Green school project launched
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 13
Over 65 public and private city schools are participating in a project for sensitising young people towards environmental issues. The ‘‘green school project’’ will aim not only at sensitising, but educating students and teachers on ecology management. The CII Chandigarh Council, jointly with the Chandigarh Administration, has launched the project.

The primary objective is to spread awareness and change attitudes and behaviour towards environment. Along with waste management, sanitation and hygiene, community development and flora management, an important component of the project is a focus on improving awareness about water management and conservation, a spokesperson of the CII said today.

As a first step towards implementing the project, a survey was conducted on the existing environment education status in schools to gauge the situation before the project could actually kick off. Subsequently, all participating school representatives were given an orientation on the project in April 2003.

During the orientation programme, teachers were given information on simple self-help tips in water conservation, which can be used very effectively in schools and applied at homes as well. The concept of rainwater harvesting was also explained. Since schools were major water consumers, employing these simple methods could reduce their water consumption by more than 20 per cent over a period of time.

Next on the agenda are debates, essays, quizzes, competitions on environment-related topics from August-November. Finally, all schools participating in the project will be graded on the basis of initiatives taken during the year. An award giving ceremony for felicitating the best school and encouraging the schools to share their experiences will be organised in January 2004.

This project will be in the form of an ongoing process where the schools will be encouraged to take the initiatives further.

Personality development camp
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, June 13
A lecture on time management was delivered to about 125 students participating in the three-day personality development camp which started today at I.S. Dev Samaj Girls Senior Secondary School in Sector 21. A quiz contest, “Bharat ko jano”, was also organised.

The camp is being held under project “Nirman-2003” by the Bharat Vikas Parishad (BVP) for the students of Classes VIII and above. The lecture on time management was given by Mr Dheeraj Aggarwal. The deputy director of Punjab Youth Services, Mr S.M. Kant, discussed the methodology to develop positive thinking and positive living.

The assistant general manager, telecom, Mr I.J. Bawa, guided the children to release stress by making every moment enjoyable. The camp is being coordinated by Mr S.C. Gilhotra.

The camp was inaugurated by Deputy Director of the PGI Meeta Rajivlochan. She told the students to do their work after following the rules and regulations.

Summer camp activities
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, June 13
A quiz competition, the art of house keeping, no-fire cooking, speaking, singing and dancing, along with brain storming sessions and aerobics are the activities being conducted by Smartkids summer camp at the Food Craft Institute in Sector 42. Yoga is an added attraction at the camp.

According to a press release, children from three to 16 years can participate in the camp which will continue till June 30.

During the camp, even the holiday homework and school projects can be supervised by the teachers.

Today, a dance bash was organised for the kids to give them a break from the routine. The little ones danced on the latest numbers.

DAV college boys excel in AIEEE

Chandigarh, June 13
DAV College boys have excelled in the All-India Engineering Entrance Examination (AIEEE), the results of which were declared today. While Mohit Gupta secured eighth rank in the all-India engineering entrance test, Pawan Jain and Ankit Jain also did the college proud by securing the second and third positions in the city.

Gunjit Singh, Gaurav Mittal, Supreet and Priya are among the other top achievers from the city. Neeraj Kapoor and Ankit Arora secured 74th and 125th rank in the examination. TNS

UGC-NET cards dispatched
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 13
The Panjab University office of the UGC-NET has dispatched admit cards for candidates appearing in the NET examination scheduled for June 29, a press note said here today.

The students who have not received their cards should contact Dr R. K. Gupta, Department of Correspondence Studies, here along with an attested photograph after June 18.

MA II (Hindi) results out

Chandigarh, June 13
Panjab University has declared the results of MA II (Hindi), an official press note said here today. Copies of the result gazette will be available at the enquiry counter on all working days between 7.30 am and 1.30 pm. TNS

COURTS

Murder charge framed against two
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, June 13
A local court has framed charge of murder against two city residents who had allegedly killed Mr Allah Singh’s 24-year-old son, Inderjit Singh, on July 7, 1985, in Sector 34-D. The UT Additional and Sessions Judge has framed the charge against — Hardev Singh and Harpreet Singh.

It was alleged that Inderjit Singh was murdered by his landlord, Hardev Singh and the others. But the post-mortem report stated that the cause of death was asphyxia due to hanging. The father of the deceased then wrote to various officials and approached Mr Shiv Swarup, the then Adviser to the Punjab Governor.

A panel of doctors was appointed to re-examine the post-mortem report.

The panel revealed that the post-mortem report given by Dr S.K Garg was not consistent with the finding in case of hanging. A case against Hardev Singh and the other was registered under Sections 302, and 34, IPC, on November 24, 1985. Thereafter, the police sought the help of the Central Forensic Science Laboratory. The report says the deceased seemed to have resisted the attack. The blood samples were sent to the CFSL, Madhuban, which opined that the case was of murder and not suicide.

The Chandigarh police had tried to close the case on the recommendation of the Patiala police on February 27, 1988. Thereafter, the father of the deceased had given representation to the Prime Minister and the Chief Justice to reopen the case.

The former CJM had examined 11 witnesses, including CBI officials, police officials, the Director of the Forensic Science Laboratory and the Doctor who had conducted post-mortem of the body. The CBI had recommended quashing of the FIR registered against Hardev Singh and the others. In 1995, the court had directed the CBI to conduct fresh investigation.

The case was handed over to the SP, CBI, Mr Kirtti Chandra Kanungo, now DIG, CBI (North East Region, Guwahati). Mr Kirtti examined more than 100 witnesses examined by previous investigating officers. He concluded that death of Inderjit Singh was a homicide and not a suicide.

DFO gets 3-day police remand

Kharar, June 13
A local court today remanded an Indian Forests Services (IFS) officer Parveen Kumar, posted as Divisional Forests Officer (DFO) at Ropar, in police remand till June 16 in connection with a corruption, forgery and criminal conspiracy case registered against him and several other officers of the Forests Department by the Vigilance Bureau on June 11.

Duty Magistrate Harinder Kaur Sidhu directed to provide medical facilities to the accused, besides getting him medically examined as and when required during the police remand.

The Public Prosecutor submitted before the court that the DFO in connivance with another IFS officer H.S. Grewal posted as Conservator of Forests (CF), Punjab Forest Service (PFS) officer Dev Raj Sharma posted as Subdivisional Forests Officer (SDFO) at Ropar, Baldev Singh, Range Officer, and several contractors and private owners of forests, ordered marking of 97,772 trees in 17 villages in the Nurpur Bedi range of Ropar district from October, 2002, to February, 2003.

According to the prosecution, the marking of trees was done by the private contractors and owners of the forests in violation of the relevant rules of the felling policy and the DFO, without verifying the facts, signed the marking report submitted to him.

A case under various sections of the IPC, the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Land Preservation Act was registered against the DFO, the CF, the SDFO, the Range Officers and others. However, the CF had already availed a pre-arrest bail as per which the VB was required to give him four days’ notice before arrest. PTI

Habeas corpus petition dismissed
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 13
A petition of habeas corpus accusing the Station House Officer of Phase VIII Police Station of illegally detaining a 10-year-old was rendered infructuous after the boy was not found in the police custody.

Mr Justice S.S. Grewal of the Punjab and Haryana High Court had, yesterday directed the appointment of a warrant officer to locate the boy.

In her petition against the state of Punjab and other respondents, the alleged victim’s mother Choni Devi of Patna had earlier submitted that her son Mukesh Kumar was picked up by the Station House Officer and other police officials from Phase VII sabzi mandi where he was selling vegetables. She was later informed by her relatives that Mukesh Kumar was in illegal custody at Phase VIII police station.

NEW RELEASE
Will ‘Chalte Chalte’ run?

After the success of “Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman” and “Yes Boss”, the Aziz Mirza-Shah Rukh Khan combine returns with a love story, “Chalte Chalte”. Aided by Rani Mukherjee, Aziz Mirza is hoping to repeat the success of his earlier hits. “Chalte Chalte” is produced by Dreamz Unlimited in association with UTV Motion Pictures. It opens at Piccadly, Chandigarh.

This story of a young couple focuses on life after marriage. Rani Mukherjee plays a rich girl and Shah Rukh a middle-class youth. A tale of two hearts, “Chalte Chalte” is a film that deals with basic human emotions.

It is produced by Aziz Mirza, Juhi Chawla and Shah Rukh Khan. Jas Arora, Satish Shah, Jayshree T, Lillete Dubey and Johnny Lever play supporting roles. Aditya Pancholi makes a guest appearance.

Shot by Ashok Mehta mostly in Mumbai and Mykoons Islands of Greece, “Chalte Chalte” is likely to appeal to “class” audiences. The film also looks promising due to Javed Akhtar’s lyrics and Farah Khan’s choreography, besides the music of Jatin-Lalit and Aadesh Shrivastava. DP

Singing contest for Rafi awards tomorrow
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 13
The Yaadgar-e-Rafi Society will be holding the first round of a singing competition for Rafi Award-2003 in the senior category (men and women) at DAV College, Sector 10 mini auditorium here on June 15. The male participants will sing Rafi songs and the female Lata’s numbers. There will be three trophies — one is Rafi Award and two runners trophies in both categories. These trophies will be given away by a film personality in the society’s annual feature, Rafi Nite, to be held in November. Last year these awards were given away by the music director Pyarelal.