EDUCATION

Holistic approach to knowledge stressed
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 20
Dr Pramod Kumar, Director, Institute for Development and Communication, delivered a lecture on teaching methods and challenges in the 21st century at the MCM DAV College, Sector 36, here today.

Highlighting the role of a teacher, he exhorted the teachers of today to develop in their students, the capacity for usage of ideas and a skill of self-learning. “The current trend of the so-called gurus mushrooming in every nook and corner of the country and the about-to-burst information technology bubble has provoked me to talk on this topic,” he said. He emphasised the need to make the teaching and learning process more fruitful and effective.

During his lecture, Dr Kumar also expounded the challenges being faced by teachers in the 21st century due to globalisation of ideas and their marketing as commodities for material benefits. He also stressed upon the need for a holistic approach to knowledge. He concluded his lecture on the hope that all teachers would come out of their subsistent existence and work towards dissemination of real knowledge.

Earlier, Principal of the college, Ms Usha Gupta, welcomed the guest on behalf of the students and staff members.

Dr Ramesh Kapoor, Dean, College Development Council, Panjab University, was also invited in the college today by the college environment club to plant saplings. Last week, Dr Kapoor had delivered a lecture to the college students on rediscovering science: from unravelling nature to mimicking its ways. He had emphasised the need to alter the scientific attitude, which according to him, should be a gentle emulation of the ways of nature rather than a brutal unearthing of its mysteries. He had also added that environmental crises were posing a grave threat to the earth today and the technological advancement at the cost of ecological balance was highly undesirable. The western concept of construing development in terms of material possessions needed to be discouraged.

Quoting figures he had lamented that only a measly amount of 7 per cent of the resources reserved for the field was being spent on ecological maintenance. He had also highlighted the ever-changing and expanding concept of pollution needed to be countered with concerted and effective measures.

He had concluded with a reiteration of the need to shift the focus of present day education to a point where students from every stream were informed of the ills of science.

Teachers submit memorandum
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, August 20
A delegation of Government Teachers Union, UT submitted a memorandum to the Education Secretary, Mr R.S. Gujral, here on Monday.

The delegation briefed the Education Secretary about the difficulties and pending demands of the teachers. It also spoke of the irregularities in general transfers.

The teachers highlighted the points, including the stay of teachers for more than seven years in a particular school, and cases of transfers of the teachers who were going to retire in a year.

Further the delegation demanded the shifting of the District Education Officer, Mr Chanchal Singh, from the DEO office to any of the government school. The Education Secretary, assured the teachers that he would review the matter.

The members of the delegation included Dr Vinod Sharma, Mr Kuhshhali Ram Sharma, Mr Savinder Singh, Mr Harbir Singh Anand, Mr Vijay Kumar and Mr Jaya Lal.

Academy’s denial
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 20
Swift Career Academy Ltd, Panchkula, today denied that distance education courses run by Kurukshetra University were not recognised by the UGC, as reported in a section of the Press.

“No intimation has been received by the academy in this regard. No public notification has been issued by the UGC to this effect. Distance education is legal and is allowed by the UGC itself. The examinations are conducted by Kurukshetra University directly and independently. Course material is sent by the university directly. All courses run by Kurukshetra University conform to UGC classifications. The collaborators appointed by the university provide only local study facility to the students and also enrolment and counselling. Thus university education is brought to doorstep of students, which is cheaper and convenient”.

“It is a good measure that UGC wants to control the quality and is welcome to do in the interest of students”, said Mr R.K. Gupta of the academy.

COURTS

HIGH COURT
ORP appointments quashed
Legal Correspondent

The Judge observed that rank can be given persuant to Rule 13.29 of the Police Rules, but it required that the reasons should be spelt out and that such rank should be given only for six months and if any extension is to be granted it must contain specific reasons for such extensions. Unfortunately, no such procedure is shown to have been followed in these cases, the Judge observed.

Restraint on civic body chief

A Division Bench of the High Court restrained Mr Tarsem Chand Singla, President of the Samana Municipal Council, from acting as president of the council till further orders.

The Bench admitted two IPA’s filed by Mr Balwinder Singh and other members of the Municipal Council, against the judgement of a single Judge by which he had upheld Mr Singla’s election.

Chief Justice A.B. Saharia and Mr Justice V.K. Bali constituted the Bench. The Judges ordered both the appeals to be heard on September 17.

Counsel for the petitioners/appellants submitted that as per rule 4 of the Punjab Municipal (Election of President and Vice-President) Rules 1994, the voters were required to write either “yes” or “no” on the ballot papers against the name of the candidates whereas in the present case, the Deputy Commissioner directed the councillors to write both “yes” or “no” on the ballot papers. He submitted that since this direction was against the rules, therefore the entire election of president and vice-president held on March 12 was bad. Since the direction given by the D.C. was contrary to law, hence the whole election was illegal in the eyes of law, council contended.

Homoeo council appointment stayed

A Division Bench of the High Court, comprising Mr Justice S.S. Nijjar and Mr Justice M.M. Kumar admitted a writ petition filed by Mr Hem Raj, a resident of Nawanshahr, challenging the appointment of Dr Naresh Kumar Singla as Registrar of the Council of Homoeopathic System of Medicine, Punjab, and stayed the operation of the impugned order of appointment.

It was submitted by the petitioner that the senior most officer in the council has been made to work as officiating Registrar and the appointment of Mr Singla as Registrar was wholly illegal and against the provisions of the law. The petitioner also sought a direction for framing of rules for appointment of Registrar by following Section 14 of the Act.

HC admits councillor’s writ petition
Our Legal Correspondent

Chandigarh, August 20
A Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today admitted a writ petition filed by Mr Des Raj Tandon, leader of the BJP-SAD group in the Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh, challenging the notice dated October 17, 2001, issued by Mr Harish Bhanot, the Presiding Officer for holding the meeting to elect the Mayor.

The Division Bench, comprising Mr Justice S.S. Sudhalker and Mr Justice Adarsh Goyal, also issued notice of notion to the Municipal Corporation and other respondent for September 6.

It was submitted by the petitioner that earlier the Divisional Commissioner, vide his order dated July 31, 2001, convened a meeting for election of the Mayor and Mr Harish Bhanot was nominated to preside over the meeting. The meeting was fixed for August 10, 2001, but, however, on August 8, in a meeting of the Municipal Corporation, the majority of the House recommended to the Administration dissolution of the House and an order for immediate fresh election. When on August 10 the election of Mayor was called to order, quorum was not reached.

The petitioner was sure that in view of the majority resolution, the House would be dissolved and fresh election would be ordered, but he was surprised to read a news item that a meeting for electing the Mayor had been convened for August 18.

It was submitted that the notice was illegal as under Section 57 of the Punjab Municipal Corporation Act, the notice and the list of business had to be served on each councillor at his house 72 hours before the meeting. As a majority of the members were against continuance of the House, there could not be a quorum for the meeting.

Calling an adjourned meeting was illegal as under the law, only a fresh meeting for electing the Mayor could be called and a fresh presiding officer was to be nominated for that meeting.

Reliance told to pay compensation
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, August 20
The UT Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum-II, had directed Reliance Industries Limited, Nariman Point, Mumbai, to pay compensation to a city resident for harassment suffered by her due to non delivery of her share certificates.

The complainant, Ms Anjali Basu, a resident of Sector 47-D, said she had been allotted 100 debentures of Rs 50 in 1993. The complainant had also paid Rs 2,750 along with the application and Rs 2,500 on allotment. According to the complainant, she had paid Rs 250 in excess of what was due.

Another grievance raised by the complainant was that the debentures had been converted into shares in the ratio of 4:1 and she had been given only 25 shares. But the complainant did not receive the shares certificates.

The forum observed that “non delivery of share certificates as also the non refund of the excess amount lying with the company is an act of deficiency in service and the complaint therefore merits success”.

The forum allowed the complaint with costs of Rs 1,100 and directed the company to pay Rs 250 to the complainant along with interest at the rate 12 per cent per annum from the date the amount was deposited till its actual payment.

CULTURE

MARKET PULSE
Road to stardom — Mr India way
A. S. Prashar
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 20
If you are young and handsome, in the age group of 18-30 years, but not less than five feet 10 inches in height, you can participate in what is billed at India’s most sought after male personality pageant — Grasim Mr India.

And if lady luck smiles at you, your life is made...Seven out of eight winners of Grasim Mr India title so far have become either top models or film actors.

“The contest is not meant for metro boys only “, says Mr Anshuman Swami, Event Director of Grasim Mr India. “As a matter of fact, more and more youngmen from small towns of India are coming forward to take part in the contest. From Punjab and Haryana, boys from Rohtak and even Sunam have responded. We regard it as a good, encouraging sign. There is increasing awareness and desire among the youth to forge forward...”

When the contest began eight years ago, it attracted only 2000 entries throughout the country. Last year the number rose to about 9000. This year the organisers expect between 14, 000 and 15,000 entries.

Bikram Singh Saluja, the very first Grasim Mr India, then known as “Ädonis Man of the Year” has come a long way from prestigious ad campaigns, to music videos and now into films with much hyped debut opposite Karisma Kapoor in ‘Fiza’. Sachin Khurana is a top model in Delhi. He has worked in TV serials and also manages a modelling school. Diwakar Pundir an extremely familiar face both in print and on TV in ads and serials alike, is now foraying into the world of cinema. Soon Diwakar would be seen on the silver screen opposite Sonali Bendre in a Mahesh Manjrekar film.

Gagan Grewal, another successful model, is ambassador to leading Indian and multi-national companies. Vishal Yadav is another recognisable face in the glamour world Rakesh Bapat recently featured in a runaway hit ‘Tum Bin’.

The Millennium Grasim Mr India, Aryan Vaid, who also won the Grasim Mr International this year, is also featuring in the soon-to-be-released movies — “Systems” and “Heartbeat”... The list is endless.

The latest to join the bandwagon is Grasim Mr India 2001 — Vivan Bhatena, who has prestigious ad campaigns and music videos (Jagjit Singh’s to name one) to his credit. “The achievements of these young men speak volumes of the significant role that Grasim Mr India has played as stepping stone to introduce them into the fastest growing industry in the world.”

According to Mr Swami, its time once again to beckon the aspiring youth of the country to participate in the 8th Grasim Mr India contest. Entries will be received till September 15, 2001, which will then be scrutinised for the regional rounds to be held in November-December 2001. The final shortlisted contestants from the regional rounds will participate in Grasim Mr India 2002, which is scheduled to be held in the Garden City, Bangalore, on February 23, 2002.

Dance competition on Aug 26
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, August 20
The Chandigarh Art Theatre (CAT) will organise a dance competition ‘Disco Deewane 2001’ at Bal Bhavan, Sector 23, here on August 26.

The competition will be based on Hindi film songs. It will be held under four categories and will be open to contestants between the age of 5 to 25 years. The contestants will be required to undergo an audition test on August 25.

Mr K.P. Sinha, Associate Editor of the Tribune group of publications, will be the chief guest on the occasion.

Spanish designer to visit NIFD
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 20
A leading fashion designer from Spain, Ms Magda Prats, and a Chandigarh girl, Ms Veena Verma, presently based in England, will visit the National Institute of Fashion Design (NIFD) here on August 21 and 22.