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| Thursday,
February 27, 2003, Chandigarh, India
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Marginal
hike in PU budget estimates Chandigarh, February 26 Projecting an increase in the university’s income during 2003-04 to Rs 42 crore over last year’s revised estimate of Rs 38 crore, he pegged the estimated deficit for the year 2003-04 at Rs 61.24 crore. He revealed that the tentative revised deficit for the year 2002-03 was Rs 55.87 crore. Terming the hike to be “too minimal”, the Vice-Chancellor commented that it was barely enough to meet the university’s expenditures on account of salaries and allowances, escalation in the rates of water and electricity, office expenses and other urgent requirements of the teaching departments. Highlighting the salient features of the budget estimates presented before the university’s Board of Finance, Professor Pathak said the estimated plan income for research programmes in the university has been raised from Rs 6 crore to Rs 15 crore. Besides, the amount payable for the 10 research fellowships reactivated during the last academic year has been enhanced from Rs 2,500 and Rs 2,800 per month to Rs 3,600 and Rs 4,000, respectively, to “boost” research activities. In addition, the scholarships payable to SC/ST students have been increased by 20 per cent. The contingency funds of departments have been increased by 5 per cent, while 10 per cent of the grants have been provided for infrastructural development of those departments that are generating income by admitting NRI students. The renumeration payable for examination work has been increased by 10 per cent. The Vice-Chancellor stated that to boost the institution’s efforts towards office computerisation, Rs 20 lakh have been provided for the purchase of computers, which is proposed to be met from within the 8 per cent budget hike. Urging the state governments sharing the university’s budget to release grants as per the directive issued by the Central Government, Professor Pathak revealed that due to financial constraints, additional grants of Rs 7.28 crore have been considerably reduced to Rs 46.13 lakh. Grants to be received from the Central Government under the Tenth Plan are yet to be received. On the construction and maintenance front, a deficit in income to the tune of Rs 34.54 crore has been projected, which is an increase of Rs 11.50 crore over last year. The VC said while construction of a number of buildings has been completed, construction works amounting to Rs 8.4 crore is under way. Other budgetary provisions include Rs 9 lakh for the newly formed Regional Centre at Ludhiana, Rs 6 lakh for election of fellow to the Senate, Rs 1.60 lakh for paying honorarium to chief co-ordinator an visiting faculty for the Centre for Environment and Vocational Studies and an honorarium of Rs 2,000 per month for the post of a part-time Dean Students Welfare (Women). The VC said by applying various checks and balances coupled with austerity measures, the original estimated expenditure of Rs 89.87 crore was brought down in revised estimates to Rs 86 crore. |
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Designation issue referred to ministry Chandigarh, February 26 According to sources, the Vice-Chancellor had recommended that three persons holding the post of programmer in the Department of Physics be designated as lecturer as per existing provisions. Board members however objected that one of the programmers had not completed the mandatory four years’ service to be designated as a lecturer. Sources said that the concerned programmer’s service record, she would be completing the stipulated four year period in May 2003, and as such she could not be considered for the designation of lecturer. The university Syndicate, had in August 1990, approved that senior scientific assistants and senior technical assistants, including programmers be granted the designation UGC grade of lecturers subject to certain conditions. Academic qualification as prescribed by the UGC for appointment of lecturer, a Ph.D degree and four years’ experience in the present grade at Panjab University were laid down for the promotion. In addition, the candidates were to give an undertaking before interview that, if selected, they would continue to perform the duties of the post of lecturer in addition to all the duties they were performing earlier. While all three candidates met the UGC academic qualifications, the controversy ensured over the service period. Board members pointed out that the agenda item was drafted for approved as far back as October last year. The board also deferred a decision on the issue of adjustment of two staff members from the Population Development and Education Project against two vacant posts in the Regional Resource Centre, as recommended by the vice chancellor. Sources said that the matter has been set back to the consultative committee for reconsideration on technical grounds. Apart from these two items, all items on the budget agenda were passed by the board. |
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Students impleaded
as party Chandigarh, February 26 In her petition, the former principal had challenged the decision of the managing committee to merge Dev Samaj Junior Model School in Sector 21 with Dev Samaj Senior Secondary School. The petitioner contended that the right to education of children was granted under the Constitution and had been taken away from the students of the junior model school despite the fact that the school was granted permanent recognition with effect from 1959. She added that the building of Dev Samaj Junior Model school had been demolished and the children were being forced to sit in the open. |
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DISTRICT COURTS Chandigarh, February 26 He was earlier granted an anticipatory bail by the Punjab and Haryana High Court in the case. Following a challan filed against him by the UT Vigilance Department in a local court in this month Jearth had moved a regular bail in a local court. The UT Vigilance Department alleged in the FIRs that Jerath had sent his subordinate officers to Delhi for a meeting which was to be attended by the Adviser to Chandigarh Administrator to prepare the case in advance, which according to the FIR, was the work to be performed personally by him. By sending them in advance, he allegedly caused monetary loss to the government. On the other hand Jerath had denied the allegation levelled against him in the bail plea. Denying the allegation Jerath stated that Finance Secretary and other secretaries who also had to assist the Adviser had taken their subordinates for preparing for the meeting. But no action had been taken against them. He had been on an official visit in Delhi, therefore, there was no misuse of the official vehicles as alleged in the FIR. Denying the allegation it was further stated by Jerath that as all other officials had taken their subordinates to the meeting how he was expected to perform the duty of his subordinate (Executive Engineer). Sidhu’s plea accepted A local court has accepted an application moved by former chairman of the PPSC, Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu, to summon relevant documents from excise Department in a case registered against him under the Excise Act. Sidhu had stated in the plea moved by him, earlier rejected by the Judicial magistrate (First Class). Therefore, he had moved a plea in the court of UT Additional and Sessions Judge claiming that he had valid permit to keep foreign liquor at the time of his arrest but that was not in his possession. He had prayed that relevant documents could be summoned to from the Excise Department to verify the records. The case against the accused was registered under Excise Act after the recovery of 14 bottles of foreign liquor from his house in Sector 39. The accused was arrested by the Vigilance Department, Punjab, on March 26 allegedly while accepting a bribe of Rs 5 lakh. |
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When colours flow like
music Chandigarh, February 26 In this age when even talking about installation art is considered a proposition in futility, Shridhar Iyer spends lakhs in making his thoughts speak in the language of colours. Currently in the city with a strong exhibition of over 75 works, Bhopal-based Iyer is more involved with the space outside the gallery than with the space inside. "I had never thought I would display my works here. The last show I had was in Delhi. Coming to Chandigarh was not in my scheme of things, but as destiny would have it, I am here and I must say I am heer because of this space," he says talking about how he uses energy to bring alive his canvases and how music dominates his creative process. Cosmic images and illusions fill up his mind and spill on to his works, baring his spiritual urge. Smitten with the magnificent space of the Museum and its beautifully vibrant galleries, Shridhar Iyer decided to bring a huge collection to the city. His works are all about various hues of fire. He uses red, yellow and blue to paint his own emotions and his reflections on life. A great deal of spiritual element rests in his works that have the ability to transport the viewer to the other world. The best part of the collection is its variety. The artist has not jumped to paint. He not used the medium to suggest anything. He has simply played with forms, using tools as objects of celebration. That's why Iyer's works appear like statements of his own self. Each set of works stands out as a distinctive phase from the life of the artist who has evolved through years. "My works reflect my evolution through time. One set is all about my emotions and about my perspective on highly sensitive issues. The other set of works captures Indian mythology, its significance and its splendour. The third set reflects my passion for science. It is amazing to see how colours can make you fall in love with concepts you little understood as learners. I could never earn respectable marks in science. But now my scientific drawings manage huge appreciation." Under the guidance of J Swaminathan, Shridhar travelled extensively. His works seem to converse with the viewer, even as the elements on is canvas are engaged in a constant dialogue with each other. And the installation is the strength of this artist who has to his credit every award worth the name. A national award winner, Iyer regards awards little. "Awards are like lotteries. They don't mean anything. Their relation to talent is very vague and ill established. I know what my forms are and what appeal they carry. In these commercial times when artists don't venture into installations I indulge in my installation concepts like a man in love for the first time." As Shridhar works on the concept of pind daan, heavily basing his installation on animal forms, he says, "As humans we do very little for animals. Where take all care in the world to put to rest the souls of those who have departed. We don't even care to cast a second glance at a dead animal. It is this concept that will evolve with the space of this gallery." Shridhar will be ready with his installation on March 5, the day when he will also show his video installation. |
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Mushaira
tomorrow Chandigarh, February 26 Chaudhary Suraj Bhan, Governor of Himachal Pradesh, will be the chief guest and Mr Ramendra Jakhu ‘Sahil’, IAS, will preside over the function. Mr Maha Singh, Commissioner, and Mr D.D. Gautam, Deputy Commissioner of Ambala, will be the guests of honour. The participants will include Basheer Badra, Majid Dev Bandi, Ajeez Parihar, Saheel Faroogi, Wafa Bhoopali, Asif Barelvi, Shadab Lalit, Arsh Sehbai, Malik Zada Javed, Kaleem Qaisar, Zeenatullah Javed and many others. |
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