EDUCATION

Massive increase in marks after re-evaluation
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 8
Re-evaluation results of MA I (English) at Panjab University indicate big chinks in the original evaluation if the difference in the marks is any indication.

Reliable sources said more than 485 applied for re-evaluation. Results of at least 170 students showed an increase in marks changing the original result. At least 15 have been placed in the PRE. If this is not sufficient, results of at least 185 students is ‘Result Later’(RL).

According to highly placed sources, RL after re-evaluation in majority of the cases meant the answersheets had been directed to a third examiner. This is done only incase of students where difference in the original marking and the second marking is more than 15 per cent. Now, the university will take out the average of the result of re-evaluation and the third examiner for the final result.

Reliable sources indicate that the biggest difference has been noted in case of the paper I.

It may be remembered that following declaration of results, students had organised ‘dharnas’ showing their discontentment at the evaluation results. They thought they were securing far less than what they deserved. The university ordered an urgent re-evaluation. Students could apply by July 5. The results were declared by July 27.

Credibility to the grievance of the students had been lent by voice of a former chairperson who said that a large section of teachers on duty did not report for evaluation work. This was, however, denied by the department. The university finally acceded to the student request of an emergent re-evaluation.

Results of more than a dozen students of the regular department on the campus also have been significantly affected to change the nature of the result.

A senior faculty member said English witnessed subjective marking. So, even if there was a difference of just three marks in each question, it added up to15 in the total. The change in the nature of results was not an unusual incident, but a common phenomenon. He said the final comment on the change in nature of result could be made only after all results were formally declared.

A student on a note of anonymity said ‘subjectivity in marking of the paper’ was not a good reason to witness a difference of 15 per cent marks in the final result. The matter infact needed a deeper investigation to fix responsibility on the defaulters, if any.

A research scholar said: “Evaluation and results were the total worth of studies of the whole one year of a student on which his whole future depended. Teachers are paid for their service to the students and their service is a little different from any other routine jobs. They need to be serious, which the university has to ensure. Even if everything is fair, students need to be informed about the reasons for the nature of their results and reasons”.

COURTS

HIGH COURT
Remove lacuna in court-martial verdicts
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 8
Strange but true. As per Border Security Force rules, reasons for finding personnel “guilty” or “not guilty” are not recorded. Even though an amendment was made in the Army Act following observations by the Supreme Court, no changes were made in the BSF Act.

Taking a serious view, Mr Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today directed the BSF Director-General to file an affidavit on “course of action sought to be adopted about the observations made by the apex court, particularly in light of the amendments made in the Army Act”.

Issuing the directions on a petition filed by a cook, Thawar Singh of Hisar — sentenced to one year rigorous imprisonment by a summary security corce court — Mr Justice Goel further directed that the affidavit must be filed within two months. The Judge added that the DG was “free to interact with the Army authorities concerned before filing the affidavit”. The case will now come up for hearing on October 7.

The apex court, in its order, had observed: “We would like to draw pointed attention of the government to the glaring anomaly that court-martials do not even write a brief reasoned order to support their conclusion even in cases in which they impose the death sentence. This must be remedied to ensure that a disciplined and dedicated Indian Army may not nurse a grievance that the substance of justice and fair-play is denied to it”.

Earlier during the proceedings, counsel for Union of India and other respondents had submitted that “pursuant to the Supreme Court judgement, amendments had been made in the Army Act, but no amendment was carried out in the BSF Act”. It was further added that the “BSF Act was borrowed from the Army Act and if certain safeguards were incorporated in it pursuant to the apex court’s observations, there was no reason why the same should not be followed by other armed forces and paramilitary forces”.

In his petition, Thawara Singh had sought directions for quashing the orders convicting and sentencing him. Claiming to have been implicated, his counsel had asserted that the petitioner was innocent. He had added that the petitioner was charge-sheeted on the allegations of accepting Rs 7,800 from three candidates for getting them enrolled as constables.

Release medical allowance

Acting on a petition filed by 79 employees working in Dholbaha dam construction circle alleging non-payment of medical allowance, a Division Bench of the High Court today directed Punjab’s Finance Secretary to release the amount forthwith.

Delivering the verdict on a petition filed by Mr Adarsh Pal and 78 other petitioners, the Bench, comprising Mr Justice Jawahar Lal Gupta and Mr Justice S.S. Grewal further directed that the Finance Secretary would appear in court on August 19 if the amount was not released.

In their detailed order, the Judges observed: “The petitioners complain that the amount due on account of medical allowance is not being sanctioned and paid. In its reply filed on behalf of the respondents, it has been, inter-alia, averred that a request has been made to the government for the release of Rs 9,74,125 for payment to persons concerned for the period May 22, 1990, to August 31, 2000. Why has the amount not been sanctioned so far by the Finance Department? There is no answer. We direct the Finance Secretary to release the amount forthwith”.

Remission order set aside

Setting aside the orders passed by the Superintendent of Hoshiarpur’s District Jail, Mr Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel of the High Court today directed that a Ludhiana resident convicted under the Negotiable Instruments Act should be sent to jail after holding that he was not entitled to remission as per the government instructions.

In his detailed order, Mr Justice Goel observed: “The respondent, Yogesh Jain, was convicted and sentenced to undergo imprisonment for one year and pay a fine of Rs 5,000. The conviction and sentence awarded to him were upheld by the Hoshiarpur’s Sessions Judge. The respondent was taken to jail on July 13 last year and was immediately released on ground that he was entitled to remission under the instructions dated April 13, 2001, issued by the Punjab Government. The petitioner challenged his release on the ground that according to the instructions, the prisoner has to be confined in jail on or before April 13, 2001”.

The Judge concluded: “Admittedly, the respondent was not in jail as or before that date and was not entitled to remission as per instructions. Orders of release are set aside.... He will now be sent to the District Jail at Hoshiarpur to undergo the rest of the sentence in accordance with the law”.

Summons quashed

Coming down heavily on a Sub Divisional Judicial Magistrate for “not applying his judicial mind”, Mr Justice Viney Mittal of the High Court has quashed the summoning orders passed by him.

In a ruling on a petition filed by Rajpura-based factory manager P.S. Sharma, Mr Justice Mittal observed: “I find that a complaint was filed by Factories Inspector in a printed proforma. Although details regarding the violation of rules were given, on the top of the complaint merely a rubber stamp has been put which has been signed by the trial magistrate. From the perusal of the `orders’, counsel for the petitioner seems to be right when he submitted that the SDJM has not at all applied his judicial mind to the facts and circumstances of the case and has passed the order rather mechanically”.

Giving details, Mr Justice Mittal added: “The trial magistrate merely seems to have signed on a rubber stamp which had been put by his office. This is absolutely illegal and cannot be sustained. I quash the summoning order dated February 26, 1993, passed by Rajpura’s then SDJM and all consequential proceedings. However, it shall be open to the trial court to proceed with the complaint in accordance with the law”. 

CULTURE

Calendar for cultural events in UT soon
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 8
In the first-ever attempt to streamline cultural activities all over Chandigarh, the UT Administration has decided to formalise a special “cultural calendar”, featuring a detail of cultural events in the city. The calendar, which will be released by the Department of Culture, Chandigarh Administration, in due course of time, will feature a list of all significant cultural happenings scheduled to be held in the city throughout the year.

The UT Administration has sent out communications to all important institutions involved in organising cultural events in Chandigarh in this regard. Giving information to Chandigarh Tribune today, the Director, Public Relations and Cultural Affairs, UT, Mr Vivek Atray, said the administration had asked about 10 institutions, including heads of three Chandigarh akademies and Directors, Cultural Affairs, Punjab and Haryana, to provide details of all important cultural events and occasions to be organised by them during the forthcoming year.

Officials inform that the need to have a cultural calendar for the city was being voiced for a long time. In fact, the whole idea is to coordinate all events in the city in such a manner that there is no overlapping when it comes to organising cultural functions. Mr Atray added, “Once we have a full-fledged calendar, it would be easier for the administration to market Chandigarh. We will be able to talk about important cultural festivals of the city, thus boosting its tourism potential in a big way.”

The decision to formalise the cultural calendar was taken during the last meeting of the Chandigarh Arts Council, which comprises Chandigarh Sangeet Natak Akademi, Chandigarh Sahit Akademi and Chandigarh Lalit Kala Akademi. In the meeting, held in April this year, the reasons behind having such a calendar were discussed at length.

Meanwhile, the cultural institutions to which the administration has written for information and support include the three akademies of the Chandigarh Arts Council, North Zone Cultural Centre, Pracheen Kala Kendra, Society for Promotion of Indian Classical Music and Culture Among Youth (SPICMACAY). Information on festivals and their dates has also been sought from the states of Haryana and Punjab.

While the response is awaited within the next week, sources in the administration informed that the final decision on modalities of this calendar would be taken during the next meeting of the Chandigarh Arts Council, which is slated to be held within the next month. Informed Mr Atray, “We are in touch with all the cultural institutions and once we reach a broad agreement we will formalise the calendar.”

New Releases
Kunal Kohli debuts as director

Will the year 2002 be able to match the pace and grace of new-age filmmakers' gallery ? Quite likely, going by the talent in pipeline.

Kunal Kohli, the director of ‘‘Mujhse Dosti Karoge’’ and Hansal Mehta, the director of ‘‘Chhal’’ may manage to keep the faith of audience alive with their films. Both are equally determined to do so. DP