EDUCATION

PU dons’ plea on pension issue
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 2
The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the Panjab University Teaching and Non-Teaching Employees Federation met today to review the pension scheme which has been turned down by the Centre through an official letter a few days back.

Prof P.K. Mittal, president of the Panjab University Teachers Association, was elected as convener and Mr Dharam Paul Sharma, president of the Non-Teaching Employees Federation, was elected as co-convenor. Prof R.K. Kakkar, Prof S.C. Vaidya, Prof S.P. Gautam, Prof Deepak Manmohan and Dr Tankeshwar Kumar have been co-opted as members of the JAC.

The JAC has made an appeal to the sitting and former MPs and leaders of other political parties to take up the matter with the government. A memorandum was also submitted to Prof K.N. Pathak, Vice-Chancellor.

The Vice-Chancellor in the note has asked the government to “ get the issue re-examined in a larger perspective. I would like to add that employees of almost all universities not only in Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh but the entire country are enjoying the benefits of the pension scheme”.

“It is my personal feeling that the grant of benefit of pension scheme to the employees would be in the academic interest . Denial of the pension right will discourage talented people desiring to join the university”, Professor Pathak added.

230 take part in group song contest
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, October 2
The Mani Majra-based Alpha Public School today bagged the first prize in the group song competition, organised by the Bharat Vikas Parishad. About 230 students from 23 schools had participated in the contest, held at Government High School in Mani Majra.

According to a press release, the second prize went to Government High School, while the third prize was shared by Bal Model School and Saint Sonehri Public School.

The president of the Sanatan Dharam Sabha in Panchkula Bal Krishan Bansal was present on the occasion. Members of the Bharat Vikas Parishad, including patron Dr Bhupinder Gupta, president Prem Goyal and general secretary Gursher Singh Bal, issued the vote of thanks.

Environment workshop organised
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, October 2
A one-day workshop on environment was organised at Government High School in Sector 47 yesterday. The workshop was sponsored by the Environment Society of India.

Chairperson of the Chandigarh Social Welfare Advisory Board Kamlesh Gupta was the chief guest.

She inaugurated the function by planting a sapling in the school premises. She elaborated upon the need for keeping the environment clean for ensuring better health of children and families.

The President of Environment Society of India, Mr S.K. Sharma, stressed upon the need for introducing the system of vermiculture for keeping the surroundings clean and for the conversion of organic and kitchen waste useful organic manure.

He also gave a demonstration of vermi-compositing and explained the benefits of organic manure over chemical and other natural decomposed manure. The workshop was organised by the Hitakari Social Welfare Society.

The President of the Environment Society of India, Mr S.K. Sharma, plants a sapling at Government High School in Sector 47-A during a one-day workshop on environment on Monday.

Entrance test for PhD on Nov 11
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 2
Panjab University has decided to conduct an entrance test for enrollment in PhD on November 11, an official press release said here yesterday.

The test will be conducted for faculties for arts, languages, science, education and Fine Arts. The forms complete in all details for the test should reach the university by October 22, the release added.

Fancy dress show by tiny tots
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, October 2
A fancy dress competition was organised at Adharshila Preparatory School, Panchkula, on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti.

Tiny tots of the school participated in the contest with enthusiasm. They were dressed up as Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhas Chandra Bose, Bhagat Singh, Indira Gandhi, Lord Krishna and Lord Hanuman. Archish and Dhruv got the first and the second prizes, respectively.

COURTS

PUDA told to pay compensation
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, October 2
The UT Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has directed the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA) to pay interest at the rate of 18 per cent per annum on the earnest money of Rs 28, 414 after a period of two years to a city resident for deficiency in its services.

While disposing two appeals filed by the complainant, Mr H. S. Kahlon, and PUDA against the same order passed by the UT Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum-II, the UT Consumer Commission held that “the award of a sum of Rs 20, 000 as compensation for escalation in the costs of construction is set aside.

The Chief Administrator, PUDA and the Estate Officer, PUDA, Ropar, are further directed to pay Rs 5000 as compensation for mental and physical harassment by the Forum-II, and Rs 1000 as the cost of litigation is upheld”.

SI sent to judicial custody
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, October 2
A Sub-Inspector who had been arrested by the CBI in a corruption case was today remanded in judicial custody by a local court. Sub-Inspector, Janak Raj, had been arrested by the CBI while allegedly accepting bribe of Rs 1,200 for extending a favour in case of a challan issued by the police in Sector-9. As per the prosecution, the CBI sleuths laid a trap and arrested the SI in the afternoon from Sector 9, market. The CBI had registered a case against the SI under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

CULTURE

Captivating freshness of colours
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 2
Natural colours sprayed on the canvas to capture the wild habitat, particularly of the plants, was the highlight of a captivating exhibition of paintings at the Exhibition Hall, Sector 17, here today.

The artist Rashmi Singh has done a commendable work on nature in its various manifestations and Lord Ganesha in varying moods. Freshness of colours is a fact which stands out in the entire presentation of two dozen odd paintings.

This is Rashmi’s second exhibition, the first having been held in Shimla in July 2000. She graduated in the Bachelor of Fine Arts from the College of Arts, Sector 10. She paints in the mediums of water colours, oil colours and acrylics.

Lord Ganesha is a recurring figure in her paintings because she says “he is God of knowledge and prosperity and whenever an auspicious beginning of something new is initiated, Ganesh is offered prayers”. Nature she says is her subject because “nature is the best teacher”.