EDUCATION

PEC signs MoU
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 6
Punjab Engineering College in association with the Commonwealth Youth Programme Asia Centre has signed an MoU with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports with regards to extending a micro-financing project in Janta Colony.

The letter of approval was received, here today, by the college authorities under which the NSS unit of the college with the CYP Asia Centre would jointly participate in the project. The Principal, Dr Baljeet Kapoor, said the project was aimed at promoting self-reliance among people below the poverty line by imparting technical training by NSS students of the college and micro-financing by the CYP.

Janta colony has been especially chosen for the purpose since it is the largest slum area. Besides, students of the NSS have already carried out a census to identify people below the poverty line. “We will chalk out a detailed programme to hold these technical classes in consultation with the CYP, Asia Centre,” he added.

However, the Ministry has asked the two parties to submit a project report and constitute a small management body on the lines of CYCI project that concluded in Gujarat recently.

World Peace Day observed in PU
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 6
Role of youth working for peace all over the world was highlighted on the World Peace Day observed at the UNESCO centre in the Department of Psychology of Panjab University here today.

Prof Jitendra Mohan, Honorary Director of the centre, said, “We sadly remember the day when USA dropped a bomb over Hiroshima and commit ourselves to peace by sharing and discussing throughout the world. The day had great relevance to humanity”.

Divya said peace was the most important issue of modern times. Munish Sharma in his lecture highlighted the contribution of Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther and Nelson Mandela to peace. Dr Anirudh Joshi said lesson of peace should be incorporated in the education system.

Prof Ramesh Kapoor, Dean College Development Council, presided over the function.

Meanwhile, over 300 students of Government High School, Khuda Ali Sher, organised a rally for world peace and against nuclear weapons, here today.

The students marched through the streets of the village and raised slogans for banning nuclear weapons. The rally was led by the Principal, Ms Shashi Sarita, and attended by school teachers and village elders.

The rally was flagged off by the president of the Environment Society, Mr S.K. Sharma, while a Thai monk, Praking Saranyu, presided over it. Later, he led a prayer for world peace.

A village elder, Mr Prem Singh, advised students to plant fruit trees in their houses. This was followed by a plantation drive in the village. 

COURTS

HIGH COURT
Stay on sack of school board clerks
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 6
Acting on a petition filed by 75 clerks working with the Punjab School Education Board, a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today directed that the order terminating their services shall not be given effect to till further orders.

Issuing the directions, the Bench, comprising Mr Justice Swatanter Kumar and Mr Justice S.S. Saron, also directed that the report prepared by the Vigilance Bureau, along with the relevant record, shall be produced in court on the next date of hearing. The Judges also issued notice to the board, state of Punjab, and another respondent, to show cause why the petition should not be admitted.

In their detailed order, the Judges observed that the directions were being passed “on the premises and contention of counsel for the petitioner that as of now none of the petitioners had been relieved”.

Challenging the order passed on August 2, Ms Harminder Kaur and 74 other clerks had contended that the same was issued without independent application of mind and was “patently illegal”. Arguing before the court, counsel had submitted that the order was passed on the basis of “wholly unsustainable” complaints and baseless allegations.

Going into the background of the case, counsel had asserted that soon after a change in government, reports started appearing in newspapers claiming that the Vigilance Bureau was questioning the board Chairman and there were irregularities in their selection. Moreover, a first information report had also been registered against the then Education Minister. Subsequently, the petitioners learnt that the government had issued directions to the board on the basis of which their services were terminated.

Seeking directions to the respondents for reinstatating them, counsel had added that the petitioners should be allowed to continue with effect from the date of their initial appointment and be given all consequential benefits.

Order on rape victim’s examination

Taking a serious view of the fact that a rape victim was physically examined by a male doctor, a Division Bench of the High Court today directed Directors of Health Services in Punjab and Haryana, besides the Union Territory of Chandigarh, to submit affidavits undertaking that strict disciplinary action would be taken against doctors violating instructions on the examination of the victims by women doctors only.

Delivering the verdict on an appeal filed by the state of Haryana against the acquittal of a 19-year-old resident of Chiri village in a rape case, the Bench, comprising Mr Justice R.L. Anand and Mr Justice Hemant Gupta, observed: “In order to ensure that such a lapse does not occur in the future in the states of Punjab and Haryana, besides Union Territory of Chandigarh, we give directions to the Directors of Health Services to place on record specific instructions to all the doctors under their supervision and control that as and when a prosecutrix is produced before any doctor for medical checkup, she would be examined only by a female doctor or under the supervision of a female registered medical practitioner”.

The Judges, on the last date of hearing, had observed: “While perusing the judgement of the trial court as well as the case record, it came to our notice that the prosecutrix aged about 14 was subjected to medico-legal examination at the hands of a male doctor in Rohtak’s Civil Hospital. We do not find any reason to hold that there was no lady doctor available there.... We feel aghast as to how a male doctor dared to perform the medico-legal examination of a girl as if there were no medical ethics prohibiting the examination of a lady, especially an underage girl, by a male doctor”.

Notices issued on scientist’s death

Mystery shrouding the death of a scientist working with Karnal’s National Dairy Research Institute moved towards a solution with Mr Justice Ashutosh Mohunta of the High Court issuing notices to the state of Haryana, the Deputy Commissioner and another respondent for September 29. The notices were issued on a petition filed by scientist Neena Bansal’s father-in-law Mr Hans Raj Bansal.

Neena’s body, was found in a toilet at the Institute. Seeking directions for a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation, the petitioner had submitted that no action had been taken to apprehend the culprits despite the submission of a number of representations to the authorities concerned.

Notice of motion to CBI
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 6
Issuing notice of motion to the Central Bureau of Investigation for September 6 on a petition filed by Mr Krishan Chand Garg running a petrol pump in New Delhi, Mr Justice R.C. Kathuria of the Punjab and Haryana High Court has stayed his arrest subject to his joining the investigation as and when required by the police in petrol pump allocation case.

In his petition, Ludhiana resident Garg had sought directions to the arresting officer to release him on bail in the event of his arrest in a case registered by the CBI under Sections 420, 467, 468 and 471 of the Indian Penal Code, besides under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

According to the prosecution, the Chairman of Dealers Selection Board Justice M.R. Agnihotri had entered into a criminal conspiracy with Mr Garg and others regarding the allocation of a petrol pump with the objective of cheating Indian Oil Corporation by abusing his official position. Mr Garg, prosecution had added, had given Rs 30 lakh to Justice Agnihotri for allocation of the pump.

Claiming to have been implicated in the case, his counsel stated that false allegations were being levelled against him and he had nothing to do with the allotment of pump to Saroj Rani. He had never met Justice Agnihotri and had never sought any favour from him, he had concluded.

Direction to Punjab, Haryana Govts

A Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today directed the states of Punjab and Haryana to amend their Motor Vehicle Rules.

Issuing the directions, the Bench, comprising acting Chief Justice Mr G.S. Singhvi and Ms Justice Kiran Anand Lall, also directed both the states not to issue driving licences unless the applicants produced a certificate from duly registered driving schools. This orders were passed on a petition filed by Ludhiana-based local mini bus operators union whereby it was alleged that a number of auto-rickshaws were being plied illegally in the town.

The Bench also directed that the states should ensure that the applicant had attained the prescribed age as provided in the Motor Vehicle Rules. The Bench also fixed August 21 as the next date of hearing.

DISTRICT COURTS
Two acquitted of robbery charge
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, August 6
Two persons allegedly involved in a case of robbery with an attempt to cause death or grievous hurt were today acquitted by a local court. The duo — Arvinder and Ravinder— were acquitted by the UT Additional and Sessions Judge, as the prosecution failed to prove the charges levelled against the accused.

As per the prosecution, the two had been booked by the UT police on the complaint registered by Mr Vijay. The complainant had alleged that on February 1, 1999 the accused, Ravinder, along with his friend, caused injuries to his relative, Suman, with knife. After causing the injuries, the accused allegedly took away jewellery and cash.

Judicial custody for one

A proclaimed offender (PO), Ram Lal, who was arrested by the UT police, was today remanded in judicial custody by a local court. The accused was today arrested by Head Constable Dalip Singh. Later, he was produced in the court of UT Judicial Magistrate, Mr Sanjay Sandhir, in the evening who remanded him in judicial custody for 14 days. The case against the accused was registered on September 9, 1996 under Sections 454, 380 of the IPC at Sector-39 police station.

Bail granted

An accused, Dara Singh, arrested by the UT police under an NDPS case was today granted bail by a local court. The accused was granted bail against the furnishing bond of Rs 20,000. As per the prosecution, the police had seized 20 kg of poppy husk from his possession.

Man acquitted

Muna Lal, who had been arrested by the UT police in a case under the NDPS Act was today acquitted by a local court. The police had arrested Muna on June 27, 2000 and allegedly seized 16 kg of poppy husk from his possession. The accused was acquitted as the prosecution failed to prove charges against him.

Bail plea filed

A Sub-Inspector with the UT police, Gurmukh Singh, who was arrested by the CBI under the Prevention of Corruption Act, today filed a bail plea in a local court. The applicant has stated in the plea that he has been falsely implicated in the case and the trial will likely take a long time, therefore he deserves the concession of bail. As per the prosecution, the accused who was in charge of Sector-24 police post had been arrested by a team of CBI sleuths on August 1 while accepting bribe. The CBI had also allegedly seized 74 bottles of liquor and a degree from his house.

Four acquitted

The four persons allegedly involved in a case of theft and house trespassing were today acquitted by a local court. The accused, Malkit and three others, were acquitted as the prosecution failed to prove the charges against them. The police had registered a case against them under Sections 448, 456, 380 and 411, IPC, on November 6, 1998.

CULTURE

A moving tribute to martyr
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 6
A sound and light show based on the trails and tribulations of Shaheed Udham Singh, who called himself Ram Mohammad Singh Azad just before kissing the gallows, was presented at Punjab Kala Bhavan today by the troupe of Punjabi Natak Akademi.

Directed by Charan Singh Sindhra, with assistance from Gaurav Sharma, the show has been presented 10 times in Haryana during 2000 and about 12 times in England. Highly successful abroad, the sound and light production had Harsimran Singh in the role of Shaheed Udham Singh, who swore to avenge the massacre of 600 unarmed civilians at the Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar.

Using the old folk theatre form of Punjab, the director wove various sequences with the aid of music and dance. Waris Shah’s Heer was the most dominant part of the show. Among the songs used to further the script written by Sindhra himself, were the famous Punjabi folk songs like “Pagri sambhal jatta”, “Mera rang de” and “Hallan mere desh diyaan...” Music for today’s production was given by K.S. Nirula and Harpal Sunehi. Although a very sensitive theme, the same could not be portrayed in the same spirit. The production was, however, marred occasionally due to loose editing, which hampered growth of the script.

Among the sequences highlighted during the two-and-a-half-hour long show were the main ones which had a lasting effect on the life of young Udham Singh. An orphan, Udham made it a point to kill Sir Michael Dyer, responsible for the Jallianwala Bagh tragedy. He entered his house and served him as a handyman and a gardener. After winning his confidence, he put him to death one day. He also injured four other officers. For this act of bravery, he was sent to the gallows on July 31, 1940.

The cast of the play included Dalbir Singh, Gaurav Sharma, Rupinder Ruppi, Damanjit Kaur, Satinder Kaur, Vikas Joshi. The folk dancers included Zennia, Sofia, Amandeep Kaur, KS Sagga, Jasbir Kaur. On the production side, the credits are as follows: Tejinderpal Singh, producer, Surinder and Satinder Kaur for costumes, Harbans Lal and Saggar on make up, Devinder Singh on lighting, Anil Sharma on sound, Nirmal Singh on stage management and Dr Gurpreet Singh on production control.

Message of peace through theatre
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 6
Eminent playwright and director Gursharan Singh was at his best once again today. Picking up the universally-relevant issue of nuclear disarmament, the playwright advocated peace through the medium of theatre.

In fact, he could not have chosen a better day than August 6 to highlight the consequences of a nuclear war.

Recreating the tragedy spelt by the nuclear bomb dropping on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, and then again on Nagasaki on August 9, Sardar Gursharan Singh and his troupe made a powerful statement of peace at Sector 17 Plaza this evening.

Documenting the chronology of events which had led to the dastardly act of the USA, the troupe went on to enact sequences from the lives of survivors of the nuclear attack on Japan.

They reflected the pain embodied by those who stood more than a kilometer away from the site where the bomb was dropped on the fateful day. Ironically, the two nuclear bombs, which wiped off over one lakh persons in seconds and caused malfunctioning in more than four generations of survivors, were called “small child” and “fat man”, respectively.

The artistes of Chandigarh School of Drama portrayed the aftermath which manifested in the falling hair of survivors, their ever-bleeding mouth and their ever-parched throats.

Having talked of cataclysmic events, the artistes advocated world peace underlining the dignity of life, irrespective of physical boundaries.

As Sardar Gursharan Singh, who also acted in the play, said, “The bomb could be dropped anywhere, in the Plaza of Sector 17 or in Lahore or Rawalpindi. But wherever it may be dropped it will wipe off human lives.

And the respect and value of human life is the same in Pakistan and in India. Tragedy does not discriminate. So why should we? Let us fight against nuclear arms.”

Towards the end of the one-hour-long play, a joint rally was organised by artistes, who urged upon the governments to use science and technology for the furtherance of human life and not for its destruction.

Among the rallyists were members of the Chandigarh School of Drama, Chetna Manch, Chandigarh and Sahit Chintan, Chandigarh.