The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

EDUCATION

It is study time as board exams approach
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 26
The D-day for students appearing for the CBSE Board examinations for Class X and XII draws closer with the examinations slated to begin on March 1, the students have already received their roll numbers and datesheets. Neck-deep in their studies, it is sleepless nights and revisions for students living through the nightmare called ``Board examination fever’’. According to the datesheet released by the CBSE office, the Class X examinations will conclude on March 18 with the English Course A and B papers while the last examination for Class XII is scheduled for April 5. While a couple of holidays between each examination have been given to Class X students, only a day separates their Science and Hindi Course A and B papers.

The examinations for the region, however, begin on March 2 with the Social Science paper followed by the Science examination with and without practicals on March 5.

With one-day’s break, on March 7, the course A and B papers of Hindi will be held. Students of local schools felt the need for more holidays for this examination, the paper being slightly lengthy. There is a lot of optimism and faith of doing well among students with the CBSE incorporating a number of changes in the pattern of the Maths paper which will be held on March 13. While students have welcomed the change, apprehensions are writ large on the kind of paper that actually lands in their hands. The examinations finish on March 18.

The Class XII examinations begin on a relatively cool note with English Elective and Core on March 1 followed by Hindi Elective and Core on March 4. While the Maths papers scheduled for March 6, students pursuing the Science stream will take their Chemistry paper on March 11. A subject not only popular with the Arts and Commerce stream but with Science students as well for the marks it fetches on account of a practical exam, the Physical Education exam will be held on March 13.

For the Arts stream, Political Science and History have been fixed for March 15 and March 20, respectively, followed by Physics on March 22.

The datesheet for other optional subjects usually chosen is as follows: Geography (March 23), Economics (March 26), Computer Science (April 1), Sociology (April 2). Home Science (April 3), Psychology (April 4).

Seminar on role of religion in nation building
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 26
The Panjab University Campus Students Council in collaboration with the Yuva Sankalp Sangathan organised a seminar on ‘Role of religion in nation building’ at Gandhi Bhavan, Panjab University, here yesterday.

The seminar was presided over by Mr R.C. Nayyar, Secretary, Civil Aviation, Punjab, and Member Secretary, Disinvestment Commission.

Those who spoke on the occasion included Swami Pitambaranand, Secretary, Ramakrishna Mission, Mohammad Maulana Afzal Khan, Shahi Imam, Jama Masjid, Father Naresh Paul, Priest of Hallomajra Church, Didi Krishankanta, Chairperson, International Brahm Rishi Mission, and renowned historian Gurdarshan Singh Dhillon.

Swami Pitambaranand said Indian society was proud of its diversity and every individual of the society should be respected. Mohammad Afzal said, “Islam teaches universal brotherhood and any person indulging in terrorism cannot be a true Muslim.”

Father Paul advocated mutual trust among people of different religious affiliations. Didi Krishankanta spoke about healthy life through spiritualism. Professor Dhillon said religion and nationalism are inter-contradictory concepts.

Prize distribution function at GCG-11
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 26
As many as 320 students were awarded prizes for excelling in academics and other activities at the 45th annual prize distribution function of Government College for Girls, Sector 11, held here today.

As many as fifty-five students were decorated with the Role of Honour for exhibiting exemplary performances in co-curricular and sports activities. Daljeet Kaur was declared best all-round athlete, Deepika got the award for best NCC Cadet, Geetanjali Dhankar for best dramatist, Geeta best artist, Silky was declared best donor.

Other award winners include: Prerna, Neha Bansal and manvika for quiz contest, Radhika for Instrumental music, Gurneet Tej for best essayist, Komal for classical vocal, Sandeep for Kabaddi, Neetu Bala for Kho-kho and Prerna Puri was awarded for her performance as College Council President.

The Chief Engineer, UT Administration, Mr Puranjeet Singh, apprectiated the efforts and achievements of all the winners who had brought laurels to the college.

Earlier, the college principal, Ms Vijay Lakshmi, read out the annual report, highlighting the achievements of the students in academics, co-curricular activities, blood donation, environmental awareness, NCC, NSS and sports.

COURTS

HIGH COURT
‘Inquiry report must be placed on record’
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 26
The Punjab and Haryana High Court, in a significant judgement, today ruled that memorandum of relevant facts, prepared during inspection by a Magistrate for proper appreciation of facts in an inquiry, had to be placed on record.

Delivering the verdict on a petition filed by a Rohtak-based ice factory, Mr Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel of the High Court ruled: “The Magistrate has to either get the investigation done or make an inspection note. Section 310 of the CrPC provides for an inspection of any place in which any offence is alleged to have been committed or for properly appreciating the evidence in an inquiry, but a memorandum of relevant facts made at such inspection is required to be placed on record”.

Setting aside the orders passed by Rohtak’s Sub Divisional Magistrate ordering the removal of the factory, the Judge observed: “In view of the discussion, it cannot be held that the local inspection by the SDM was per se unauthorised, though there was procedural defect in as much as a memorandum of the relevant facts observed at such an inspection had not been placed on record”. The Judge also remanded the case to the SDM for passing a fresh order after considering the evidence on record and giving an opportunity to the parties to lead evidence.

Traffic rules

After a Senior Superintendent of Police attached with the Haryana Highway Petrol and Road Safety Organisation asked for directions to the State Government for funds to implement proposals aimed at making travelling safer, including the installation of four speed cameras and training 4,000 teachers, a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Tuesday directed the state counsel to impress upon the authorities concerned the necessity of making finances available through appropriate provision in the Budget.

Issuing the directions on a public interest litigation for the enforcement of traffic rules and the maintenance of signal system, the Bench, comprising Mr Justice G.S. Singhvi and Ms Justice Bakhshish Kaur, added that a portion of money collected by way of challans could also be diverted to the organisation for the implementation of its programmes.

Appearing before the Bench, SSP V. Kamaraja stated that the issue of road safety had been discussed with the National Highway Authority, besides the state of Haryana, and a detailed proposal for training within two months 4,000 teachers of government and private schools had been submitted. He also placed on record a copy of “Curriculum on Road Safety for Children”.

The SSP added that the proposal of installing four speed cameras at Karnal, Panipat, Faridabad and Gurgaon, had also been discussed with the authorities concerned. Giving details of the measures taken and the results achieved, the SSP claimed that the accident rate since the inception of Haryana highway patrol a year ago had gone down by 15 per cent, while the number of accidents and injuries had been reduced by 12 per cent. Last year, 164 lives had been saved compared to the previous year, he asserted.

In his petition, Mr Harish Kumar Puri of Pipli had earlier asked for the construction of rumble strips along with traffic signals at the crossings. He had stated that his 27-year-old son Ashok Puri had died on May 14, 1996 due to complete failure of the signal system.

	48 fined for creating unhygienic conditions Sanjay Sharma Tribune News Service Chandigarh, February 26 A local court here today slapped fines between Rs 50 and Rs 300 on 48 people who were found guilty of creating unhygienic conditions in the city. The Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mr C.L. Mohal, imposed fines on the people in their presence in the court. They were prosecuted by Mr Hardial Singh from the Municipal Corporation. March 18 has been fixed as the next date for similar remaining cases. The court directed fresh summons for those who could not be given earlier summons and warrants to those who did not appear today. The accused were challaned under sections 279, 280, 282 (3), 323 , 333 and 341 of the Punjab Municipal Corporation Act 1976, as extended to UT, Chandigarh. Under section 279 an owner or occupier of a building attracts penalty of Rs 200 for failure to make provision of receptacles. Section 280 is invoked for failure to collect and remove filth and polluted matter by the owner and occupier of the building. A few of them were accused of depositing rubbish and filth etc, in streets under section 283 (3) of the Act. Rest of them were accused of commission of public nuisance under Section 323:, use of places other than municipal slaughter house under Section 333 and carrying on butchering, fish mongering or polluting trade without licence. Most of them who were found guilty today were from Manimajra and Mauli and a couple of them were from Panchkula and Saharanpur. The Municipal Corporation takes the matter to the court after giving due time to those booked for creating unhygienic conditions in the city. The accused are given an opportunity to deposit the fine with the Municipal Corporation within a prescribed time but if somebody wants to go to court to pay the fine, he or she is given time to do so.
	7-yr RI for culpable homicide Our Correspondent Chandigarh, February 26 Five persons were sentenced to seven years of rigorous imprisonment under charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder by a local court today. The accused —Parmod Kumar Sharma, Ashok Kumar, Sundrika Parshad, Sangeshwar Parshad and Hori Lal— were also fined Rs 1,500 each by the UT Additional and Sessions Judge, Mr R.C. Godara. In case of default, they would have to undergo two more months of rigorous imprisonment. The police had registered a case against the accused under Sections 302, 342, 506 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code. The complainant, Mr Avdesh Kumar, alleged that on May 16, 1999, the accused Parmod Kumar Sharma, along with the other accused had tortured the deceased, Upinder Singh, on the suspicion that he had stolen Rs 10,000. Later the victim died at the hospital. Giving details about the incident, the complainant alleged that the accused, Sangeshwar Parshad, asked him to accompany him to a factory owned by the other accused Parmod Kumar Sharma at around 3 p.m. on May 16, 1999. When he reached the factory, he found that the deceased had been tied up and two of the accused were holding sticks in their hand. The deceased was also allegedly given electric shocks. The complainant alleged that when he enquired into the matter, the owner of the factory told him that the deceased had committed a theft of Rs 10, 000. Later, the deceased was taken to the GMCH Sector-32 on a rickshaw. The complainant alleged that on way to the hospital, the deceased informed him that the accused had beaten him up. Later, when the victim was admitted to GMCH, Sector-32, he once again narrated the incident to the complainant in the presence of the two accused at the hospital. Upinder Singh later succumbed to his injuries. The Judge in his order said that “a lenient view cannot be exercised in the matter. The accused have caused the death of a person, taking the law into their own hands. Hence, they do not deserve leniency in the matter of awarding sentence and in my opinion the interest of justice would be met only if they are given severe punishment.”
	Avtar Singh murder case Relatives demand speedy trial Our Correspondent Chandigarh, February 26 Coming out of a local court, more than 30 relatives of the deceased, Avtar Singh, today raised slogans against an Inspector of Punjab Police, Gurmeet Singh “Pinky” who was allegedly involved in Avtar’s murder. They were later directed to leave the court premises by the security personnel deployed there. Gurmeet Singh appeared before the UT District and Sessions Judge, Mr H.S. Bhalla, today morning and the case was adjourned for March 27. The deceased’s relatives raised slogans that the accused should be awarded punishment early and there should be speedy trail. They raised slogans when they came to know that two of the other accused, who had to be produced before the court from Ludhiana failed to reach there and the case had to be adjourned. The father of the deceased, Amrik Singh, talking to The Tribune said that they had come to the court to plead for a speedy trail. The duo, who were late, were brought by Punjab Police personnel and were produced before the court after the judge had adjourned the case. They alleged that due to some technical problem in the vehicle, they had failed to appear before the court in time.
	Customs official remanded Our Correspondent Chandigarh, February 26 Arun Kumar Singla, Customs Inspector who has been arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation(CBI) in a corruption case, was today remanded in judicial custody till March 11 by the UT Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mr C.L Mohal. The CBI had alleged in the FIR that the accused was holding assets worth Rs 1, 35, 79, 888 which were disproportionate to his known sources of income.