EDUCATION

Dhillon heads school board union
Tribune News Service

SAS Nagar, December 19
The Dhillon group swept the Punjab School Education Board Employees Association elections held here today. While Gurdeep Singh Dhillon was elected president of the association, Bhagwant Singh Bedi was chosen its general secretary.

The Dhillon group won all the 24 posts of the association in the keenly contested elections.

While just one contestant of the Kler group contesting the office-bearer’s posts got more than 650 votes, every contestant of the Dhillon group managed to get above 840 votes.

Dhillon defeated his rival Karnail Singh Kler by a margin of 182 votes, while Bhagwant Singh Bedi defeated his rival Harbans Singh Dholewal by a margin of 219 votes.

Ranjit Singh Mann was chosen senior vice-president, defeating Sagar Singh Randhawa; Jasbir Singh Gill was elected vice-president, defeating Major Singh Garcha, Jaswant Singh Brar become junior vice-president defeating Kuldip Singh Longia, Jarnail Singh Channi was chosen secretary, defeating Dr Vijay Lakshmi Sharda, Amarjit Kaur was chosen joint secretary defeating Rajinder Singh, Ram Nath Goel was elected finance secretary, defeating Harminder Kaur, Raghbir Singh Toki was chosen office secretary, defeating Karnail Singh Dhillon, Surinder Pal Singh Chinda was elected organisation secretary, defeating Kultar Singh and Rachbinder Singh was chosen press secretary, defeating Vijay Veer Singh.

Among those elected as executive members are Bir Inderjit Dhillon, Manjit Kaur, Ranjit Singh Gharuan, Satvir Singh Basati, Raj Kumar, Didar Singh Dhindsa, Baljinder Singh Bains, Jagpal Singh, Bhim Chand, Suadagar Singh, Sukhvinder Singh, Balwinder Singh Brar and Jagtar Singh.

Lecturers’ memo to Jacob
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 19
A section of UT cadre lecturers, employed in government arts and science colleges, submitted a memorandum to the UT Administrator regarding the ongoing row of seniority in these colleges.

The lecturers have demanded that the UT cadre lecturers be considered in preference over lecturers posted in these colleges on deputation. They have also demanded that the Administration take a decision at the earliest to appoint only senior-most UT cadre lecturer as the head of a department in these colleges.

Pointing out that there were about 170 lecturers of the UT cadre and 145 lecturers on deputation, the UT cadre lecturers have claimed that those on deputation were being given undue seniority.

They have added that the lecturers on deputation had been appointed against the provisions of the recruitment rules operative at that time. At the time of their recruitment, there was no provision for taking persons on deputation and the mode of recruitment was through the Union Public Service Commission only.

Christmas concert at Mount Carmel
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 19
Christmas spirit prevailed in Mount Carmel School, Sector 47, here today. Carol singers from several schools in the city converged at the school, which hosted a Christmas school concert.

Traditional carols presented by different school choirs included ‘Silent night holy night’, ‘Joy of the world’, ‘Oh holy night’ and ‘Away in a manger’. Participating schools included Sacred Heart Senior Secondary School, St John’s High School, St Stephen’s, Baptist School, St Anne’s Convent, St Mary’s and Saupin’s School.

Christmas tree adorned the stage and Santa Claus, who arrived at the venue in a raindeer cart, added to student’s delight.

Open House at Sanjay Public School

An “open house” organised by the junior section of Sanjay Public School, Sector 44, today was marked by a colourful cultural programme. The chairman of the school, Mr T.R. Seti, was the chief guest on the occasion.

The function started with ‘shabad gayan’, followed by several items presented by students from playway to class V. In one of the performances, students gave information about hepatitis, and tried to spread message of cleanliness, traffic safety and patriotism.

Besides this, several solo songs and dances and a performance on Vande Mataram was also presented by girls. The show was wrapped up by Christmas songs. The principal, Mrs U. Sethi, released the annual report and gave away prizes to students for excellence in various fields.

SAS NAGAR

Tiny tots of Gilly Flower School, Sector 70, here celebrated Chritsmans by visiting to the Missionaries of Chrities and the Senior Citizens Home, Sector 43, Chandigarh.

The senior citizens were touched and thrilled to meet the children. The children also intertained the immates with poems, jokes and story telling.

PANCHKULA

Christmas was celebrated at St. Stephen’s High School here with great enthusiasm. Students depicted the nativity scene and enacted the story of Rudolph. Carols and plays were also enacted. The grand finale was with Santa Claus making a sudden appearance and distributing sweets.

COURTS

Judges accused of arbitration
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 19
A section of the Punjab and Haryana High Court advocates today claimed that three High Court Judges, accused of committing the same offence, had been treated differently and issued an appeal to the High Court Bar Association to convene a meeting for discussing the relevant issues.

In a circular, Advocate Tahar Singh and “friends” asserted that one of the Judges had been “exonerated” by the Laxman Committee after reversing the findings recorded by High Court’s former Chief Justice Mr Arun B. Saharya. Former Chief Justice Mr G.B. Pattanaik “must disclose the basis of this reversal,” they asserted. The advocates also quoted front page editorial published in The Tribune “A matter of Judicial Dharma”, along with another report carried in these columns.

Police remand for JE
Our Correspondent

Kharar, December 19
Mr Roshan Lal Chouhan, Judicial Magistrate, today remanded Naresh Kumar, J.E. of the Punjab State Electricity Board, who was arrested by the Vigilance Bureau on the charge of accepting bribe, in police custody till December 20.

Mr Jatinderjit Singh Punn, Public Prosecutor, and the DSP (Vigilance) pleaded for police remand and informed the court that he was arrested yesterday. They said that he received Rs 1500 from Mr Dhanwant Singh for some work on December 17 and when he saw the Vigilance team, he ran away from the scene.

CULTURE

City has new film and TV academy
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 19
Chandigarh has a new film academy opening almost every year. Never mind the fact that the performance of none of the existing academies has been satisfactory. Even as many young enthusiasts, who enrolled with some such academies are still struggling to put their house in order, yet another institute opened in Sector 35 this morning.

If the names of promoters of the new film and TV academy are anything to go by, this one should carry some solid hope for the city youngsters, who are yearning to make it big in the film city. Under the direction of J.S Cheema, who wrote “Chan Pardesi”, the academy promises a certificate of merit in film and TV acting. The academy will stress all courses in the long run — from editing to cinematography.

After the inauguration of the academy by Harbhajan Mann, Cheema talked about the future courses at the academy. Promising credibility, he said the course would roll from January 1 and the first class would accommodate about 20 students. There will be four classes in a week (Monday to Thursday). The duration of daily classes will be four and a half hour.

“Those who have a spark to make it big are welcome and we promise not to shatter the hopes of anybody. We have tied up with the experts in the field who will come and deliver lectures for us. Film personalities like Harry Baweja and Ravinder Pipat have also promised support. Ace cinematographer and now director Manmohan Singh is already the main inspiration behind this project. We are here to stay and we will be accountable,” he said.

As for the first batch, it will be under the supervision of Gurcharan Channi, Baldev Gill, Babbu Tir and Jatinder Cheema, who have a great deal of experience in their respective fields. Apart from promising a certificate, the academy will also offer infrastructure to support the students in making a short film. “A copy of the same will be given to every student who can show the same in his or her portfolio.” The course fee is Rs 30,000 and the admission is open.