EDUCATION

Board involves varsity dons in exam work
Our Correspondent

SAS Nagar, March 5
The Punjab School Education Board has decided to involve college and university teachers to help in the conduct of matriculation and plus 2 examinations which are beginning tomorrow.

At least 30 teachers from Punjab Agricultural University, Punjabi University and colleges have been requisitioned for the purpose. Some of them will act as observers while others will be part of the flying squads for the examinations.

Giving this information here today, the Chairman of the board, Dr Kehar Singh, said it had been decided to involve university and college teachers in the examination work because they had no vested interest to boost the board results and wanted “right” students in higher education. The step was a part of the measures being taken to streamline the examination work and check copying.

He said there were 40 other members of the flying squads which include DEOs, CEOs and members of the board and Academic Council.

Dr Kehar Singh said that now it had also been decided not to issue a separate detail marks card (DMC) as at times this had been misused. Now a certificate-cum-DMC would be issued to examination candidates. Besides, eight or nine easily identifiable “security features” would be added to such cards. These would be printed at a security press and it would not be possible to reproduce them easily.

As many as 180 examination centres have been identified as “problem centres” by the board authorities. Such centres are there throughout Punjab but most of them are in areas like Amritsar and Gurdaspur.

The Chairman said the board would ensure that observers or members of the flying-squad were present at such problem centres during the entire three hour duration of the examination. He said apart from the flying squads, the board had set up 60 three-member teams, each headed by a superintendent or an official of higher rank, for areas which the flying squads would not be able to cover.

He said this year efforts had been made to allot examination centres to students on the basis of their permanent address. Earlier students used to opt for centres of their choice.

PCCTU to take part in protest
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 5
Members of the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union (PCCTU) will participate in the protest march to Parliament tomorrow on a call given by the All-India Federation of University College Teachers Organisation (AIFUCTO).

While the march will begin in front of the UGC building at 11 am, a meeting of all heads of teachers’ organisations from various states, including those of the central universities, will be held to decide the future course of action at Banga Bhavan.

The march is being organised to lodge a protest against the non-implementation of an agreement between the AIFUCTO and the Union Human Resource Development Minister, Mr Murli Manohar Joshi.

Under the agreement, the teaching staff in 200 universities and 11,000 colleges were supposed to get revised pay scales and benefits of the career advancement scheme from January 1, 1996, instead of July 27, 1998, and third promotion scheme to be extended to all lecturers with minimum 19 years and maximum 25 years experience.

The government had also committed to give Rs 14,940 to the Director, Physical Education, and college librarians placed in Rs 3,700 to Rs 5,700 pre-revised pay scale and having minimum five years teaching experience in the selection grade or as Readers.

The other demands of the AIFUCTO include allocation of more funds for education in general and elementary education in particular, no retreat by the government from funding higher education and protecting the secular nature of education.

Free coaching for meritorious SC/ST students
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 5
Meritorious students belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Other Backward Classes will now be provided free of cost coaching to prepare them for IAS examination and other professional courses.

This scheme is open for those students who have passed Plus 2 exam and are seeking admission to various professional courses like MBBS, BDS, BVSc, BAMS, B.E., B. Architecture, Bachelor of Fine Arts, B. Pharmacy, B.Sc (Nursing). Degree/Diploma in Hotel Management, Degree/Diploma in Laboratory Technology etc.

This will be included in a scheme of the Social Welfare Department of the Chandigarh Administrations to provide financial assistance to students belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes for higher studies under the scheme of “free education for meritorious students for higher studies. ’’

The Administration has now expanded the scope of this scheme and shall now be extending the facility of providing free coaching to SC/ST and OBC for IAS and other competitive examinations, provided by the Centre for IAS and other competitive examination, Panjab University.

The candidates who have got admission in the centre and fulfill the eligibility criteria shall be considered under this scheme. It is for the first time that the Department of Social Welfare has decided to provide financial support to the bona fide residents of UT, Chandigarh, for preparation of various competitive examinations. From the next financial year, such candidates will be provided financial assistance for various competitive examinations.

Dharna by students
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 5
The Panjab University Campus Students Council staged a dharna in front of the Vice-Chancellor’s office here today demanding withdrawal of the order to cancel admission of certain MSc (honours school), first-year students. Thr president of the council said nearly 25 students of MSc first-year would face the ‘wrath’ of the university action.

Students said any change in rules and regulations should be conveyed to the students well in advance. They were also demanding improvement examination for MA courses in September along with the supplementary examination.

Physics Deptt plans seminar
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 5
A two-day seminar on “Computational techniques in physics” will be organised by the Department of Physics, Panjab University, on March 6 and 7.

Dr Rajeev K. Puri said the conference would bring experts from various fields on a common platform for discussing the utility of modern computing in science.

Discussing the details of the conference, Dr K. Tankeshwar said nearly 150 delegates were expected to attend. He said the seminar would be inaugurated by Prof K.N. Pathak, Vice-Chancellor, PU, and the keynote address would be given by the Head of the Physics Department, IIT Roorkee.

In addition, an online session on practical utility of recent scientific software would also be organised. He added that the conference would benefit a large number of delegates from diverse fields. A panel discussion would be held on March 7 to discuss various aspects of computing techniques.

Farewell party organised
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, March 5
Psychology had nothing to do with it, but the farewell party organised by the Psycho-Society of Sector 46 Government College gave a clear insight into the working of the human minds. And one thing which became apparent was that everybody wants to dress up “like a queen” even if it is only a department function.

So it was not surprising that so many members of the society came decked up in cheerful bright sarees — some in deep crimson, others in blood red. Few were wearing black, others were clad in purple and mauve. With grace that cannot be compared, they walked up and down the aisle before settling down on the comfortable chairs.

As the time progressed, they came forward to face the crowd and share their experience as members of the society and as students of the college. They delivered sermons about the ways and means of gaining success in studies and in life.

After they had addressed the gathering, the students danced and swayed to the thumping beat of music being mixed by students acting as disc jockeys. Jokes were also shared and students were honoured.

COURTS

HIGH COURT
Show cause to CBI on Dabwali fire
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 5
Nearly seven years after the Dabwali fire, a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today directed Central Bureau of India’s counsel to explain why the investigating agency had failed to make attempts to go into apparent gross negligence on part of the authorities.

Delivering the verdict, the Bench, comprising Mr Justice G.S. Singhvi and Ms Justice Bakhshish Kaur, observed that they were deliberately refraining from describing the action of the then Deputy Commissioner concerned. The High Court had earlier recommended the constitution of special courts for disposing of the compensation claims filed by victims and had directed that certain hospitals would not demand advance for plastic surgery or any other treatment from the patients.

The Bench had also directed that the patients will be given treatment at 10 hospitals, including the AIIMS (Delhi), the Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research at Chandigarh and Rohtak, besides the CMC and DMC at Ludhiana. The Bench added: “The patients, treated at private hospitals, are also entitled to treatment at 10 institutes”.

Plea against Badal rejected

Finding no merit, Mr Justice R.C. Kathuria of the High Court on Tuesday dismissed an application for issuing notice to the former Chief Minister, Parkash Singh Badal, for appearing in court to show cause why he should not be named “for having been guilty of corrupt practices” during an election held in October 2000. Parminder Singh Dhindsa was declared elected in the election.

In a ruling, Mr Justice Kathuria observed: “Manifestly, the application is premature and the same has to be rejected on this ground alone. There is no merit in the application and the same is accordingly dismissed”.

Pass order on notice to Haryana

If allegations in a writ petition filed before the High Court are to be believed, the state of Haryana has failed to fulfil its promise of honouring a martyr.

In her petition, Sunita Devi of Rewari district claimed that the then revenue minister announced a grant of Rs 2 lakh on behalf of former Deputy Prime Minister Devi Lal soon after her husband, serving with 22nd battalion of the CRPF, died in a bomb blast in Assam. She contended that the former minister, while attending the funeral ceremony, also promised that a government school would be renamed after her husband, Satyabir Singh. Her counsel added that no action was taken following which the petitioner was forced to send a legal notice to the state of Haryana and other respondents.

After going through the arguments, a Division Bench headed by Mr Justice Swatanter Kumar, directed the respondents to pass an appropriate speaking order on the legal notice keeping in view the statement made by the minister.

Mining order quashed

Legal Correspondent adds: Taking up a PIL filed by Major-Gen Y.K. Yadav of Gurgaon district challenging the notification issued by the state of Haryana vide which the land of Rozka Gujjar village was notified for mining, a Division Bench of the High Court today quashed these notifications.

In his petition, the Major-General had contended that indiscreet mining, previously allowed in the area, had resulted in deep pits of 150 feet. The state, without reclaiming the area, had, however, issued these notifications.

25 law officer put in papers
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 5
In less than 24 hours after law officers were requested to resign from the posts they were holding following a change in the government, as many as 16 resignations were received by the Punjab Advocate-General’s office.

In all, 25 resignations have been submitted till date. Confirming the information, the Advocate-General, Mr Harbhagwan Singh, when contacted, said the law officers had been clearly told that there was no compulsion but “submission of their resignations would be appreciated by him.”

The officers, he added, were assured that most of resignations would be returned. Even the officers who had initially resigned would be considered for reappointment. Resignation by the old team with the change in the government is a custom being followed by the law officers since a long time.

DISTRICT COURTS
Bail for Youth Cong chief
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, February 5
The Haryana Youth Congress President, Satwinder Singh, was today granted anticipatory bail by a local court in a case of assault and criminal intimidation. He had moved a bail plea on the apprehension that the police might arrest him in the case registered him.

Two other persons, had been granted regular bail in the same case. The city police had registered a complaint against them under Sections 323 and 506 of the IPC on the complaint of Mr Chander Mukhi Sharma.

Plea dismissed

The bail plea moved by Kuljinder Singh, arrested by the CID for helping the Pakistani national, Mohamad Riaz, in preparing forged documents was dismissed by a local court. The other accused, Kehar Singh, Kuljinder Singh and Balbir Singh, and the main accused, Mohamad Riaz, had been remanded in judicial custody.

It had been alleged that Riaz had stayed in Sector 45 under a false name “Vikramjit Singh” in 1999. He had managed to get a forged ration card and passport. The accused had reportedly informed his neighbour that he was a resident of Ferozepore. It was further alleged that the accused had also managed to get the forged identity card from Delhi University.

Two acquitted

A local court acquitted two persons — Dinesh and Devinder — in a case of house trespass. They were acquitted as the charges were not proved.

The case against the accused was registered under Sections 452 and 34 of the IPC on September 8, 1997, on the complaint of Mr Jagtar Singh. It had been alleged that the accused, along with two others, had entered the house of the complainant and threatened him and his relative. It had also been alleged that the accused were carrying a pistol and sticks.

Gambling case

A local court acquitted Bhawani Dutt, a resident of Sector 26, in a case registered against him under the Gambling Act. The case against the accused was registered on February 7, 1999.