The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

EDUCATION

CBSE to appoint retired teachers for evaluation
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, January 25
The Central Board of Secondary Examinations (CBSE) has decided to prepare a pool of retired teachers of its affiliated schools ( below 65 years of age) to consider them for appointing as examiners at nodal centers for evaluation of theory answer scripts of the board’s classes X and plus two examinations for this session.

All retired teachers having experience in teaching classes X and plus two and who are interested in undertaking board’s evaluation work may submit their bio-data to the Regional Officer, CBSE, Sector 32, Mr Yog Raj Sachdeva by February 5.

Mr Sachdeva said that this exercise had been undertaken in order to expedite evaluation work as also to get experienced evaluation. He said,“ the final decision will be taken on receiving all such applications to be submitted by them by February 5. It is needless to point out that the teachers to be appointed shall have to work for the evaluation of answer books in various subjects for classes X and plus two at the nodal centers only.”

Schools celebrate R-Day
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 25
Dutt Vishesh School, Sector 26, today held a function to celebrate Republic Day.

The chairperson of the school, Mrs Sharda Dutt, unfurled the national flag followed by singing of national anthem. Four houses of the school presented group songs, dances, pageants and a fancy dress show.

A one-minute silence was observed in the memory of Gujarat earthquake victims.

The Principal of the school, Mrs Brijbala Singh, apprised the students of the importance of the day .

Meanwhile, Saint soldier International School, Sector 28, also held a function to celebrate Republic Day. The school organised a cultural programme at its campus here today.

Speeches, patriotic song, poems and shabad recitation were the highlights of the function.

Mrs Lalit Joshi, Mayor of Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh, was the chief guest. Mrs Madhu Bansal presided over the function.

PANCHKULA
Republic Day was celebrated at Satluj Public School with a reverence and fervour. The programme started with the unfurling of the National Flag followed by the National Anthem .

A quiz was organised on India’s freedom struggle. A poetry recitation competition based on patriotic themes was also held with students from different classes participating. A cultural programme on songs and group dances was also organised.

Students of Manav Mangal School also celebrated the day with enthusiasm. A fancy dress competition organised on the occasion had the students dressed up as national leaders. A dance competition was also held.

SAS NAGAR
The Sohana and Chandigarh branches of Golden Bells Public School today organised a function to celebrate Republic Day. The students took part in poetry recitation, and speech contests. The in charge of the schools, Mrs Gurjit Bawa, called upon the students to follow the path shown by national heroes.

The students of Aanchal Preparatory School in Phase XI here organised a cultural programme to celebrate the day. Traditional dances, food habits and costumes of different states were depicted by the students in an interesting manner.

Gaurav, Kriti win in debate
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, January 25
Students from various schools of the city spoke passionately on the topic “Security cannot be achieved at the point of a gun” while taking part in a debate on “Power of Reasoning” organised by the Students’ Zone at the auditorium of Government Museum and Art Gallery in Sector 10 here today.

The judges for the debate were Dr Deepti Gupta, Reader, Department of English, Panjab University, Dr A.K. Shaida from the Department of English, Government College for Girls, Sector 11 and Dr Rakesh Dutta, Head of Defence Studies, Panjab University.

The contest was won by Gaurav Chibber from St. Stephen’s School, Sector 45 , followed by Kriti of Sacred Heart School, Sector 26, in the second position. The third prize was own by Kshitiz of St. Xavier’s School, Panchkula. Gursimranjeet Singh of St. Xavier’s, Panchkula, was awarded with the special judges’ prize.

COURTS

HIGH COURT
No arbitrariness in work allocation
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 25
The Punjab and Haryana High Court, in a significant judgement, has ruled that the government’s decision regarding the pay scale and the allocation of departments to its employees cannot be arbitrary.

Delivering the verdict, a Division Bench of the High Court, comprising Mr Justice Swatanter Kumar and Mr Justice Mehtab Singh Gill, also ruled that employees discharging similar duties and functions, possessing similar qualifications, must be treated equally.

In their detailed order, the Bench held: “It is true that the government is competent to decide which particular category of employees is to work in a department and what would be the scale payable to them. But the decision of the government cannot be arbitrary....”

The Bench also allowed a petition filed by Surinder Bhushan and nine electricians, along with regular mechanics. The Judges further directed the state of Haryana, besides other respondents, to place the petitioners in the pay scale of Rs 480-760 with effect from February 1, 1981, and a pay scale of Rs 1200-2040 with effect from January 1, 1986. The petitioners would also be “entitled to consequential relief of recovery of arrears which would be restricted to 38 months preceding the date of writ petition”.

Relax terms for incumbent teachers

Taking up a writ petition challenging an advertisement reissued after modifying the qualifications for recruiting social studies masters and mistresses, Mr Justice Mehtab Singh Gill of the High Court today directed the state of Haryana and other respondents to provide “relaxation in the modified conditions of the subject combination to the petitioners already occupying the post of masters and mistresses for two to five years”.

Pronouncing the orders on a petition filed by Vijay and others, Mr Justice Gill added: “The respondents are further directed to make selections and appointments of the petitioners if they came in the zone of selection of social studies masters and mistresses”.

Orders reserved

Mr Justice R.C. Kathuria of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Thursday reserved orders on an application filed by Haryana’s on-leave Director General of Police S.P.S. Rathore for quashing of an order directing the addition of Section 306 of the IPC, regarding abetment to suicide, to the charge sheet.

Challenging the order passed on October 23 last year by CBI’s Special Judicial Magistrate at Ambala allowing an application for adding the section, Rathore, in his petition, had claimed that order was illegal, manifestly wrong and deserved to be set aside. Giving details, he had submitted that the fact regarding Ruchika’s suicide had not even been prima facie established from the statements recorded during the investigations. Rathore further submitted that it was nowhere mentioned in the charge sheet that he was in any manner responsible for Ruchika’s death. He had asserted that there was no connection between Ruchika’s death on December 29, 1993 and the alleged act of molestation on August 12, 1990.

AICTE told to inspect college

Legal Correspondent adds: On a writ petition filed by Longowal College of Pharmacy, Dera Bassi , Patiala, seeking a direction to the All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) to grant approval for the engineering course in three streams to the college for the 2002-2003 session, Mr Justice G S Singhvi and Ms Justice Bhakshish Kaur directed the council to inspect the college within three weeks and submit a report within four weeks. If the college was found deficient in infrastructural facilities for running the course, a speaking order be passed and communicated to the petitioner.

The Bench further directed that if infrastructure was found in order, then the council should convey its approval within a week. It also directed that after grant of approval the Punjab Board of Technical Education should accord affiliation to the institute for admitting students to engineering courses.

Extend same perks to judicial officers: HC
Saurabh Malik
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 25
Coming down heavily on the state of Haryana for apparently not providing "all those privileges to judicial officers which were available to members of the administrative executive", a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed that that "either an adequate transport facility shall be provided to each officer or a reasonable amount shall be sanctioned by way of transport allowance so that the officer is able to use his or her own vehicle and is adequately reimbursed for maintenance and other costs".

Delivering the verdict, the Bench, comprising Mr Justice Jawahar Lal Gupta and Mr Justice V.M. Jain, ruled: "The case was decided by this court vide its judgement dated July 15, 1997. More than four years have elapsed. Despite a specific direction that the judicial officers shall be given at least all those privilege which are available to a member of the administrative executive, the needful does not appear to have been done. In the process, the judicial officers continue to suffer".

Fixing February 8 as the next date of hearing, the Judges added: "We hope and trust that the state government would take a reasonable view, failing which the court may be constrained to give appropriate directions".

Going into the background of the case, the Bench observed: "The matter was posted before the Bench on December 7 last year. It was contended on behalf of the judicial officers that the transport facilities provided by the state to them were not at par with those given to the members of the Civil Services (Executive). It was also pointed out that one car was given to five judicial officers. Most of them have also been provided with gunmen for security. If five officers have to share a vehicle, there is no room for a gunman. It has also been brought to our notice that only 60 litres of petrol is provided per month".

They further observed: "Counsel appearing for the state asserts that the matter is under consideration and further points out that it has been decided to provide one vehicle to four judicial officers instead of five. In our view, this is not adequate. If four officers have to share a vehicle, there would be no room for even one gunman to travel. Still further, the quantity of petrol, (60 litres per vehicle) is also not adequate.... Mr Surya Kant, Haryana Advocate-General, has appeared on our asking. It is directed that he will obtain instructions from the state government".

CULTURE

Kids perform with patriotic fervour
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 25
Subtle, spicy and well-structured this would best describe the UT Administration’s cultural programme held at Tagore Theatre on the eve of the Republic Day. It was anything but a routine “government function.” From beginning till the end, the roost was ruled by children of government model schools, who spilled magic on the stage with every presentation. In fact, they richly deserved every penny of the Rs 31,000 grant announced later by the Adviser to UT Administrator, Ms Neeru Nanda, who was the chief guest.

By the end of the function, the ambience was so full of patriotic fervour that even top officials of the UT Administration — Ms Neeru Nanda and Home Secretary R.S. Gujral could not escape the excitement. So when the students of Government Model School, Sector 44 concluded the show with a vigorous bhangra presentation, they had Ms Nanda and Mr Gujral trying to match steps with them.

The show commenced with Saraswati Vandana by the students of Government Model School, Sector 32. For Talent came to the fore in the patriotic song presented by students of Government Model School, Sector 27, students as also in the Haryanavi dance presented by the girls of Government Model School, Sector 35.

As always the Government Model School, Sector 20, kept up its tradition of presenting a qawwali. A group of about 40 students sung verses dedicated to the greatness of India: A Liliput dance was presented by kids of Jawahar Navyodaya. There was also a skit on the theme of patriotism presented by boys of Government Model School, Sector 16.

Two boys of St Mary’s School, Sector 45, almost had the gathering on its feet. The students of Government Model School, Sector 19, presented a dance on a medley of songs. Present also during the function were DC Mr Ramsekhar, DPI, Schools, Mr D.S. Saroya and Director, Public Relations Mr Vivek Atray.

Moving tribute to maestro
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, January 25
There could not have been a better way to pay tribute to great maestro Pawan Kumar Verma on his second death anniversary than the programme presented by his two sons and disciples. They played various musical instruments in sync creating an atmosphere filled with magical moments. The event took place at the Bhaskar Rao Indoor Auditorium at Pracheen Kala Kendra in sector 35.

“Taal kacheri”, as the name suggested was a confrontation among the upcoming musical experts of a unique kind, with Swarit Verma and Avirbhav Verma , Gautam Dhar and Narendra on tabla ,Sandeep on esraj and Shrinivas on harmonium, charging the mood with challanges without the cutting edges of a verbal confrontation which could only be possible through music.

Commencing the recital with “uthan” in teen taal, they moved onto present peshkar, quidas, tukde, rela and many more. The highlight of the evening was when the disciples recited the ‘bol’ and then play them on the tabla which was as vocal as any language.