EDUCATION

Plea to restore grant-in-aid scheme
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 5
On behalf of the Federation of the Managements, the principals, the teachers and the non-teaching employees of the non-government affiliated colleges of Punjab, Principal PS Sangha, general secretary, appealed to the Punjab Chief Minister to restore 95 per cent grant-in-aid scheme in its original form and save higher education in the state.

In a statement issued here today, Mr Sangha said that owing to the non-release of pending grants amounting to Rs 100 crore since 1999, the non-government aided colleges in Punjab are facing serious financial crunch. He said that the college staff had not been paid salary since September 2001.

He alleged that the casual attitude of the Punjab government was evident from the fact that Rs 21 crore received from the central government as balance of arrears of the revised pay scales had not been released for private colleges while the same had been paid in the case of government colleges.

He added that the government had back-tracked from its committed expenditure under the 95 per cent grant-in-aid scheme and frozen the grant at Rs 72 crore per annum for all 172 colleges of the state.

He lamented that the suggestion of the Finance department asking colleges to enhance resources at the rate of 10 per cent every year for the next five years would lead to manifold increase in fee structure.

“In order to control this damage being done to non-government colleges, the JAC has called a `Save higher education’ convention on January 10 at the Law Auditorium, in Panjab University. The JAC has extended an open invitation to the representatives of various students’ organisations, political parties and other educationists.

The JAC threatened to intensify its stir against the Punjab Government if step-motherly treatment to them continued.

CAMPUS ROUND UP
PU begins overhaul
Sanjeev Singh Bariana
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 5
Panjab University has initiated various steps to bring on track derailed administrative and academic bogies of one of the premier educational institutes of the country.

Addressing the Panjab University Senate recently, Prof K.N. Pathak, Vice-Chancellor, said “We are trying to strengthen the credibility of the examination system and admission policies while reviewing our academic calendar, recruitment policy and procedures. There is also an endeavour to create proper work ethos by streamlining the system and stressing the need for bringing transparency in the system”.

PU is going through a severe financial crunch. The university has sought support of the members of the Senate on various issues of academic and administrative importance as also in finding out ways to overcome difficult situations, including the financial one the university is facing today.

In the last meeting of the Consultative Committee held in Delhi recently, there was a discussion about the teaching and non-teaching posts lying vacant in universities. It was decided that the ratio of teaching and non-teaching posts should be brought down. Professor Pathak said “In the meeting I had strongly advocated that filling of vacant posts (both in the teaching and non-teaching cadres) should be kept in abeyance and not abolished. It was, however, decided that vacant posts on the teaching side should be kept in abeyance and the posts on the non-teaching side should be abolished”.

The Vice-Chancellor proposed that the university should again take up the issue of abolition of vacant posts (non-teaching) with the Ministry of Human Resource and Development. “Till then, we may fill the vacant posts strictly on need basis, in case of both teaching and non-teaching staff, and continue granting promotions to them in accordance with rules and regulations.”

It was also pointed out that the Central Government had approved university budget with the raise of 8 per cent deficit for the year 2000-2001 with directives to both the sharing governments (UT and Punjab).

It has been pointed out that “while taking a decision on the issue, the fact that PU is an affiliating university was perhaps not taken into account. PU caters to need of as many as 108 affiliated colleges. The university is looking after all aspects relating to examinations right from admissions to conduct of examinations, including declaration of results.” The ratio of non-teaching staff and students in PU is already very high (1:165) as compared to other universities in the region.

The Senate observed a two-minute silence to condemn the terrorist attack on the Parliament House on December 13.

LLB pass-outs to get licences
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, January 5
Students who had passed their LLB examinations from Muktsar Regional College and had their cases pending before the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana, will be granted licences subject to the decision of the Bar Council of India. A decision to this effect was taken by the Bar Council during a meeting of the enrollment committee held here today.

The council also decided to grant Rs 5.5 lakh to the kin of advocates in case of unnatural death. The elections to the council would be held in November this year. Members of the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana were asked not to issue statements which would encourage advocates to solicit work from district courts in violation of Rule 36 of the Advocate’s Act.

The issue relating to the release of licences was pending since a long time and the issue regarding the grant of relief in cases of unnatural death was “a main issue during elections”.

The Vice-Chairman of the Bar Council of India, Mr B.S. Rathore, was also present at the meeting.

The council also approved grants to various district bar associations of Punjab and Haryana and constituted a committee to deal with cases where advocates had gone to district courts for procuring work.

Students welcome migratory birds
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, January 5
Over 1100 students from Chandigarh, SAS Nagar and Panchkula, with placards in their hands, marched at the promenade of the Sukhna lake here today to welcome migratory birds.

The birds come here this time every year from as far as Russia, Central Asia and the upper Himalayan region. The welcome ceremony for the winged visitors was held at the regulator end of the lake this year also by the Children’s Alliance for the Protection of Environment. Students from different schools, including St John High School, Shishu Niketan School, CL DAV Public School, Panchkula, Moti Ram Arya Senior Secondary School and CL Aggarwal DAV School, Sector 7, reached the regulator end walking from the main gate of the lake.

The function was inaugurated by the Chief General Manager of the Chandigarh Industrial and Tourism Development Corporation, Mr N.S. Brar, with a bird identification contest. As many as 700 children participated in the “migratory birds contest”. Students also joined to clean the lake at the end of the function.

The president, Environment Society of India, Mr S K Sharma, said, ‘’About 1400 birds have arrived at the lake this time. The lake is a camp for these birds but they mainly like to stay at the Chattbir zoo. The birds include bar headed geese, grey lag geese, mallard, coot, cormorants, pochards spot bills and brahiminy ducks.’’

The function was sponsored by the Commonwealth Youth Programme and CITCO.

The results are as follows:

Painting contest : First- Vijay Kumar, second — Vishali Vishwas and third — Kamljit Kaur. Consolation prizes : Ram Shankar, Tania Sarhadi and Deepika Khanna. Group B: First — Harpreet Kaur, Second — Gaurav and third — Priyanka. Group C: First — Ruby.

Bird identification : First — Rakesh, second — Munish and third — Gaurav.

Group dance: Moti Ram Arya School, Panchkula. Group song: St Johns High School.

Solo dance : First — Nitish, second — Yukti and third — Nikita. Group B: Vishali Vishwas and Poonam Dogra.

Slum children get woollens
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 5
A colourful cultural programme was organised at the Government High School, Sector 40-A, on the school campus. At the function, free woollens to children from the slum studying in the school were distributed.

The headmaster, Mr Bahadur Singh, welcomed the guests and informed that 51 poor students were given woollens as a part of the school’s endeavour to help the slum children to meet their needs.

The chief guest, Mr Balraj Singh, assured the school authorities of all kinds of financial assistance for the needy students. Students presented a lively programme comprising dances, songs, poems among others.

The president of the Parent Teacher Association, Mr Sham Lal, presented the vote of thanks and assured full cooperation to the school in its social welfare activities.

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Art and craft items were on display at the annual exhibition organised by students of Dev Samaj Junior Model School, Sector 21, on its premises, here today.

Various models depicting the cultural unity and religions of India were among the many exhibits on display. The outstanding project of the day was a slate, hidden behind a cobweb, indicating the growing distance between students and teaching methods adopted to impart education.

Art items included painted pots, hand-painted and embroidered handkerchiefs, murals and items of papier mache. The students had prepared boxes out of greeting cards and telephone, hookah and flute among other items out of pieces of broken crockery and glassware. Charts conveying messages of necessity of discipline and cleanliness were also put up.

The Principal, Ms Urmil Sharma, said the annual exhibition aimed to increase application of mind and emphasise the practical aspect of education.``The exhibition provides every child an opportunity to choose a subject and work on it, enabling him to study the subject in depth and prepare a project,’’ she said.

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The former students of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Sector 25, organised a cultural programme in collaboration with students of the school to mark the alumni meet, here today.

The old students recalled their days at the school and participated in various contests held on the occasion. Tambola was also organised for the staff and students.

The Principal, Mr CM Sharma, honoured the old students and presented a memento.

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The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad organised a prize distribution function to felicitate toppers of the general knowledge test conducted on November 11 at Sharda Sarvhitkari Senior Secondary School, Sector 40, here today.

The chief guest, Mr Rajesh Gupta, councillor, municipal corporation, gave away cash prizes of Rs 1,000, Rs 750 and Rs 500 to the winners of the contest. The programme was presided over by Mr B.S. Kanwar, principal of the school.

COURTS

Row over implementation of amended NDPS Act
Saurabh Malik
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 5
Controversy shrouds the implementation of the amended Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act as it is applicable to cases under investigation or pending before courts, and not to cases at the stage of appeal, even though appeal is considered by legal experts to be a continuation of the trial.

In an attempt to resolve the issue, the Punjab and Haryana High Court, in a significant judgement, has notified the Advocate-Generals of both states, along with Chandigarh’s public prosecutor, about the matter as the “question affects a number of cases”.

Even though the amended Act provides for sentence less than 10 years, a proviso added to the relevant section says “nothing in the Act shall apply to cases pending in an appeal”. Legal luminaries, on the other hand, insist: “Cases pending in the trial and in the appeal stand on the same footing”. They claim that “an appeal is a continuation of the trial and there is no rationale behind treating the two as different”. They further argue that the “proviso also violates Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution”.

The reported violation came to the notice of the high court while taking up an appeal filed by a Hisar resident, Ran Singh, sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for 10 years, besides being directed to pay a fine of Rs 1 lakh — the minimum sentence under the Act.

Taking a serious view of the matter, Mr Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel of the high court, in an order, observed: “The Act of 1985 has been amended by Act 9 of 2001…. Under clause B of the amended Act, there is a discretion to award lesser sentence, rather there is no minimum sentence provided. Section 41 of the amended Act makes amendment applicable to all cases pending investigation or pending before the courts, but a provision added to this section says nothing in the Act shall apply to cases pending in an appeal. Counsel for the appellant contends that trial and the appeal stand on the footing…. This is an important question that will affect a number of cases”.

For ending the confusion, Mr Justice Goel ruled: “Before taking any final decision in the matter, it will be necessary to hear the Central Government’s standing counsel, since the statute involved is a Central Act. It will, therefore, be in the interest of justice that the public prosecutor of Chandigarh, along with the Advocate-Generals of Punjab and Haryana, are notified about the hearing of the case”. The matter will come up for further hearing on January 14.

DISTRICT COURTS
Bail denied
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, January 5
A local court yesterday dismissed a bail plea moved by an accused in an illicit liquor case. It was alleged that Vikas had been involved in a case along with another accused, Harinder Pal Singla, a liquor contractor.

It was alleged that on July 24 a fire that broke out in a factory in Industrial Area, Phase I, had shown that the factory owned by Harjinder was actually an illicit liquor manufacturing and bottling plant. It was also alleged that the police had recovered around 3,500 litres of illicit liquor in the form of pouches, while thousands of litres of rectified spirit (ethyl alcohol used for making liquor), artificial flavours and labels of popular brands were also recovered the factory.

Bail granted: An accused, Anil Kumar, a resident of Sector 27, was yesterday granted bail on furnishing bail bond of Rs 20, 000 by a local court in a case of assault. The complaint against the accused had been lodged by Mr Daljit Singh.

Court order on club encroachments
Our Legal Correspondent

Chandigarh, January 5
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has ordered the UT Administration to show cause why directions should not be issued for the removal of encroachments made by the Chandigarh Club in Sector 1.

Taking cognizance of a new-item appearing in the media, Justice G. S. Singhvi and Justice Bakshish Kaur ordered the Estate Officer to file a reply in the form of an affidavit within seven days, detailing the action taken by the UT Administration for removing encroachments.

It was reported that the Chandigarh Club had gobbled about 5 acres of prime land belonging to the UT Administration.

CULTURE

Cultural show for senior citizens
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, January 5
A cultural show was organised by the Lions club and Lioness club of Panchkula Central for senior citizens at the Old Age Home in Sector 15 here during a special fortnight of service projects. As many as 19 inmates are staying in the complex.

Students from the city and Panchkula, besides children from Sadhna Physically and Mentally Handicapped Society and Nari Niketan participated in the function by crooning religious songs and dancing to the beat of western music.

Presiding over the function, Mr R.S. Duggal and Ms Shashi Kulthiala, presented a set of audio cassettes of Ramanaya. The club president, Dr Pawan K. Kamra, expressed gratitude to the school authorities for the organising the event. He also informed that the club would be organising a dental check-up camp, besides traffic awareness camp, along with drawing and painting competition for schoolchildren in the near future.