HEALTH

PGI covered under CGHS scheme
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 7
The Union Health Ministry has approved the long-standing demand of serving and retired Central Government Employees in the city for being provided treatment in a government hospital, notified for reimbursement under the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS).

Sources add that a letter to this effect was received by the PGI late this evening. The matter was discussed in the PGI Governing Body meeting held recently in New Delhi where the institute was designated as the hospital where serving and retired employees of the Central Government could seek treatment and later get reimbursement under the CGHS scheme.

Is the post of PGI Dean jinxed?
Vibha Sharma
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 7
The governing body of the PGI recently selected a new Dean for the institute after keeping the post vacant for almost three years and holding several meetings. When it was thought that the selected candidate would soon occupy the chair, one of the aspirants for the post filed a petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, challenging the governing body’s decision.

Recent events have prompted certain faculty members to say that the post is jinxed. The wait to fill the vacant seat is likely to be much longer than expected. The question is as to who is responsible for the delay in selecting a full-time Dean of the institute. According to sources, some politicians and faculty members who are politically well connected can influence the decision.

Even the Union Health Minister, Dr C.P. Thakur, during one of his recent visits to the PGI, has admitted to being under pressure regarding selection of the Dean and that is the reason for the decision taking time. He has not placed this issue on the agenda in the last two governing body meetings. Some PGI officials are of the view that the process has been delayed to accommodate certain candidates.

The governing body usually selects one of the senior faculty members as the Dean on the recommendations of the PGI Director. The candidates in the race for the post till about two months back were Prof A.K. Banerjee, who retired on July 31, Prof R.J. Dash, Prof Subhash Kumari Gupta, Prof R.N. Kataria, Prof Sarla Gopalan and Prof Sudha Suri.

A member of the governing body had decided to move the name of Professor Banerjee, who was then the Head of the Histopathology Department, for the post. The matter was shot down at the meeting and Professor Gopalan filed a petition in the High Court to determine seniority. The name of Prof O.N. Nagi, Head of the Orthopaedics Department, was later included in the list of candidates.

Though there are several candidates in the list senior to Professor Nagi, the governing body has reportedly selected his name for the post, as stated in the section of press. With a petition having been filed, the process to select a new Dean is moving at a slow pace. The name of the next PGI Dean will be clear only after the sealed result is opened in the High Court.

Magnetic therapy camp
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, August 7
A large number of patients today turned up at a free magnetic therapy camp currently in progress at the Gurdwara Shri Guru Singh Sabha in Sector 19 here.

The camp, being organised by the Nature-Cure and Yoga Foundation, will continue till August 13. The organisers claim that the therapy cures all type of disease, including cancer, blood pressure and eyes problems without any use of medicines and injections. Jalandhar-based Nature-Cure Adviser Inder Varma is treating the patients using magnetic therapy.

SPORTS

Sonny Malerkotla wins wrestling title
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, August 7
The gram panchayat of Tira village in Kharar tehsil near Chandigarh, organised a series of sports and cultural events to mark the Guga Mari mela, here yesterday. The day witnessed a large participation of people, including prominent wrestlers, namely Sonny Malerkotla who overpowered Jasbir Singh of Chandigarh. He was awarded a gold chain and a ring. In the meet, more than 80 competitions were held and those who took part, among others, were: Gollu Mullanpur, Jagta, Davinder Sonipat, Deepa Doomcheri, Rampal, Rajesh , Gian Singh Tonga and Monu Dhanas. The wrestling events were inaugurated by Mr Bahadur Singh, president, Youth Welfare Village, Tira, and the chief guest was Mr Ujagar Singh Wadali. Uskar Malerkotla disploved his endurance when a tractor passed over his chest.

A cultural event was also organised and Ms Satwant Kaur Sandhu, Cabinet Minister, Punjab, was the chief guest. She announced Rs 25,000 for the cultural function.

Cricket meet

The Chandigarh Tennis Ball Cricket Association will hold the Chandigarh Junior State Tennis Ball Cricket Tournament for under-19 boy and girls from August 12 to 19. During the meet, a city team for the IXth Junior National Tennis Ball Cricket Meet to be held at Jammu will be selected. 

Shivalik Public School wins trophy
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, August 7
Seven schools participated in the inter-school patriotic song, shabad and bhajan recitation competition organised by Sharda Sarvhitkari Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 40-D here today.

The competition was held in the school on the occasion of birth anniversary of its founder, Shanti Swaroop Sharda. The chief guest on the occasion was a former Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Justice Jitender Vir Gupta. The overall running trophy was awarded to Shivalik Public School, Sector 41- B.

The results of the group song contest are: Guru Harkrishan Public School , Sector 40-C (1); Neerja Bhanot Sarvhitkari, Sector 15 (2); Shivalik Public School, Sector 41-B (3)

The results of shabad and bhajan: recitation contest are: Guru Gobind Singh Senior Secondary School, Sector 35 (1); Shivalik Public School, Sector 41-B (2); and Ajit Karam Singh International School, Sector 41-B (3).

ADMINISTRATION

Jacob summons file on D.P. Singh’s re-employment
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 7
The reappointment of Mr D.P. Singh as Principal of Government College, Sector 46, has landed the administration in a controversy with the UT Administrator, Lieut-Gen J.F.R. Jacob (retd), asking officials to inform him about the circumstances under which the Principal was re-employed.

Consequent upon Mr D.P. Singh’s retirement on July 31, the administration reappointed him as Principal of the college for six months or till a new Principal is appointed, whichever is earlier.

The Administrator had sought for the files following resentment shown by certain senior faculty members of the college against the reemployment of the Principal.

Sources state that the reappointment of Mr D.P. Singh is being widely resented in college circles since traditionally the charge of officiating Principal in a college is given to the next seniormost person in the cadre in the college and the administration has clearly overlooked the due of the next seniormost person.

Mr D.P. Singh, however, states since there is a case regarding the UPSC advertisement for the post of Principal going on in the Central Administrative Tribunal, it would have been unwise for the administration to give ad hoc charge to the next seniormost person.

Sources, however, state that Principal D.P. Singh should not have been reemployed since his tenure as Principal had been marked with a departmental inquiry against him.