The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

EDUCATION

EDUCATION BEAT
Career-counselling seminar at college
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 2
Various options available to students after completing graduation and preparations required to pursue different vocations were discussed at a career-counselling seminar organised for final year students of MCM DAV College, Sector 36, here today.

Stating that there was no substitute for hard work, the Employment Officer, Panjab University, Mr Vinod Sharma, inspired the students to put in their best for entering the profession of their choice.

He emphasised the need for a disciplined, systematic and planned schedule for achieving whatever goal the students had set for themselves. Adding that mental development was a gradual process, Mr Sharma said proper utilisation of time was the key to success.

New session: The new academic session of the B Ed course of the Dev Samaj College of Education, Sector 36, began, here on Monday.

The Principal, Dr Satinder Dhillon, welcomed the new classes to the college, which has been recognised by the NCTE and was the first institute in the northern region to be awarded four stars by NAAC.

She emphasised value-based education and social service as an indispensable part of the curriculum, essential to instil a feeling of gratitude and respect towards parents and society.

Death mourned: A condolence meeting in memory of theatre director BV Karanth, was held at the Department of Indian Theatre, Panjab University, here on Monday.

The faculty and staff observed a two-minute silence to condole his death. Later, a telegraphic message on behalf of the faculty, students and staff was sent to his wife, Ms Prema Karanth.

Signing of contracts delayed
Extend period, say bus operators
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 2
The signing of contracts between schools and bus operators was delayed by a day today after the bus operators demanded that the contract period with schools be extended to five years rather than the proposed one year.

While the bus operators are busy getting their act together, holding last minute meetings and putting papers in order before entering into agreements, school managements said the delay was on the part of the bus operators.

After a meeting with the school managements, the Bus Operators’ Union said it would meet the school heads tomorrow and urge them to enter into a five-year agreement as suggested by the UT Administration.

“We met the Secretary, STA, Mr S.P. Arora, and urged him to speak to the schools on our behalf since he is witness to the fact that the Administration agreed to a five-year contract between us,” said Mr Manjit Singh, President of the union.

Meanwhile, Principal J.P. Singh of St Kabir, Sector 26, said: “We were ready with the contracts as per directions of the UT Administration. However, when the bus operator finally turned up to sign the contracts, he raised objections to the one-year term for the plying of buses, the only hitch in the entire agreement. Only the signing of a witness in the case remains. This would be done after the bus operators have their own meeting to discuss the matter.”

The Principal of Bhavan Vidyalaya, Sector 27, Ms Meenakshi Mohindra, said though the school was ready with all agreement papers, the bus operator for the school did not have his papers ready.

“He is still in the process of completing his documents to be eligible to run school buses. once he gives that to us, we would be only too happy to sign. Since the UT Administration gives them a licence for five years, we have agreed on a contract for the same period provided they adhere to all conditions agreed upon,” she added.

COURTS

HIGH COURT
Vacancy can’t sustain promotion claim
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 2
The mere occurrence of a vacancy does not give the right to an employee to claim promotion, a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, has ruled.

Delivering the verdict on a petition filed by a Punjab Government employee today, the Bench, comprising Mr Justice Jawahar Lal Gupta and Mr Justice S.S. Grewal, ruled that the government was competent to take a conscious decision not to fill the post.

In his petition against Punjab’s Principal Secretary (Home), Mr Bikramjit Singh Chhachi — working as Stores Superintendent in the Civil Aviation Department — had earlier challenged the promotion granted to four respondents. During the proceedings, it was averred that the petitioner’s claim for promotion was considered, but still he was overlooked as marks awarded to him on the basis of service record were less than those of the other candidates.

After hearing arguments and going through the documents, the Judges observed: “It is not disputed that on account of financial stringency a ban was imposed on filling the posts. Thus, vacancies remained unfilled from 1998 till 2002. In any case, at the time when claims were considered for promotion, the petitioner was treated equally with all others. He can have no cause for grievance.... We do not find merit in the petition.”

ETO’s plea admitted

A Division Bench of the High Court has admitted a petition filed by an Excise and Taxation officer seeking directions to the state of Punjab and another respondent to allow him to continue as his name did not figure in the investigations being carried out in the Punjab Public Service Commission recruitment scam.

Issuing directions, the Bench, comprising Mr Justice G.S. Singhvi and Ms Justice Kiran Anand Lall, also fixed September 9 as the next date of hearing in the case. In his petition, Sarabjot Singh Sidhu also sought the quashing of a notification dated August 24 so far as he was concerned. As per the notification issued by the state of Punjab through the personnel department, the selection and appointment of certain PCS (executive and allied service) officers had been declared null and void. He had also sought the quashing of another order vide which his selection and appointment of the ETO’s post was cancelled.

Directors’ reply on flag hosting sought

The High Court today asked Punjab and Haryana’s Directors of primary and secondary schools, besides Chandigarh’s Director of Public Instruction (S), to indicate whether the national flag was unfurled in all schools on August 15 on Independence Day. The court had earlier taken cognizance of the fact that the flag was unfurled in certain schools on August 14, instead of on I-Day.

Pronouncing the orders, a Division Bench, comprising Mr Justice G.S. Singhvi and Ms Kiran Anand Lall, added that the authorities should also give details of the steps proposed to be taken for celebrating the Independence Day on August 15 and the Republic Day on January 26 if the flag was not unfurled that day.

In their detailed order, the Judges observed that the affidavit filed by the DPI (S) was not at all satisfactory. They added that UT’s District Education Officer Brahmjit Kalia, who was present in court, stated that Independence Day was also being celebrated in Punjab and Haryana on August 14 and as such notice was being issued to the states of Punjab and Haryana in this regard.

Consumer forum dismisses plea
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, September 2
The UT State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has dismissed the appeal filed by the Punjab Civil and Consumer Welfare Front, Patiala, and Harkirat Singh against the order passed by the UT Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum-II. They had filed the appeal to seek more compensation than what was awarded by the District Forum-II.

Earlier, the District Forum-II had allowed the complaint filed by them and directed the Pepsu Road Transport Corporation, Industrial Area, to refund Rs 10 as bus fare from Banur to Chandigarh and another Rs 1,000 as compensation for mental and physical harassment to the complainants. The forum had also directed the PRTC to pay a sum of Rs 300 as expenses of litigation to the complainants.

The Commission said in its order that the District Forum-II was right in recording the evidence of the complainant. Consequently, the commission found no merit in the appeal. The commission also said the amount of compensation and litigation expenses could not be said to be in any way less.

Criminal complaint filed against police officers
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 2
A criminal complaint has been filed against a former Inspector General of Chandigarh Police, a former Senior Superintendent of Police, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, by the Station House Officer (SHO) of Industrial Area police station, Mr Shiv Raj Sidhu, in a local court.

The SHO moved the complaint alleging that the police officers, — Mr R.P. Singh, former IG Chandigarh and currently Joint Commissioner, lines and provisions, Tis Hazari, New Delhi; Mr C.S.R. Reddy, DIG, CM Security, Punjab; and DSP S.C. Abrol, currently OSD in Vigilance Department — did not provide him with proper facilities to maintain law and order and instead initiated a false inquiry against him, which held him guilty.

Stating that while he was posted as an Inspector (law and order) in Police Headquarters in 1997 and was also holding additional charges of the DSP, he had requested the then IGP to provide him with a Gypsy for official work but the request was kept pending for a long time.

A reminder was sent to the office requesting that an official car, a Gypsy and a police motor cycle were on a standby at the IGP’s residence for personal use and that a vehicle should be provided to him for official work.

“Consequently the IGP registered a complaint against him and constituted a committee under DSP, S.C. Abrol, which found him guilty of making false complaints against a fellow officer. As a result, he was suspended for 45 days before being reinstated. The SHO has submitted evidence that the DSP was not competent to pass a guilty order against him.

The complaint alleged that the then SSP, C.S.R. Reddy had tried to block his increment to punish him. While the proceedings were on, the IGP was transferred to Punjab on November 9, 1999, but took the case file with him. The order to stop of his increment was issued on December 20, 1999, while Mr Parag Jain had already taken over as the SSP UT.

In his complaint, Mr Sidhu has alleged that Mr. Reddy was not competent to stop his increment as he was not the IGP of UT Police when the file was signed.

CULTURE

‘I want to be known as complete actor’
Parbina Rashid

Chandigarh, September 2
Dark brooding looks, a well modulated voice and big intense eyes that pierces right through one’s heart — Chandrachur Singh has it all to make him an ideal matinee star. Perhaps what is needed right now to put him onto success, is a boost, that can come from a project like ‘Sarhad Paar.’ And it is his high expectation from this film that has brought Chandrachur to join the team, which is at present shooting in various locales in and around Chandigarh, despite his dislocated shoulders.

‘Sarhad Paar’ is a project with all right ingredients to make it a big hit, says Chandrachur, who manages to look fit and fresh after going through a hour long physiotherapy session in his hotel in Sector 10. It was during one of the dance sequences, Chandrachur hurt himself. “Actually this is the third time my shoulder joint has come out of socket,” says Chandrachur with a smile.

Chandrachur’s career graph has been recently taking a downward plunge, but the actor does not look least bit disappointed. “At present I am working for four different projects — ‘Sarhad Paar’, ‘Junoon’ with Shilpa Shetty and Sunita Kulkarni, ‘Aur Phir Ek Din’ and ‘Mohabbat Ho Gayi Tumse’ opposite newcomer Shamita Shetty.

However, it is the two projects ‘Aur Phir Ek Din’ and ‘Sarhad Paar’, the actor is pinning his hopes on. ‘Aur Phir...’ is a unique one shot movie which throughout the length look as if the entire picture has been shot in a single shot without any cuts, explains the artiste.

In ‘Sarhad Paar’, Chandrachur is playing a Punjabi pop singer, in the romantic lead opposite Mahima Chaudhury. However, his role does not limit him to only gyrating to the bhangra numbers. As a relative of Sanjay Dutt, who is a prisoner of war imprisoned in a jail in Pakistan, Chandrachur will have ample scope to demonstrate his other skills as well, fight scenes as well as intense emotional ones.

Chandrachur who stepped in the glamour industry through ABCL’s first production ‘Tere Mere Sapne’, reached the zenith of his career through ‘Maachis’, a role of a terrorist through which he reached out to millions of viewers. “I want to be known as a complete actor and hence I have been accepting all sorts of roles, negative or positive”, says Chandrachur, hinting at the negative role he played in ‘Daag - the Fire’.

‘Destiny plays a major role in life,’ says this boy from Aligarh, who after some years of futile struggle had given up hope to act in movies and was on the verge of settling down with a comfortable teaching job when the ABCL project fell suddenly into his lap. “Though I give my cent per cent to every project I undertake, in this particular project ‘Sarhad Paar’, working with such talented artistes like Sanjay and Tabu.”

24 take part in “Mr & Miss Unique Look” contest
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, September 2
Twelve boys and an equal number of girls from the city and nearby areas, took part in the first phase of “Mr and Miss Unique Look — 2002”, contest which was organised by Coolage Troupe at Lion’s Club in Sector 18, here today. After an informal introductory round in front of a select audience, the participants posed for the camera to contest for the title of “Mr and Miss Photogenic”.

The participants who are between 18 to 22 years of age have to go through another phase to contest the title of “Mr and Miss Talent” before they take part in a five-round fashion show on September 6 at Tagore Theatre that will decide the fate of the contestants for the final title.

The judges who will be judging the contestants on the final day include well known choreographer Mr Jagmeet Brar, Mr Ashok Kapoor and Mr Rajesh Sharma. On the final day, the contestants will have to go through an introductory round, casual round, traditional round, black round and finally a question- answer round.

The contestants for “Miss Unique Look — 2002” are Divya, Sapna, Sarabjit Kaur, Sapna Gupta, Simran Gill, Bably, Mini, Shashi Thapa among others, while in the boys category Chandan, Arjun Sood, Amit Yadav, Inderjeet Singh Dhesi, Amit Sachdeva, Amit Verma, Gurvir, Gaurav, Shivjit Singh, Roghujit Singh and George among others are vying for the “Mr Unique Look — 2002” title.

Close-Up comes to City Beautiful
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 2
Close-Up, one of India’s leading toothpaste brands commanding nearly 17 per cent share in the Indian toothpaste market, has announced a new variant of “The Close-Up Antakshari”, which is poised to target 100 towns in Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh.

For more than a decade, Close-Up has been a close partner and associate of the popular Zee TV show called ‘Close-Up Antakshari’. Only this time, ‘Close-Up Antakshari’ is designed to create participation and arouse interest of the rural consumers.

The activity would be conducted in 100 towns with a population below one lakh. Each event will be backed by a series of pre-hyped initiatives, ensuring every person gets to know of the mega event in their respective town. The event would entail a singing competition, games and not to forget, each participant will be trying Close-Up toothpaste for that extra confidence.

The roadshow, which kick-started in Andhra Pradesh, is now coming to Punjab. The Close-Up Antakshari brigade will be traveling all over the state of Punjab from September 7, 2002, to September 29, 2002. The towns covered include Sunam, Sangrur, Dhuri, Barnala, Malerkotla, Ahmedgarh, Jaitu, Kot Kapura, Faridkot, Muktsar, Malout and Giddarbaha.

Students of film institute go on strike
Our Correspondent

SAS Nagar, September 2
Students of Pesco Film and TV Institute went on strike here today in protest against inadequate facilities being provided to them.

They also raised slogans against the management.

Students belonging to different districts of Punjab had taken admission in the institute, which was inaugurated in the Industrial Area, Phase VII, a month ago by actor Sunil Dutt.

Students alleged that they were not being provided practical training. The institute did not have cameras, no proper make-up rooms and generator sets.

They alleged that the management had made big claims in the advertisements given by them before the opening of the institute. But the reality was different.

Mr Deepak Malhotra, Director of the institute, said that a camera and a VCD had been arranged and soon a generator set would be provided.

He said students would be provided practical training in due course of time.