The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

EDUCATION

Special task force of teachers mooted
Tribune News Service

SAS Nagar, November 6
A special task force of teachers, both serving and retired, should be formed to provide academic supervision in elementary and secondary schools. This was proposed at a meeting of renowned educationists held here today.

Organised by the Punjab School Education Board, the meeting was attended by Dr H.K. Manmohan Singh, Dr Amrik Singh, both former Vice-Chancellors of Punjabi University, Dr D.V. Sharma, Secretary, COBSE, New Delhi, Prof J. Kaushal, former Director of Correspondence Education, and Dr T.R. Sharma, ex-head of the Department of Education, Punjabi University.

The meeting had been called to discuss the agenda for the national conference on education to be held in SAS Nagar next month. Dr Amrik Singh was of the view that the discussion at the forthcoming conference should remain within the parameters of the Punjab Education Policy-2002. He emphasised the need for providing vocational education to students.

Dr D.V. Sharma, Secretary COBSE, emphasised the need for a special task force for supervising academic activities of various schools. Dr H.K. Manmohan Singh said education should be made value-based.

Dr Kehar Singh, Chairman of the Punjab School Education Board, said there was a need to evolve a mechanism for proper counselling of arts students.

Colourful presentation by Hartron students
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 6
Students of Hartron workstation, MMC Computers, Sector 8 presented a colourful cultural programme on the occasion of its annual day today at Musafir auditorium.

Cultural items presented included group dances, skits and choreography. However, a fashion show was the highlight of the evening. There were three rounds of modelling in traditional, casual and western dresses in which Mr and Ms Hartron were selected. The title went respectively to Rajesh and Neha. Mr Rakesh Jain, Managing Director, of a leading jewellery outfit in the city crowned the winners. Mrs Anupam Jain, Director of the Hartron workstation, gave away prizes to the participants in the cultural function, while Brig S. Sahaney, an expert in IT field, distributed academic awards to the meritorious students.

2,000 participate in painting contest
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 6
North Zone Cultural Centre (NZCC) today celebrated its 17th foundation day at Kalagram. On this occasion, a painting and poster contest was organised for school students of UT, Mani Majra and Panchkula. About 2,000 students from various schools participated in the competition. It was followed by a cultural programme. Mr Diwan Manna, Mr Balwinder Singh, Mr Naresh Pandit and Ms Sadhna Sangar constituted the panel of judges for the contest.

Results of poster contest in the order of merit for group comprising classes X to XII are: Deepak Vniyal of Government Model High School, Sector 28-D, Ravinder Kumar of Government Boys Senior Secondary School, Sector 7, Panchkula, Simran Kaur of Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 35. Consolation prizes went to Parul and Harpreet Kaur.

Results for classes V to VII: Venus (AKST Public School), Kaushik (Bhavan Vidyalaya), and Ismeet Kaur also from Bhavan Vidyalaya. Results for classes VIII and IX: Purmender Bhardwaj (St John's School), Shruti Bamba (Little Flower Convent, Panchkula), and Shifa Mahajan (AKST Public School).

COURTS

HIGH COURT
23 nursing students allowed to take tests
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 6
In less than 24 hours before the first year examinations in general nursing and mid wifery course were to commence, Mr Justice Hemant Gupta of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today allowed 23 students to take the tests.

In their petition against the state of Punjab, besides the Punjab Nurses Registration Council and another respondents, Amandeep Kaur and 22 others had earlier sought directions for quashing a notice issued by Guru Nanak Dev School of Nursing at Barnala claiming that the students were ineligible for taking the examinations as they had not attended classes for 11 months. Describing the notice as illegal, arbitrary and discriminatory, the petitioners had contended that the students were being harassed for reasons best known to the authorities. Counsel for the petitioners had submitted that the career of the students was at stake.

After hearing arguments and going through the documents, Mr Justice Gupta ruled: “The writ petition is being entertained during Divali spell in view of the fact that the examinations of the petitioners are to commence on November 7. Put up the petition on November 11. In the meantime, the petitioners shall be provisionally permitted to appear in the first year examinations “.

Medical reimbursement

Taking serious view of alleged disregard of Court orders in a medical reimbursement case, Mr Justice Viney Mittal of the Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed Haryana’s Director-General of Health Services, besides General Manager of Irrigation Department, to show cause why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against them. Issuing the directions, Mr Justice Mittal added: “Unless and until the order was complied with before the next date of hearing, the respondents shall be present in person in the Court on November 13”.

In his detailed order, Mr Justice Mittal observed: “The Court, vide order dated September 19, had directed the respondents to release part of the petitioners’ claim.... It has been pointed out by counsel for the petitioners that the directions issued by this court had not been complied with so far. Haryana’s Deputy Advocate General submits that in spite of a communication having been sent, no body from the department has contacted so far”.

The Judge concluded: “Keeping in view the facts and circumstances of the case, I feel that prima facie it appears that there is wilful disregard and disobedience of the order dated September 19 by the respondents. I, therefore, direct them to show cause why contempt proceedings under the Contempt of Courts Act of 1971 be not initiated against them”.

HC notice to UT Administration
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 6
In just over four years after a Mumbai-based businessman was implicated in a false rape case, allegedly at the behest of his business rival, Mr Justice M.M. Kumar of the Punjab and Haryana High Court has issued notices to the Chandigarh Administration authorities on a petition seeking the initiation of contempt of court proceedings for failure to take action against the complainant.

The case had hit the headlines in 1998 after a Mumbai-based businessman, Kerman K. Mistry, had told the police that he had never visited Punjab and Chandigarh during his life time. The businessman had added that a “false and fabricated” first information report was registered as a result of manipulation by his rival.

He had added that his petition for quashing the FIR in the case was rendered infructuous after prayer for the cancellation of the case was made in the final report. It was further suggested that proceedings against the prosecutrix under Section 182 of the Indian Penal Code might be initiated.

The counsel for the petitioner added that the UT Home Secretary, the Senior Superintendent of Police and other respondents were requested to initiate proceedings against the prosecutrix as she was responsible for the planting of a false case against him.

He alleged that the respondents had wilfully, intentionally and deliberately not initiated any action against the prosecutrix.

CULTURE

Making art out of dead objects
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 6
An artist is surely blessed to have million eyes. While one rests in the soul that inspires creation, others wander to discover the beads that hold the nature together. And somewhere along the beaten tracks, the mind works up images that exude beauty stolen from here, there, everywhere .....

Sanjay Kumbkarni’s prints are virtual tributes to nature. Captured in the frames are exotic sites from the all over the hills, that one might have passed by a thousand times. And as you feel the pulse of life in every frame that hangs on the walls of the Punjab Kala Bhavan art gallery, you feel happy for this little, beautiful thing called art.

As life imitates art, eyes tend to relate with every composition on display — be it a springy splash of water captured somewhere in the Kullu district or the lovely blood-stained leaves in Morni (Haryana) that seem like images straight out of a painter’s repertory.

The locations that inspire Sanjay’s photographs have something to do with the heaven. Every image is a product of love that the artist imbibes from nature in order to fulfil his urge. Aptly titled “A little of God’s light,” the show reflects moments of magical glory captured through the lens.

All the images speak of capricious settings that feed on natural splendour, of sun and of shade....

In yet another section that adorns the very entrance, Sanjay captured death in beauty. Making art out of dead objects like glass, wood and paper, Sanjay exhibits the precious pieces of nature’s beauty which he has collected along life’s promenade.

The show was inaugurated by the Punjab Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, and can be viewed till November `12 between 10 am and 7 pm everyday.

Jassi comes up with ‘Koka...’
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 6
In the world of Punjabi music, market presence of singers often matters more than the musical offering they make. That is perhaps why Jasbir Jassi has not been spotted very frequently on the road to starry success. After he became a big name in the pop music industry with the release of “dil le gayi kudi Gujarat di”, Jassi decided to change his stance by consciously refusing to give space to vulgarity in his videos. Two years down the lane, he can be termed more a struggler and less a star.

But he seems to be perfectly comfortable with the new-found status because within the given framework of this status he can pursue his cultural obligations. With the preservation of Punjabi musical heritage on his mind, Jassi is now knocking at the doors of the pop market with his latest ‘Koka tera koka’, which he launched at the Chandigarh Press Club this afternoon. The album, which has lyrics by Jassi and others like Shyam Vadhera, Davinder Khannawale and Naqsh Lyalpuri, sets out with a commercial title track ‘koka’ and finally rests at Heer, the romantic folklore that inspires every Punjabi heart.

Before the launching was announced by T-series today, two videos from the album were played before the gathering. With a fairly good setting and music, the album sounded “commercially viable.” As the T-series people present on the occasion declared today, “To know Jassi is an event; and to have him as a friend is a boon.”

As far as the singer is concerned, he chose to harp on the heritage point, stating that although he was heavily criticised for the video of ‘Dil le gayi’, many other present day singers were not being checked on the yardstick of video vulgarity. He said, “I was happy that I was targeted so much. I owe my growth to that criticism. Now I am trying to work on a fairly commercial level, while at the same time preserving the nuances of my culture. If I am singing Heer, I must sing to further enhance its beauty and not mar the beautiful poetry of Waris Shah with my vulgar stances.”

Referring to the many singers who spoil the richness of the lyrics with their petty presentation, Jassi said he was on a different path altogether. “I am here to offer good music. It may take me long to reach my goal, but I have chosen my road already.”

In his new avataar as a composer, Jassi sounded very confident, saying that he was fed on music right from day one. So this role was no new role to him. “It was easy to compose, thanks to music,” said the ‘kudi-kudi man’.