IN FOCUS
A forgotten government library
SAS Nagar
The Government Public Library here lies almost forgotten by the authorities concerned. Tucked away in an inconvenient corner of the town, adjoining Mohali village, the library comprises two dingy rooms and an office. When it was set up in 1989, it was located in Government College. It has been at the present location for about 10 years.

REMINISCENCES
A prejudice finally broken
Chandigarh
It is 3.30 pm. Advocate Nirmaljit Kaur has just returned from the High Court and is hanging her back coat when the doorbell rings. Within minutes, the maid rushes in. “Ma’am, some persons from Abohar are here. They have been recommended by another client,” she declares. Picking up sheets of paper, she walks into her study. Minutes roll by as she patiently listens to the estranged husband and his father.

SPCA members honoured
Chandigarh September 1
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals organised a function to honour the active members of SPCA at Dev Samaj College of Education, Sector 36, here today.

Army defuses 10 bombs
Panchkula, September 1
The Army authorities today defused all 10 misfired bombshells which were found in Mandlaya and Bhoor villages surrounding the Boor Army firing range during a special drive launched by the Panchkula police on Friday.

Govt decision on SCs criticised
Chandigarh, September 1
The Punjab State General Categories Welfare Federation has flayed the Union Government for amending Article 16 (4a) of the Constitution to provide employees belonging to the Scheduled Castes with the benefit of seniority to grant them promotions on the basis of roster.

Aroma’s filth irks welfare panel
Chandigarh, September 1
The Sector 22-C Chandigarh Welfare Association yesterday alleged that the Aroma Hotel kept its handdriven cart full of filth and rubbish in the passage between the hotel and SCF 1 and 2. This was a matter of great concern for all residents of the area. It also produced a foul smell and it was causing health problems as well.

Saini samaj to field nominee for Vidhan Sabha poll
Zirakpur, September 1
The Saini Constituency Committee of the Saini Samaj will field its own candidate in the Vidhan Sabha elections if their candidates are not given ticket by political parties. This was decided in a Saini samelan organised by the Saini Samaj, Halka Banur here on today.

Saplings planted
Chandigarh, September 1
The Mayor of Chandigarh, Ms Harjinder Kaur, today said that the rich Indian culture and heritage should be preserved. The Mayor, who was the chief guest at a sapling plantation and prize distribution function at Government Senior Secondary School in Sector 35 here, emphasised the all-round development of the personality of the youth.

Medicinal saplings planted
Chandigarh September 1
It was a day full of extracurricular activities at the Government College of Education, Sector 20, here today. More than 30 saplings of medicinal and ornamental plants were planted on the college premises by the college’s NSS unit.

• Bansal to lead delegation to S. Africa
• Free veterinary camp by PFA
• Tribune employee bereaved

2 cars collide, 2 hurt
Chandigarh, September 1
Two persons sustained injuries after two cars rammed into each other here this evening in Sector 29. A blue Premier Padmani car (CH-01-M-44) rammed into a white Maruti car (CH - 03D - 2306) injuring Satish, driver of the Maruti and Sunil, another occupant of the car. Driver of Padmini car escaped from the accident spot.

Robbery bid accused sent to police remand
Chandigarh, September 1
Sanjay Kumar and other two persons involved in an unsuccessful attempt at robbery at a house in Sector 35 were sent to two days’ police remand by a local court here today.

Body found
SAS Nagar, September 1
Body of an unidentified man was found near the truck union premises in Phase VI here today. Vehicle drivers at the scene said that the man, aged around 50, had fallen down nearby last night and appeared to be under the influence of liquor. 

Sarpanch killed in mishap
Panchkula, September 1
The Sarpanch of Devinagar village, Ramesh Kumar (55), died here today when a CTU bus rammed into a scooter on which he was sitting. His brother sustained injuries and was taken to hospital.

Two held for stealing clothes
Chandigarh, September 1
The local police arrested Manoj Kumar and Barjesh Kumar, both residents of Colony No. 5, allegedly for stealing clothes from a jhuggi in the colony here yesterday. The two were reportedly caught red handed. Mr Lalit Kumar was the complainant.

BUSINESS

ROADSIDE ENTREPRENEURS
Selling paranthas at night
Chandigarh
Where does someone who lands in the city at an odd hour or a hostel inmate who misses his dinner, go for food ? The choice before most of them is to go to the roadside vendors selling parathas and omelettes. There are only a few restaurants in the city which remain open till late in the night.

Industrial body flays RINL decision
Chandigarh, September 1
The Chandigarh Industrial Fastners Association has criticised the steep hike in the rates of MS round by the Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited. According to Mr A. L. Aggarwal, president, within a period of five months from March, the RINL has increased the rate by Rs 1,120 to Rs 1,366 per MT. 

CAMPUS ROUND-UP
The row over classroom lectures
Chandigarh
A sharp difference of opinion has emerged between the parents and children of Panjab University and affiliated colleges over the UGC proposal to have a minimum attendance of 75 per cent in an academic session. The unprecedented rally of students on the university campus has shown their reservation about increasing the percentage from the existing 66. 

Intra-college competitions conclude
Chandigarh, September 1
The acting prowess of MCM DAV College, Sector 36, students was put to a gruelling test on the last day of the three-day intra-college competitions here today. One act plays were held in the college by students of various classes, which produced some wonderful performances.

Cultural show by school students
Chandigarh, September 1
Patriotic songs and rhythmic dances filled the air as underprivileged students of the Sector 25 Government High School presented a cultural programme at the Sector 15 DAV Model School here today. The programme was prepared by them under the guidance of the teachers.

COURTS

CONSUMER COURTS
Commission dismisses appeal by agency
Chandigarh, September 1
The UT Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission today dismissed an appeal moved by Stic Travels Private Limited against an order passed by the District Consumer Forum. Aggrieved by the order passed by the Consumer Forum-II the agency had filed the appeal under Section 15 of the CP Act against it.

FILM REVIEW
Rekha, Madhuri, Manisha all the way
‘Lajja’ ( Piccadily) is an enchanting collage of different but striking stories of woman fortitude woven together into an artistic ensemble. Manisha Koirala is the string that binds the beads of lives of Madhuri Dixit, Rekha and Mahima Chaudhary in a saga of social, economic and mental blocks that a woman faces in everyday life. 

WESTERN FILM REVIEW
In the known Seagal mould
Chandigarh
He was unbeatable once. He is unbearable now. How can one bear the sight of Steven Seagal making a spectacle of himself by playing cop-by-day and vigilante- by-night? The more one sees him joining forces with mafia don DMX to bust a cop-run drug racket in “Exit Wounds” (Kiran), the worse one feels. 

Cultural function today
Chandigarh, September 1
The Resident Welfare Association Joint Action Committee, Sector 38 West, will organise a cultural programme in collaboration with the Punjab Public Relations Department at Sector 38 tomorrow.

HEALTH

Talk on congenital heart diseases
Chandigarh, September 1
A talk on congenital heart diseases was held at IMA Hall, Sector 35, here today. Dr G.S. Kochhar, President, IMA, Chandigarh, in his inaugural address mentioned that in India 1 per cent of the population suffered from congenital birth defects, out of which 50 per cent of these defects were congenital cardiac diseases. 

CBRWs training starts
Chandigarh, September 1
Training for the second batch of Community Based Rehabilitation Workers  under the National Programme for the Rehabilitation for the Persons with Disabilities started today at the State Resource Center, GMCH. Inaugurating the programme, Director Principal, GMCH, Prof SBS Mann, talked about the causes and prevention of various disorders which eventually result into disabilities.

Health camp at Alipur village
Chandigarh, September 1
A village health camp was organised by the medical staff of Station Medicare Centre, Air Force Station, Chandigarh, under the aegis of the Air Force Wives Welfare Association (local) 12 Wing Air Force, at Alipur village, located near High Grounds, on the outskirts of Chandigarh.

Cancer detection camp today
Panchkula, September 1
Haryana Governor Babu Parmanand will inaugurate a free cancer detection-cum-awareness camp at Kaiser Hospital, in Sector 21, here tomorrow. Dr Gurdas S. Gurnani, Medical Director of the hospital, said that a team of expert doctors would examine and guide the registered patients.

Tushar wins tennis title
Chandigarh, September 1
Tushar Liberhan of St John’s High School, Sector 26, today won the below 16 singles title in the All India Tennis Association ranking tennis tournament which concluded here today at Bangalore. As per a fax message reaching here, Tushar defeated Aditya Madkekar of Maharashtra in the finals 7-6(11-9), 6-0. 

• Inter-school matches

• Ball badminton

• MCA XI win

Sports day evokes little zeal
Chandigarh
National Sports Day was celebrated all over the country on August 29. When a section of sportspersons in the city were posed this question, 95 per cent of them expressed ignorance about it, this being a new concept for them. The UT Sports Department held an exhibition football match between SAI trainees and the Chandigarh Football Academy and also a run-for-fun.

• BASKETBALL TOURNAMENTS