EDUCATION

Students seek compensation from CBSE
Parbina Rashid

Chandigarh, May 16
A number of students who had taken the All-India Engineering Entrance Examination (AIEEE) conducted by the CBSE on May 11 in the city have formed a forum and appealed to the CBSE against the “considerable delay in distributing test booklets on the day of the exam.”

Prabuddha Bansal, a student who took the test at Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 22, said the CBSE should compensate the students for the 10-minute delay which occurred due to the negligence of staff on duty.

It may be recalled that students taking the entrance exam at various centres had alleged that test booklets for the mathematics paper were distributed 10 minutes late than the scheduled time, due to which the students had to suffer.

Mr Dilbagh Singh, the Principal of Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 22, said the allegations were baseless as a representative of the CBSE office was present at the centre during the test. He said only those students who could not do well in the examination were raising hue and cry.

However, for students like Prabuddha Bansal, who have got good ranking in the screening test in the IIT entrance test, the matter holds serious implications. In a letter to the CBSE Secretary, he has urged him to look into the matter.

Parents of some more students have decided to get together and urge the CBSE to do the needful. According to Mr G.S. Yadav and Mr G.S. Bedi, the forum has decided to move the Punjab and Haryana High Court for relief in all those papers which were distributed late on that particular day. Mr Yadav has appealed to all affected students and their parents to extend their support in this regard. He said he could be contacted at phone number 3131403.

Mr Yog Raj Sachdeva, the Regional Officer, CBSE, Chandigarh, was not available for comments.

Colleges want vocational courses to go
Sanjeev Singh Bariana
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 16
The vocational courses of the University Grants Commission started in the colleges affiliated to Panjab University in 1994 are witnessing a slow but sure death, except for a couple of cases.

The courses have already closed down in certain affiliated colleges. The two biggest reasons for the sorry state of affairs are : the time for UGC sponsorship having ended and no responsibility taken over by the Punjab Government subsequently; and negligible placement opportunities for the students in real life which was the original aim of the courses.

Certain colleges have already sought the discontinuity of the courses from the university while several colleges still running the courses are facing tough times. Reliable university sources said the colleges at Ferozepore, Abohar and Gurusar Sudhar had sought discontinuity of the vocational courses. The latest to join the gang is the college at Samrala. The scheme of vocational courses was introduced only in the non-governmental colleges.

In the city, GGDSD College maintains that it has a very good response for all four vocational courses. These include biotechnology, computer application, advertisement, sales and sales promotion.

Sources at Sri Guru Gobind Singh Khalsa College, Sector 26, here agreed that the courses were facing tough time. There was no instant response or any rush for the courses. The students had to be goaded on and convinced into joining the courses.

Principal A.C. Vaid, GGDSD College, said there were definite reports about the colleges not getting the due response to different vocational streams.” However, the placement records of my college show that they had clicked well as due effort were also made to secure the placements for the pass-outs”, he said. Principal P. S. Sangha, SGGS Khalsa College, said the college was carrying on the show, however, special efforts had to be made in convincing students.

A number of colleges in different districts of Punjab had gone in for agriculture and fisheries-related courses. But even these courses do not ensure in placements to students.

It is argued that one big handicap that the courses are facing is the non-involvement of the state governments. The UGC has assured grant of Rs 15 lakh for each course for the first five years.

Then the responsibility was to be borne by the respective states. The colleges largely did not make specific appointments for these courses and managed the affairs with the existing faculty.

More importantly, the courses have not achieved the desired results regarding placement. The courses started with much fanfare are facing a collapse because very less attention has been paid to the implementation aspect of the scheme, a senior college teacher said.

Cheating case: PU yet to finalise findings
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 16
Panjab University has not finalised its findings in a cheating case involving the wife of an IAS officer. Dr Sodhi Ram, the Controller of Examinations, said the university was still going through the details of the version of the accused party in reply to the complaint filed by the centre superintendent. A report is expected within a few days, he added.

Nandani, a student of BA II (Psychology), was picked up by the Centre Superintendent at Government College for Girls Sector 11 for some “special help” being provided to her by a lecturer. It was alleged that the college lecturer was acting on “orders” by the DPI (Colleges). The candidate is reported to be the wife of an IAS officer posted in Punjab.

Entrance test for B.Ed course
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, May 16
Students aspiring to join B.Ed course in different B.Ed colleges in the city for the session 2003-04 will have to appear in an entrance test to be conducted by Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU), Amritsar .

The decision was conveyed by the Director, Public Instruction (Colleges), today to the university authority and also to the principals of all local colleges. The DPI said there was some confusion earlier regarding the entrance exam. “We had directed Panjab University to hold entrance test but since this year university is responsible for holding the entrance test, we have reverted our decision,” he said.

With this revised decision, all students seeking admission in the B Ed colleges will have to take the entrance test to be conducted by university.

Swimming pool in school inaugurated
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 16
Students of Golden Bells Public School, SAS Nagar can now beat the heat by taking a dip at the new swimming pool, inaugurated at the school today.

The swimming and splash pool, was inaugurated by Mr C.S.R. Reddy, IPS, at a function attended by members of the School Society. He lauded the efforts of the school in providing all possible facilities at school for the students. Mr Reddy said it was not just academics which helped in the all-round development of the students but sports and cultural activities were also a must.

A cultural programme was also presented on the occasion.

COURTS

HIGH COURT
Rapist refused bail
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 16
The Punjab and Haryana High Court today ruled that releasing on bail a rapist, convicted for forcing himself on a 10-year-old, would be travesty of justice. Mr Justice S.S. Nijjar also dismissed the bail application filed by the convict.

Pronouncing the orders in the open court on a petition filed by Sonepat district resident Pardeep, Mr Justice Nijjar held: "A perusal of the judgement passed by Sonepat's Sessions Judge shows that the appellant has been convicted for raping a 10-year-old. He has been sentenced to 10-year rigorous imprisonment. I am of the considered opinion that releasing the convicted rapist on bail by suspending the sentence of imprisonment would be travesty of justice. Dismissed".

Sarpanch case

The high court expressed the hope that the government authorities would develop a system for placing before the officers information daily collected from different sources.

Taking up a petition regarding an inquiry in a sarpanch case, Mr Justice G.S. Singhvi added that trained computer operations should be asked to feed in the information for the officers.

Mr Justice Singhvi added that the failure of the subordinate staff to brief senior officers regarding different court dates, besides other things, was leading to wastage of time, energy and money

The Judge concluded that information should also be sent from the Advocate-General's office directly to the officer concerned through the internet. Earlier during the proceedings, the Judge was informed that the process of computerisation had been completed in 29 offices and departments actively dealing with public.

Petition on creches' maintenance

Acting on a petition filed by a city-based advocate seeking directions to the Chandigarh Administration, the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh and other respondents, to frame by-laws for opening and maintaining creches in the city, a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court has observed that the provisions of the Children Act would be applicable to violators of the bye-laws.

In her petition taken up by the Bench, comprising Chief Justice Mr B.K. Roy and Mr Justice H.S. Bedi, Ms Hema Kakkar had sought directions for imposing heavy penalties on the violators so that precious lives of young innocents were not put to risk due to negligent attitude of creche owners.

Claiming to have been perturbed after reading a news item regarding the death of a nine-month-old child, Ms Kakkar had added that the owners were not taking adequate care of children even though they were charging heavily taking from the parents of the children.

She further submitted that the Deputy Commissioner had admitted that there were no guidelines for running creches and out of a total of 50 only a few could be termed completely professional.

Eviction stayed

Issuing a notice of motion on a petition filed by a son of a former Inspector, Mr Justice S.S. Nijjar and Mr Justice S.S. Garewal of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today stayed his eviction from a government house in Sector 23.

In his petition, Pardeep Kumar had earlier sought directions for quashing an order issued by the Estate Officer vide which he was ordered to vacate a government house.

Going into the background of the case, the petitioner had submitted that his father had died while in service.

He had, subsequently, addressed a representation to the House Allotment Committee for allowing him to retain the house till he was offered "ex-gratia" appointment. The Estate Officer, however, informed him that the Committee had cancelled the allotment.

Challan filed in Chopra murder case
Our Correspondent

SAS Nagar, May 16
The police filed a challan in the Chopra murder case at a Kharar court today.

Mr H.S. Bhullar, SP, said the challan against Ravinder Sharma, Parampal Singh Matharu and Brij Bhushan, alias Bhupa, had been presented within the stipulated 90-day period. The next date of hearing is May 20.

The three persons have been charged with the murder of Mr V.K. Chopra, Executive Engineer, with the Chandigarh Administration, in Phase V here on February 17. Mr Chopra was shot dead from point-blank range when he came to attend a wedding reception at a hotel.

BBC quiz show test on May 18
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, May 16
If you wish to participate in a 32-episode quiz show to be aired on BBC World, get ready for the preliminary written test to be held on May 18 at St John’s High School in Sector 26.

The programme — University Challenge India — is being organised by Synergy Communications, the makers of Mastermind India and Kaun Banega Crorepati. The show will include a contest with four teams from University Challenge from England. The quiz is open to bona fide students above 18, who are affiliated to a university, college or an institute. It requires a four-member team to represent an educational institution.

The test, to be held on all-India basis, requires in depth and wide ranging general knowledge and the skills to be quick and decisive. According to test co-ordinator Chitranjan Aggarwal, “On the spot registration will also be done. Keeping in view the holiday season, members of any team are being permitted to appear from anywhere. The show will bring together the best quizzing brains in the country

Mr Aggarwal added that they were hopeful that Chandigarh would maintain its great quizzing past. “We expect a large number of teams from colleges in and around the city to participate in the test”. If you wish to participate in the selection process and put your knowledge to test, then register with Mr Aggarwal on www.funtoo.com