EDUCATION

CAMPUS NOTES
Panel to monitor work in honours school
Sanjeev Singh Bariana

Panjab University has decided to appoint the Undergraduate Academic Programme Monitoring and Execution Committee (UGAPMEC) for monitoring and execution of the academic programmes in all the three years of B Sc (honours school).

The UGAPMEC will consist of 5-7 faculty members. It will have a convenor and a secretary, both of whom will be appointed by the concerned Board of Control. The UGAPMEC will work in close collaboration with the department chairperson.

The term of the body will be three years. It will meet preferably at least once a month.

The main function of the body will be to finalise the academic calendar for an academic year. It will also keep track of tests and annual examination besides the classroom attendance. The body will also ensure tabulation of marks, storage of data and monitor that the rules and regulations were properly followed.

The university will also set up a Post Graduate Academic Programme Monitoring and Execution Committee (PGAPMEC) to watch the monitoring and execution of academic programmes for the M Sc (honours school). Its functions are similar to the undergraduate committee.

Refresher course

Teachers are seeking the Punjab Government to extend the date of refresher courses for teachers on lines of a communication of the University Grants Commission.

Dr R.P.S.Josh, a fellow of Panjab University senate, in a letter addressed to the Education secretary of Punjab has pointed out that “ the government was causing unnecessary bickering amongst the teaching fraternity” and appealed “to allow extension in the date of doing the refresher courses”.

The University Grants Commission has already extended the date of Refresher Courses for teachers till December 31, 2004. Teachers who superannuate within the coming three years have been exempted from doing the course.

A formal communication to this regard has been signed by Dr K.P.Singh, a deputy secretary in the UGC.

IAS centre

After the declaration of the result of Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, the Centre for IAS and Other Competitive Examinations on the campus is again abuzz with activity. Two programmes, one for the Civil Services (Main) and the other for the PCS (Judicial) candidates, which are already in progress at the centre, have many more aspirants flocking in to join these.

“Students of the centre have done well in the preliminary examinations of Civil Services, PCS and HCS. Six students have cleared the first hurdle in the state services examinations, while three have made it to the Civil Services (Preliminary),” said Dr R.K. Mahajan, Coordinator of the centre. He owes the success of the students to their hard work and sincerity.

One of the successful students, Deepak Sharma, said experts in all subjects have been at our disposal to guide and solve our problems. Moreover, the centre has also developed a unique mechanism of getting its resourse persons evaluated by the students, he added.

Attestation powers

Panjab University has decided to give power of attesting documents of students to certain senior teachers in each of its affiliated colleges. Powers have been given following a resolution of Dr S.S.Sangha and Dr R.P.S.Josh, both fellows, which has been accepted by the university.

The power has been given to only regular approved and full time senior lecturers, working in private colleges affiliated to Panjab University.

The attestation power will be given only to limited number of senior lecturers( between 3-7 in a college) depending on the college strength.

Principal of the concerned college will be required to recommend the names of lecturers for the purpose of approval of the Controller of Examination for a period of three years only. After the expiry of three years, the principal will be required to send another list to the controller for approval.

Teachers will have the authority to attest the documents for the purpose of admission, examination and other academic activity in relation to activities concerning PU and affiliated colleges only and not other universities.

Awareness drive

With the leaders of the two prominent students organisations (the Panjab University Student Union and the Students organisation of Panjab University) on a low ebb at the university campus, the Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad is playing all its cards vehemently to make its presence felt on the campus. This is largely being done in wake of the anticipated elections to the Panjab University Campus Student Council

The ‘Save Campus Campaign’ launched by the ABVP in the past one week has shifted its venue from the department of Indian theatre, to Hindi, to music, to Laws and even in university hostels. Saurabh Joshi, the secretary, announced his “final assault on the campus authorities by announcing an indefinite fast”.

Students gave a 15-point demand in the department of laws. The memorandum of demands was signed by more than 200 students which ranged from lack of infrastructural facilities, lack of teachers, non-functional computers in the laboratories and unhygienic conditions in the toilets.

Students also highlighted inadequacy of teachers at the University Institute of Engineering and technology. The ABVP has decided to carry-on the protests for another two week in more teaching departments.

Joshi has started his indefinite ‘dharna’ against the university not listening to demands of students from the B Sc(honours school). Students are demanding that the university should revert to the old system of evaluation in which a student who was unable to clear one paper in the first year could carry-on his classes till he cleared his examination in final year. The sudden change in the exiting rules had caused a lot of inconvenience to students, it was pointed out.

CBSE decision on confidential results right, feel parents
Parbina Rashid

Chandigarh, August 25
The Central Board of Secondary Education’s decision to do away with the declaration of confidential results has evoked a favourable response from academician and parents here. The decision had been taken by Mr P.I. Sabu, CBSE Regional Head, after the Chandigarh Regional Office drew criticism for their alleged failure to provide confidential results to around 20 students just after five days of the final examination for Class XII.

Saying that the practice of declaring results on confidential basis to a handful students went against the ethics of education policy, as it widened the gap between the haves and have nots, Mr Sabu said the issue was blown out of proportion by the media. “Parents have really been unreasonable while demanding confidential results, which had become hindrance in the functioning of the CBSE. And since there are no provisions for the declaration of confidential results in the examination bylaws followed by the CBSE, we are under no compulsion to carrying on with this practice,” said Mr Sabu.

The allegation against the CBSE was brought to notice of the media when a group of students appearing for an entrance test conducted by the PTU demanded confidential result only after five days of the examination for Class XII. “CBSE’s working process follows a systematic norm with a general coding system and constitution of a result committee that decides on grace marks. So before the result committee finalises things we are in no position to declare confidential results,” said Mr Sabu.

Meanwhile, majority of teachers here have supported the CBSE’s decision. “This practice of handing over of confidential result is an unfair one, as many of us do not even know about it,”says Ms Meenakshi Mohindra, Principal of Bhavan Vidyalaya, Sector 27, who herself admits of not knowing about the procedure. “For it benefits only those few students who are privileged and as such breeds contempt among those who are unable to avail of this facility,” she adds.

Echoing the same sentiment, Ms Rakesh Sachdeva, Principal of DAV Public School, Sector 15, says majority of students and parents are not even aware of this practice and only influential ones have been availing of it. “Hundreds of students from this region had appeared for the entrance test conducted by Punjab Technical University, Jalandhar, but how come only 20 students were recommended by the PTU for seeking confidential results,” asks one parent who is against the system.

Though the parents do support the CBSE’s decision to stop this practice, at the same time majority of them feel there should be better coordination among educational institutions.

“There should be a national coordination committee for deciding the dates for all major examinations as well as major entrance tests conducted all over the country. The committee should have representatives of all local level committees as well as representatives from the CBSE, ICSE and local boards so that the students do not suffer in terms of declaration of late results or appearing in the entrance tests,” suggested a group of parents.

FROM COLLEGES
342 students get certificates
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 25
As many as 342 persons were given certificates at the convocation of Simple Sanskrit Speaking Course at GGDSD College, Sector 32, here today. The 30-day course was sponsored by the University Grants Commission. All age groups ranging from officers of various organisations, aged people, teachers and staff of the college and students of various city schools undertook the course.

Addressing the convocation, Prof Jaishankar Tripathi, Head, Department of Sanskrit, Benaras Hindu University, said: “We should try to inculcate a love for Sanskrit among the youth. It should not remain simply an academic discipline but become a part of our daily interaction. The West is adopting Sanskrit while in our country people shy away from learning it and using it as a medium of conversation. We should feel proud to speak Sanskrit just as we do to speak English”.

The Principal of the college, Dr A.C. Vaid, spoke on the importance of Sanskrit. “It is our language and we should try to make it popular among all age groups. At the college, we are committed to contribute to the development and popularity of Sanskrit and we shall make Sanskrit teaching a permanent feature for outsiders to come and learn it here”.

Plantation drive

A sapling plantation drive was launched in Sri Guru Gobind Singh College, Sector 26, by the NSS unit of the college on Monday. Dr Ajaib Singh, member, Punjab Public Service Commission, and an alumnus of the college, inaugurated the drive by planting a sapling. Nearly 100 saplings of different varieties were planted.

The programme was organised by Prof K.S. Virk and Prof L.S. Kheeva, programme officers, NSS, to familiarise the students with the NSS and its role in improving the personality of the students.

Dr Ajaib Singh lauded the volunteers for making persistent efforts towards a greener and more eco- friendly Chandigarh.

Showcasing pain in play
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, August 25
Situations from everyday life, the pain of growing up and the feeling of insecurity were the highlights of the two plays, “Dil Ka Maamla Hai” and “Kya Sabko Sabkuch Aata Hai”, which marked the opening of the 5th Children’s Community Theatre Festival at the Sector 17 Piazza, here today. The festival was inaugurated by the UT Administrator, Justice O.P. Verma (Retd).

The first play, “Dil Ka Maamla Hai”, evolved by students of Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 16, expressed their feelings of anger, fear, love and dreams through situations moulded into a dramatic presentation. The main emphasis of the play was on capturing moods in a device called “moodometer”.

Though the element of drama ran high throughout the 45-minute show, scenes having improvised dialogues from Bollywood blockbusters and song and dance sequences to match the mood proved thoroughly entertaining.

The second play, “Kya Sabko Sabkuch Aata Hai”, presented by students of Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Sector 18, was a satire dealing with the greatest fear of human mind — fear of rejection. Exploring rejection in different phases of life, the students explored the root cause and came out with solutions to overcome the fear of rejection.

Organised by the Centre for Education and Voluntary Action (CEVA), the plays were the results of a series of month-long community theatre workshops as a part of its project for supplementing academic education with learning through theatre. The idea and the improvisation of real life situations came from the students themselves in interactive sessions during the workshops.

The festival is showcasing learning materials in the field of education as well as CEVA’a concept of “figure out and finding out activities “ suitable for mathematics and language laboratory. The festival will present two plays, “No Marks No Tension” and Harry Puttar” tomorrow.

Bhavan students get prizes
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, August 25
A prize distribution function was held at Bhavan Vidyalaya, Sector 15, Panchkula. The Chief Guest of the function, Deputy Commissioner Satwanti Ahlawat lit the lamp. It was followed by recital of ‘Shabads’ by students. The principal of the school, Mrs Shashi Banerjee, welcomed the Deputy Commissioner. The chief guest gave away prizes to meritorious students, toppers and students excelling in various fields.

C. Subramaniam award for excellence in character instituted by head office Mumbai — Umang Nayyar, Meetu Sondhi, Nipun Gupta.

Sh Pran Lal Devkaran Ji award for harmonious behaviour amongst students — Geetakshi.

Best all round student — Piyush Kumar amongst juniors; Ankit Mittal amongst seniors.

All round best house trophy — Sundaram House.

Cash award to the toppers — Rs 1000/- to 1500/- in various categories.

Wrist watches to the students for consistent performance for three consecutive years.

Chandigarh

Debate: Ishaan Ganjoo and Priyanka of St Xavier’s School won the debate contest of Fanta Fiesta organised at Tagore Theatre, here today. Ishaan Ganjoo also won the award for the “Best Speaker” in the contest which saw a participation of 18 schools.

The topic for the contest was “Money on educating girls is money well spent” and elicited an overwhelming response. While the team from St Kabir was first runner-up, St Annes was declared second runner-up.

India week begins: Dedicated to freedom fighters, the first day of the “India Week celebrations” at Delhi Public School, Sector 40, began with the reciting of shlokas and lighting of the lamp. The audience was moved when four-year-old Aderika sang “Ae mere watan ke logon” while the tiny tots presented “Our people” which saw them attired in traditional clothes of various states.

The chief guest, Mr Prem Prashant, Financial Commissioner, Labour and Employment Department, Haryana, lauded the devotion and commitment of the teachers. He explained the importance of brotherhood amongst people and encouraged students to take the country to greater heights. The Principal, Ms Sunita Tanwar, spoke of the bravery of the Indians during the freedom struggle and secularism and “unity in diversity”.

45 participate in dance ‘dhamaka’
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, August 25
Nearly 45 dancers from all over the region twirled around the floor during the ‘Monsoon dance dhamaka’ held at the Government Polytechnic College for Women, Sector 10, here yesterday. It was organised by the Creative Arts Network.

As the performers descended on the floor to exhibit their talent, the audience stood up to applaud. Among the participants was Ishant Sachdeva. He danced on the hit number “Hum kale hain to kya hua dil wale hai”. Baby Jaskiran Kaur gave a performance on “Jiya jale jaan jale”. This was not all. Ropar’s Natraj Kala Kendra presented “Jaanleva”. The other participants included Manveen Kaur, Shuchi, Japjot Kaur, Apoorva, Navita, besides Kharar’s Indian Public School and Ambala’s Bobby Dancing Group.

The performance was judged by a panel of three, comprising Director of Chandigarh Arts Theatre Braham Kumar, choreographer Rahul Sharma and Director of Panchkula’s Mayuri Dance Academy. The programme was anchored by Harleen Kaur. The Principal of the Government Polytechnic College for Women, Ms Usha Mahajan, was the chief guest.

Hotel management institute opens
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 25
The Modern Institute of Hotel Management, a trend-setting institute in the field of hospitality and service industry, was opened in Sector 17 here today.

The need to have such an institute was felt by the promoters of this institute while running 3B Eating Mall in Sector 35, said Director D. J. Singh.

There was an acute shortage of formally trained waiters, counter boys, production helpers, cooks, home delivery boys, added Mr Manmohan Singh, president of the Chandigarh Hotel and Restaurant Association, who was the chief guest on the occasion.

Students meet IGP over hotel brawl
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, August 25
Sikander Deol, who was allegedly beaten up by staff of a Sector 35 based hotel, along with his friends (all students) today met the UT IGP, to complain that the police was dilly-dallying in registering a case against the hotel staff.

Sikander Deol along with his two friends, Samrat Chopra and Avtar Singh, had gone to the hotel on August 21 to celebrate his birthday. Later, heated arguments took place between them and hotel staff over the bill amount. The three alleged that they were given an inflated bill. The arguments turned violent as one of the waiter allegedly hit Deol with a bottle. Deol received injuries on his head and hands.

SIDBI programme for women
Our Correspondent

SAS Nagar, August 25
A special four-week entrepreneurship development programme for women started at the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing here today. The programme has been sponsored by the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI).

Mr Deepak Rana, coordinator, said the main objective of the programme was to provide entrepreneurial, financial, managerial and technological inputs so that women participants could start their career.

More than 25 women are participating in the programme which was inaugurated by Mr N.K. Narula, Deputy General Manager, SIDBI.

COURTS

High Court
‘Shift judges with kin’
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 25
In a memorandum addressed to the President of India signed by 1,005 members of the Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association, lawyer Tahar Singh and his advocate friends have sought “the transfer of all local judges of different high courts whose children, spouses or relatives were practising in their courts”. The number of such judges, they added, was 131.

The members added that the judges should, as a gesture of support to the cause of eradication of justice, apply for transfer on their own till the transfer policy was implemented.

In the memorandum running into four pages, they claimed that a judge cannot dispense justice without favour if someone closely related to him was practising in the same court.

They added that “their seats were not the judgement seats of Vikramaditya. Therefore, all work tends to get concentrated in the hands of the sons and the relatives of the sitting judges practising as advocates in the high courts. The clients firmly believed that they could get them relief because of their connection with the judges.

Ex-DEO Malti placed under observation
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 25
Ropar’s former District Education Officer Malti Batra has been placed under observation, a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court was today informed. Expressing doubts over her mental state, the Bench had, on the last date of hearing, directed the Registrar-General to send her for examination to the Psychiatry Department of Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32. The case will now come up for hearing on October 15.

Issuing the directions while taking up a criminal contempt against her, the Bench, headed by Chief Justice Mr Justice B.K. Roy, had also directed women constables present in the court to take her for a medical check-up. The Bench had added that she would be allowed to go wherever she wanted to if she was mentally sound, otherwise all steps would be taken to keep her at a proper place for treatment.

In their detailed order, the Bench had observed that the directions for the check-up were being issued as a mentally unsound person could not be proceeded against or sentenced. As such, in the interest of justice she was being sent for the medical examination.

The Judges had asserted that criminal contempt proceedings were initiated against her on August 18. At that time they had taken note of an information given by her that her officers described her as mentally unsound. This, she had asserted, was false and defamatory.

However, she reiterated her claim of being an agent of the Research and Analytical Wing (RAW) following which the UT Home Secretary was asked to report.

The Judges had observed that the Standing Counsel for the Chandigarh Administration had informed the court that her claim was false and she was impersonating. The Judges had concluded that a doubt had cropped in their mind about her mental state after hearing her. As such the directions were being issued.

HC stays Asst Engg’s termination
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 25
Issuing notice of motion for September 22, a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today stayed the termination of an Assistant Engineer with the Wakf Board. He had married an Ambala-based girl, who had managed to give a slip to her second husband on way to Vaishno Devi before returning to the petitioner — her “legal” husband.

In his petition, Mohammad Zakir Hussain had earlier contended that his wife Avedna Sharma’s father was a highly influential person. Acting on his complaint, the board had placed him under suspension before directing his termination.

Challenging the orders, he had asserted that the move was illegal and issued in an arbitrary manner. Giving details, he had submitted that he was dismissed from service without holding an inquiry. Even a charge-sheet was not issued to him. This, he had claimed, was against the principles of natural justice, besides the rules framed by the board.

Avedna, in another petition, had earlier claimed that she had married Zakir Hussain, after falling in love with him, on June 4 at Jama Masjid in Pinjore. Unhappy with the match, the parents got her married to Amitabh Thakur. But on July 15, she managed to give him a slip and joined Zakir Hussain, with whom she was living happily.

After recording her statement, Mr Justice K.C. Gupta of the High Court had ruled: “Since she is a major and has made a statement voluntarily, she is set at liberty. At request of the girl’s consent, she, along with her husband, be sent to Gurgaon district under police escort to avoid any untoward incident.”

District Courts
Jattana gets bail
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, August 25
President of the Students Organisation of Panjab University (SOPU) Khushwaz Singh Jattana, who was arrested by the UT police in an attempt to murder case, was granted bail today by the UT Additional and Sessions Judge.

It was alleged that members of SOPU assaulted president of PUSU Malwinder Singh Kang and two others on the evening of July 30. Kang was later admitted to the PGI with broken teeth, bleeding head and injuries all over the body. His friends, Vikramjit Singh, a Punjabi department student, and Hardip Singh, a philosophy department student, had also sustained injuries.

Jattana, along with two others, had surrendered before the police on August 1. The two other students, who were involved in the case, were presently lodged in Model Burail Jail.

Remand extended

A doctor with Escort Hospital, Delhi, Ms Swapna Sapra, who was allegedly involved in murder of her husband which took place in a Hotel Mountview on July 11, was today further remanded to judicial custody by a local court.

Ms Swapna was today produced in the court of UT Judicial Magistrate, Mrs Harpreet Kaur, who extended her judicial custody till September 6.

Police remand for Sandhu
Our Correspondent

Kharar, August 25
Mrs Baljinder Kaur Bhatia, Judicial Magistrate, here today remanded Rajinder Singh Sandhu, who was arrested by the SAS Nagar police on the charge of murdering his wife, Gurinder Kaur in Phase X on August 21, to police custody till August 27.

His daughter, Komal, who was seriously injured was admitted to the PGI, Chandigarh.

Mr Jatinderjit Singh Punn, public prosecutor, pleaded for the police remand of the accused. He said the accused in his statement has said that he has kept cartridges and licence of the revolver used in the crime at a place in Amritsar district. He pleaded that these things were yet to be recovered.

Mrs Baljinder Kaur Bhatia, Judicial Magistrate here today remanded the Ludhiana posted Inspector of Punjab police Narinder Singh Rana who was arrested by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau in a case pertaining to accumulation of assets disproportionate to his known source of income, in judicial custody till September 6.

The judge also ordered that the accused should be produced on that day before the Special Judge, Ropar.