The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

EDUCATION

Monumental job for art college
Aditi Tandon
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 1
It is a matter of pride for the city that students of its Government College of Art will be part of the Delhi metro-rail project of the Union Government. Architects working on the project have engaged students of the GCA and the Delhi College of Art to beautify the platform space along the 192 km track.

The work is to be finished in phases; and the first phase has already begun. Focus will be on beautifying the platforms of eight stations between Shahdra and Tees Hazari. Work will be quick because the Prime Minister has to inaugurate the first phase in December. To begin with, the GCA will make six works of art at the Selampur station, including two murals of 50 feet by 20 feet each on two ticket windows.

Besides, the college students will make fibre-glass artworks on three pillars between the ticket windows. A team of 25 chosen from third-year and final-year students will give the finishing touch to the six designs that Prof Brahm Prakash, Principal of the college, has prepared in association with five faculty members. The designs were approved about three days ago when Prof Prakash visited New Delhi.

Prof Prakash, an alumnus of the Delhi College of Art, said: “Material cost of the project and a token amount will be paid. We have received a go ahead on all the basic designs prepared for the Selampur station. The estimated cost of Rs 10.5 lakh for the first phase will soon be sanctioned. The opportunity means a world of exposure for the college students, who will be sent to New Delhi to visualise the site.”

The ticket-window murals will be prepared on the campus here under the Principal’s guidance. The design captures the essence of Delhi and features historical monuments like the Red Fort, the India Gate, Qutab Minar and Jantar Mantar.

“We have consciously avoided abstract themes because commuters should get a feel of reality, hence, the beautiful fairy figures and the images of monuments. We have located the floor where the drawing will be enlarged and mosaic tiles will be fitted. The structures for two windows will, then, be transported and fitted at the Selampur location,” said the Principal. The other three designs feature steel grills in the shape of the Sun on both ends of the upper station and artwork on four stairwells (70 feet by 8 feet each).

By inviting two prestigious institutions of the country to give an aesthetic touch to the project, the Union Government has respected the provisions of Section 73 of the Buildings Act. The Act says that there has to be artwork on at least two per cent of the space on any government building.

Students boycott classes at PU
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 1
Students observed complete boycott of classes in the various science departments of Panjab University here today, following a call given by the Students Organisation of Panjab University (SOPU).

Activists of SOPU went to various departments including botany, chemistry, zoology this morning, urging students to abstain from studies and classwork and join them in their protest against the university’s “indifferent” attitude in addressing problems of the B Sc students.

Just after 10 am, nearly 300 students gathered outside the office of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof K.N. Pathak, and raised slogans against the authorities and in favour of their demands.

SOPU President, Harveer Singh, said the unity of the students would enable them to accomplish their mission and get the nod of the authorities for their “genuine rights”. The university authorities would be responsible for any untoward incident reported on account of the on-going indefinite fast, he added.

The protesting students are demanding provisional admission of students of B.Sc (Honours) final year to MSc I besides provisional admission to students in the second and third year as well. They are also demanding that the examination date for re-exam, recently fixed for August 9, be extended to September and revaluation results declared at the earliest.

Aptitude test

The aptitude test for admission to M.Phil Gandhian and Peace Studies would be held on August 7 at 11 am in the department followed by an interview at 12.15 am, a press note issued by the chairperson said.

Section 144 imposed on PU campus
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, August 1
The UT Administration has imposed Section 144, CrPC, within 200 metres around the Administrative Building and the Vice-Chancellor's office on the Panjab University campus from midnight tonight and would remain in force for a period of six months. This means that assembly of more than five persons may attract police action.

The order attracted sharp criticism from the various student organisations. When contacted, Mr Malwinder Singh Kang, president of the Punjab University Students Union (PUSU), criticised the orders and said, ‘‘We all are fighting for the demands and rights of the student community.’’ Mr Harbir Singh, chairman of the Students Organisation of Panjab University (SOPU), threatened to move court against the orders.

As per information available, from midnight tonight there will be a ban on the assembly of more than five persons within a radius of 200 metres of the offices of the Vice-Chancellor, the Registrar and the Controller of Examinations. The Vice Chancellor, Prof. K.N Pathak, could not be contacted.

ENGINEERING ADMISSIONS
All seats filled
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 1
The first counselling for joint admission to BE and B. Arch courses for 85 per cent UT poll concluded at the Punjab Engineering College here today with the filling up of the 18 vacant seats this morning. The two seats in civil engineering, 15 in metallurgy and one in architecture were taken early in the day and all seats were exhausted at AIEEE rank 15132.

The second counselling for the UT pool for any vacancies would be held from August 21 to 23. This would also include the vacant seats in the reserved category which would be dereserved and converted to the open category.

Discipline Seats
available Seats
filled From To

Punjab Engineering College

Civil 2 2 13510 13568

Metallurgy 15 15 13914 15132

Chandigarh College of Architecture

Architecture 1 1 1194 —

COURTS

HIGH COURT
Drugs Act can apply to appeals
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 1
Ending the controversy over the implementation of amended Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today ruled that the amendment was applicable to appeals also.

The judgement is significant as the amendment permits the court to use its own discretion to award sentences of less than 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment. Controversy had shrouded its implementation as the amended Act was applicable to cases under investigation or pending before courts, and not to cases at the stage of appeal, even though appeal was considered by legal experts to be a continuation of the trial.

Delivering the verdict today, the Bench, comprising Mr Justice R.L. Anand and Mr Justice Hemant Gupta, observed: “Appeals are rehearing and reappraisal of the evidence and the appellant is entitled to agitate all the questions of fact and law before a court of criminal appeal.... Thus, appeal being rehearing of the entire case would be entitled to the benefit of amending Act 9 of 2001”.

In their detailed order, the Judges added: “It is held that Act 9 of 2001 shall be applicable to all cases pending before the courts, or under investigation at the commencement, and shall be disposed of in accordance with the provisions of the principal Act as amended by Act 9, irrespective of the fact whether such cases are pending in appeal or before the trial court”.

Mr Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel of the High Court had earlier 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 an 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 this confusion, Mr Justice Goel had 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 Advocates-General of Punjab and Haryana, are notified about the hearing of the case”.

Pre-arrest bail for magistrate

Granting Sirsa’s City Magistrate Deveshwar Singh interim anticipatory bail in an alleged cheating case, Mr Justice K.S. Garewal of the High Court today directed him to cooperate in the investigation and not to make attempts at winning over the witnesses or tampering with evidence.

Issuing the directions, Mr Justice Garewal observed: “Petitioner is directed to surrender before the Investigating Officer on August 7 at 10 am. Circumstances at this stage may not require his custodial interrogation. Therefore, the petitioner is hereby admitted to interim anticipatory bail on furnishing adequate surety to the satisfaction of the Investigating Officer”.

Claiming to have been implicated in the case, the petitioner had submitted that Sirsa’s Deputy Commissioner started harassing him and a frivolous case was registered following his inability to pay the bill for expenses incurred during the Prime Minister’s visit. Giving details, he had stated that a bill of Rs 22,175 was presented to him after the PM’s visit on September 25 last year. The same was forwarded to the DC as he had verbally directed him to make the arrangements. It was, however, returned to the petitioner, counsel added.

Bail to Kahlon confirmed

Mr Justice R.C. Kathuria of the High Court today confirmed anticipatory bail granted to Punjab’s former minister Nirmal Singh Kahlon in a cheating and corruption case.

Claiming to have been implicated in the case, Kahlon had alleged that the present government had adopted a revengeful attitude towards its opponents, particularly towards the Akali Dal. The Chief Minister, counsel for the petitioner had added, had openly declared that the Dal members and supporters would be taught a lesson.

Stay on councillors’ suspension

Taking up a petition filed by two Faridabad Municipal Councillors, a Division Bench of the High Court headed by Mr Justice N.K. Sodhi today stayed the operation of orders placing them under suspension.

Seeking the quashing of orders, the two, Shiv Charan and Maya Sharma, had contended that the orders were passed with the basic purpose of humiliating and harassing them, besides lowering their esteem in the eyes of general public for their role in ousting INLD candidate Devinder Bhadana from the Mayor’s post.

	DISTRICT COURTS Hearing on Sidhu’s plea adjourned Our Correspondent Chandigarh, August 1 The counsel for the Chief Secretary, and the Vigilance Bureau, Punjab, today sought time to file reply on the plea moved by suspended Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) Chairman Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu in a local court. The court has adjourned the case for August 9 for reply. Sidhu had moved the plea in the court to direct the Chief Secretary to take possession of the government accommodation house No. (914, Sector 39) allotted to him by the Punjab Government and also to direct the SP, Vigilance, Punjab, to deliver the goods. Sidhu stated that possession of government house was taken over by the Vigilance Bureau that day and all the articles and valuables are lying in the house or in the possession of the police. Jail term: A city resident, Gurmeet Singh, was today sentenced to one-and-half-year rigorous imprisonment in a case of cheating and forgery by a local court. The accused was also fined Rs 17, 000. As per the prosecution, on January 8, 2000, the police found that the accused had forged the number plate of the vehicle and was possessing a fake registration certificate. The police had registered the case under Sections 420, 467, 468 and 471 of the IPC.
	Bar Council seeks help from CEOs for poll Our Correspondent Chandigarh, August 1 The Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana today sent a letter to the Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) of Punjab and Haryana to provide it adequate infrastructure to conduct the forthcoming council’s elections in Chandigarh, Punjab and Haryana. The council has sought the help of the Chief Electoral Officers as it did not have enough manpower and infrastructure to hold the elections on its own. Sources revealed that the council has to pay about Rs 5 lakh to the CEOs of the Punjab and Haryana, in order to hire their services during elections. Earlier also the Chief Electoral Offices of Punjab and Haryana had conducted the election for the bar council. Sources revealed that there are about 25, 000 advocates from Chandigarh, Punjab and Haryana who will elect the 25 members of the council in the forthcoming election. The term of the present members of the council had already been expired on June 30, 2002. The BCI had extended the term of the members till November 30. Dr Anmol Rattan Sidhu said the polling at Chandigarh will held on November 22 between 10 a.m to 5 p.m and polling at district and tehsil headquarters in Punjab and Haryana on November 23 between 10 a.m to 5 p.m. The counting will be held on November 11 at 11 a.m onwards at office of the Bar Council or such other places to be decided later on. Giving details about the election schedule, Dr Sidhu said the final electrol roll will be prepared by September 21. The papers will be scrutinised by the Returning Officer on October 28 between 11 a.m to 4 p.m. And from November 1 to November 5, between 10 a.m to 5 p.m, the candidates can withdraw their applications.
	Scribe’s contempt case: hearing on August 21 Tribune News Service Chandigarh, August 1 A Division of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today fixed August 21 as the next date of hearing in Hindustan Times correspondent Maneesh Chibber contempt case after the reporter's counsel sought two week’s time for filing reply. The Bench, comprising Mr Justice G.S. Singhvi and Ms Kiran Anand Lall, also directed counsel to file reply by August 16 and handover copies to the Advocates-General of Punjab and Haryana. The High Court, it may be recalled, had taken serious view of the matter after the reporter reached the residence of a High Court Judge for inquiring about raids that were never conducted at his house. Taking up the case, the Bench had directed the issuance of a notice to the reporter asking him to show-cause why proceedings under the Contempt of Court Act should not be initiated against him. Pronouncing the orders in the open court, the Bench had asked the Advocates-Generals to assist the court in the matter. They had also held that the issue was of far reaching significance as far as the independence of judiciary, besides the fair functioning of the system pertaining to the administration of justice was concerned. In their detailed order, the judges had observed that they were prima facie convinced that the reporter — describing himself as a senior correspondent — had intentionally tried to interfere with the administration of justice. The judges also observed that as per the orders of the High Court Chief Justice, one of the judges addressed a letter to him apprising him about an incident that took place at his residence on the night intervening July 19 and 20 at about 11 pm. The judges had further observed that after considering the contents of the letter, the Chief Justice ordered the initiation of suo motu Contempt of Court proceedings. After processing the case, the Registry placed the matter before the Chief Justice and it was listed before a Division Bench, comprising Mr Justice V.K. Bali and Mr Justice S.K. Mittal. The Bench, however, declined to hear the case and recorded a note. The Judges had concluded that after going through the contents of the letter by the Judge concerned and the note prepared by Mr Justice V.K. Bali, they were prima facie convinced that the reporter had tried to interfere in the administration of justice.
	Directions to Admn on parking lots Tribune News Service Chandigarh, August 1 A Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, in a significant development, today directed the Chandigarh Administration to submit a definite proposal regarding the feasibility of introducing paid parking system in other parts of the city. Taking up a public interest litigation, the Bench, comprising Mr Justice G.S. Singhvi and Ms Justice Kiran Anand Lall, also directed the Administration to explore the feasibility of introducing multi-storey parking system in Chandigarh. The direction is significant as the multi-storey parking system has gone a long way in solving the parking problem in several cities, including Ludhiana.

CULTURE

Musical tribute paid to Chandan
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 1
The P.D. Chandan Memorial Society organised a special evening of classical music yesterday in memory of the late singer on the occasion of his birth anniversary.

Organised in the auditorium of Hindu Girls School, Kalka, the function was attended by some of the best classical singers from the region, the lead being provided by Prof Amrit Pal Singh, an academician and singer and composer. After the inauguration of the show which lasted well over four hours, the stage was taken over by Hemant Kumar who presented a bhajan composed by Prof Amrit Pal. Following him in the league of music was Manjinder Singh who sung a ghazal “Di ki baat kahi nahi jaati”. Veteran singer Nirmal Marwah then took over to present a Mohd Rafi song, “Main kab gaata, mere sur mein pyar kisi ka gaata”.

Chhota khayal presented by Pratima Bhalla was highly appreciated, so was Chetan's ghazal rendering. Towards the end Hemant presented yet another ghazal, giving way to his guru Amrit Pal who then rendered a dadra and two more ghazals. The programme was wrapped up by P.D. Chandan's son Ramesh Chandan who presented his father's composition of chhota khayal in raag miyaan malhar.