theatre here today. The quiz was conducted by Derek O. Brien.

Girls from Carmel Convent School emerged as winners of the quiz. In a close finish they edged out Hansraj Public School (Panchkula) team which finished second. St John’s High School team came third. The top three teams would be going to Mumbai for the shooting of the world’s largest quiz show. Out of the 43 schools, six schools — Carmel Convent School, St John’s High School, DAV, Sector 8, Bhavan Vidyalaya School, St Anne’s School and Hansraj Public School (Panchkula) — qualified for the finals.

Isha Verma and Avneet Kaur represented Carmel Convent, the winning school. The trophy was handed over to the winners by the representative of Cadbury India Limited, Mr Yogesh Anand.

According to the Cadbury official, “The quiz contest is conducted in seven countries and 66 cities all over the world. The response from all over has been overwhelming. The performance of Chandigarh school kids has been exceptionally good.”

49 students get diplomas
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 3
As many as 49 students were awarded diplomas at the 36th annual convocation of the Indo-Swiss Training Centre here today. The Director, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, Prof R S Sirohi was the chief guest.

Highlighting the impact of information technology in almost all spheres of life, Prof Sirohi said that computer and Internet collectively have become a strong tool that has brought about a palpable revolution in work culture, learning habits, science and technology, entertainment, social values, etc.

The winners of the gold and silver medals, respectively, in various disciplines are:

Instrument technology: Vivel Sharma and Deepak; mechatronics and industrial automation: Sunnit Bector and Mahesh Yadav; die and mould making: Manu Ved Sharma and Sanjeev, and best technical paper award was presented to Lokesh Sharma.

Training-cum-testing camp for scouts
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, August 3
About 84 scouts and 54 guides from 11 different Kendriya Vidyalayas of the Shimla Cluster of the Chandigarh region participated in the two-day “Dwitiya Sopan’’ training-cum-testing camp at Kendriya Vidyalaya, Air Force Station High Grounds, Chandigarh.

The officiating station commander, AFS High Grounds, Wg Cdr, R.K. Bhattacharjee, in his inaugural address highlighted the need of the scouting and guiding movement.

The District Commissioner, Scouts (Shimla Cluster), Mr D.S. Pilkhwal, highlighted the various expectations from the camp.

The Senior Education Officer, KVS and Presiding officer of the camp, Mr C.L. Chutani, encouraged the participating scouts and guides by briefly starting the origin of the movement. He specially emphasised the role of scouts and guides in making of a strong caring and sharing society.

Saplings were planted in the camp area. The scout master of the Vidyalaya, Mr O.P. Sachdeva proposed the vote of thanks.

Adhyapak Sangh’s fast ends
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, August 3
The 48-hour fast by the Haryana Rajkiya Adhyapak Sangh ended with the president of the Haryana Karamchari Mahasangh, Mr Dhara Singh, offering juice to the fasting teachers, here today.

The teachers sitting on fast outside the district secretariat included district president, V.S. Bhatti, general secretary, C.L. Kaushik, Mr P.C. Shastri, Mr S.S. Sharma and Mr Vijay Vinod.

Addressing a gathering of teachers after offering juice to those on a fast, Mr Dhara Singh said that a massive rally would be organised at Jind on November 4. He added that the Chief Minister ought to fulfil all the promises made to the employees.

The main demands include the rolling back of orders of control of primary schools to panchayats, releasing the seniority list, removing anomalies in the salaries of the employees, among others.

COURTS

HIGH COURT
Vote recount at Adampur ordered
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 3
In less than three years after the Congress candidate, Mr Kanwaljit Singh, was declared elected by a margin of six votes from the Adampur assembly constituency, Mr Justice J.S. Narang of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today ordered a recount of ballots.

Challenging the Congress party candidate’s election, Mr Dalvir Singh Dhirowal of Shiromani Akali Dal had earlier contended that there was a difference of seven votes between the ballots retrieved from the boxes and those calculated at the commencement of counting.

Arguing before the court, his counsel had added that six votes polled in the petitioner’s favour had been misplaced. He had further added that the number of votes polled in each candidate’s favour was neither announced nor displayed after each round despite the Chief Election Commissioner’s directions.

Counsel stated that the election was held on November 25, 1998 and the counting took place after three days. He had further claimed that 35285 votes were cast in Mr Kanwaljit Singh’s favour, while 35279 votes were polled in the petitioner’s favour. As many as 651 votes were declared invalid.

After hearing arguments, Mr Justice Narang observed: “The total number of votes retrieved from the ballot boxes has been estimated to be 82,937.... The number of votes counted at the time of commencement and completion of round-wise counting has been deciphered as 82,930. The difference of seven votes between the two forms has not been explained by any one.... To resolve the mystery where the seven votes have vanished, it is necessary to order a recount”.

“I accept the petitioner’s prayer for inspection and recount of votes.... Recounting of ballots will take place on the High Court premises under the supervision and control of Haryana’s District Judge (Vigilance). The District Magistrate, Jalandhar, is directed to send sealed packs of ballot boxes”, the Judge ruled.

Finance Dept order quashed

Quashing a letter issued by the Finance Department of Punjab government, Mr Justice Mehtab Singh Gill of the High Court today directed that the petitioner — an Under-Secretary — was entitled to leave encashment for 300 days in lieu of unutilised earned leave as he had retired after January 1, 1996.

Mr Justice Gill added that another petitioner — a Grade I Superintendent — was also entitled to leave encashment for 300 days in lieu of the unutilised earned leave lying to his credit.

Giving a ruling on petitions filed by retired Under-Secretary Charan Singh and Superintendent Kirti Kumar, Mr Justice Gill observed: “The letter dated July 29, 1999 clearly shows that the entitlement for leave encashment for accumulation of earned leave will be limited to 180 days for the employees who had opted for the old rules.”

The Judge further observed: “It is clear that the Fourth Punjab Pay Commission had categorically stated that the admissibility limit for enhancement of earned leave at the time of retirement for government employees shall stand raised from 240 days to 300 days from January 1, 1996. The letter, dated July 29, 1999, issued by the Finance Department is definitely not in consonance with the recommendations of the Fourth Pay Commission and as such cannot be sustained. As a consequence, the letter of July 29, 1999 is quashed”.

The petitioners had sought the quashing of the letter. Counsel for the petitioners had contended that before January 1, 1986, cash payment was equivalent to leave accumulated subject to a maximum period of 180 days of earned leave, although there was no limit up to which leave could be accumulated.

Hold exam on schedule

A Division Bench of the High Court on Friday ordered that the examination for selecting Assistant District Attorneys in Punjab be held on schedule, but the result should not be declared.

The orders were pronounced by the Bench, comprising Mr Justice Amar Bir Singh Gill and Mr Justice Swatanter Kumar. Arguing before the court, counsel for the petitioners had asserted that the test was scheduled for August 5.

Lal Singh’s plea disposed of

On a petition filed by a former Minister Lal Singh, seeking directions for quashing the then Lok Pal Justice Harbans Singh Rai’s report compiled on September 22, 1998, a Division Bench of the High Court today observed that a separate writ petition was not the appropriate remedy.

The Bench, comprising Mr Justice G.S. Singhvi and Mr Justice Mehtab Singh Gill, observed that appropriate remedy in the matter would be filing of a review petition.

CULTURE

Chitrakala: all about originality
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 3
Government Museum and Art Gallery in Sector 10 today saw virgin minds coming together to spill bright colours on the dull canvas of life. The occasion was more than significant for the 180 odd students from different private and government schools of Chandigarh, Panchkula and SAS Nagar, who reached the portals of Government Museum to put their artistic acumen to test. Courtesy, Bharat Gas and The Tribune, which teamed up to hold what was called Chitrakala 2001, one got an opportunity to view how fresh minds dole out fresh ideas to add fervour to life.

The subject under artistic consideration of children, who contested in four categories (V and VI; VII and VIII; IX and X; XI and XII), was “Spectrum of Nature”. After the contest took off at about 3.30 pm, the day was all about untutored strokes of art. The children were first seen brainstorming and later engrossed in the delightful activity of creation. With each brush stroke which exuded absolute freedom, the children took the viewers on a trip of wild imagination. So where Mridu of Little Flower Convent School was seen painting animals in a green backdrop, reflecting her love for animal life, Paramdeep of Sacred Heart Convent School painted with quite a finesse. There, however, was something very different about each painting being created today.

The difference lay in the fact that each idea was original to the hilt — free from modifications of any sort. No matter how impressive a technically-sound piece of art is, there was something still better about the works which finally met the eye at the museum. The strokes rested in no set patterns, but still delighted the eye. Said Shatraughan, a student of Tribune School, “Such opportunities where we are allowed to be what we want to be are very rare. It’s a great feeling to do things from your own perspective.”

In fact, Chitrakala 2001 was all about originality. Evolved as a medium to underline the significance of environmental conservation, Chitrakala was also used by the organisers as a platform for imparting additional information about LPG safety and conservation.

Adviser to the UT Administrator, Ms Neeru Nanda, also visited the contestants to share moments of joy with them. She also selected some works for display at the new orthopedic wing of Government Hospital, Sector 16.

The jury comprising four judges from Government College of Art, Sector 10, was headed by Principal of the College, Mr Brahm Prakash, a distinguished artist himself. Other judges were Alka Jain, D.S.Kapoor, Nirmal Prakash and Rajesh Kumar Sharma.

The winners of Chitrakala 2001:

Categories V and VI: Shivangi Sharma (Sacred Heart Convent) 1, Rohit Saini (Satluj Public School) 2, Mridu Aggarwal (Little Flower Convent, Panchkula) 3 and Sheena (Dev Samaj) consolation prize.

Categories VII and VIII: Sumit Kaur (Lawrence Public School, Mohali) 1, Tanya Sharma (Little Flower Public School, Panchkula) 2, Dhruv Sharma (Stepping Stones School) 3 and Meenu Rani (Dev Samaj Junior Model School) consolation prize.

Categories IX and X: Malika Gupta (Little Flower Convent School, Panchkula) 1, Chitrangda (Sacred Heart Convent) 2, Narinder Singh (GMSSS Sector 20-D) 3 and Renu Anand (GMSS, Sector 19) consolation prize.

Categories XI and XII: Arjun Maurya (DAV Sr Secondary School, Sector 8) 1, Jagdeep Singh (Satluj Public School) 2, Rajesh (GMSSS, Sector 33) 3 and Vinay Ahuja (GMSSS Sector 35) consolation prize.

The paintings selected by Ms Neeru Nanda, for display in the new wing of Government Hospital, Sector 26: Tushar Khanna (St John’s High School), Anju (Tribune Model School), Ketika Sharma (Little Flower School, Panchkula), Sonika (Government Model High School, Sector 34), Archita (Sacred Heart Convent), Renu Anand (Government Model School, Sector 19) and Meenu Rani (Dev Samaj School).