EDUCATION

UT tells Punjab, Haryana to vacate Art College block C
Aditi Tandon
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 28
The UT, Punjab and Haryana governments seem to have locked horns over the issue of possession rights of “block C” of the Government College of Art (GCA), Sector 10, which is under the occupation of the Industries Department, Punjab and Haryana.

Constructed by the Department of Industries, Punjab, for the Arts School, this block was never available for use by the GCA, because Punjab shifted its design centre from Sector 10 to this block, and never vacated it. On division of Punjab in 1966, the block was divided between Punjab and Haryana. Since then, 60 per cent of the portion is housing the Design Institute for Handicrafts and Controller of Stores, Punjab, and 40 per cent is occupied by the Department of Industries (Food Processing Division), Haryana.

Faced with a space crunch, GCA authorities have now woken up to the urgency, especially after they had to drop the MFA courses due to shortage of space needed for studios. Following a representation made in this regard by the GCA Principal, Prof Brahm Prakash, the UT Home Secretary officially wrote to Chief Secretaries of Punjab and Haryana, asking them to vacate the block for the Arts School.

While Punjab has replied, asking the UT to furnish the proof that block C belongs to the Government College of Art, Haryana, is yet to respond. Meanwhile, UT officials confirmed to Chandigarh Tribune that the Architecture Department, UT, had been directed to provide Punjab with the required proof.

The confusion over real occupants of Arts College block C stems from the frequent shifts in the control of the college, which was earlier set up as the Mayo School of Art at Lahore, in 1947. After the Partition, the Government School of Arts and Crafts shifted to Shimla (Capital of Punjab) from August 16, 1951, under the control of the Department of Industries, Punjab.

Later in 1962, the Arts School again shifted to Chandigarh (capital of joint Punjab) under the control of the Department of Industries, Punjab, which constructed blocks A and B of the Arts School building. Interestingly, original drawings of the Arts School make a mention of all the three blocks — A, B and C. Block C, it is clear, was later constructed by Industries Department, Punjab, for the Arts School. It is another matter that Punjab never vacated the block for Arts College.

Highlighting the issue, Prof Brahm Prakash informed,” In the Chandigarh Capital Project , the proposal to have Government Museum and Arts College in the vicinity was approved. The proximity to the Leisure Valley and the Rose Garden was also meant to help students in nature studies. As per plan, Industries Department, Punjab, constructed block C for the Art College. It was later that the Design Centre of Punjab was shifted from Sector 18 to block C of the college. While blocks A and B came under UT, when Punjab was again divided in 1966, block C went to Punjab and Haryana in 60: 40 ratio. Ever since it has been with them, much to our disadvantage.”

UT officials confirm that the original plans have no room for design centres on the Art College compound. The Joint Secretary, Technical Education, UT, Mr Vivek Atray, said, “All the blocks belong to the Art College and we have now asked Punjab and Haryana to vacate them for us. Art College is in genuine need of space for its MFA courses which we plan to start from the next academic session. We will push the case strongly. Punjab design centre can be re established at other locations”.

PU mission — to keep campus clean
Sanjeev Singh Bariana
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 28
Panjab University will issue a circular to all residents on the campus to ensure that garbage is not thrown at any public place, lest they could face action. Recommendations with regard to maintaining cleanliness have been finalised by a committee which met under the chairmanship of Prof R.D. Anand. On the committee were the Registrar and presidents of the Panjab University (Non-Teaching) Staff Association and the Panjab University Teachers Association. The committee was constituted following complaints of scattered garbage at various sites on the campus and backlanes of houses.

In a follow-up action, the committee is likely to issue warnings to the residents for maintaining cleanliness. One way could be to flash names of defaulters on the local television network, a committee member said.

It has been recommended that "Estate Office branch of the university will issues circular and notices to residents on the campus and lessees of the university shopping complex that garbage be not thrown at public places. The garbage should be thrown at specified collection points through an arrangement. To keep the campus clean, it may be also specified in the circular that anybody found violating his social, moral and legal obligations towards fellow citizens would do so at his own risk".

The Chief Security Officer will be requested that security personnel should keep an eye on rag-pickers and other residents.

The XEN office has been asked to prepare a comprehensive proposal for maintaining proper cleanliness of backlanes along with the estimated expenditure involved. The backlanes of houses, in particular, present an unseemly sight.

The university plans to approach Mr Pawan Kumar Bansal, Member of Parliament, for providing funds for the maintenance of residential areas. His help is also to be sought for providing to lift garbage.

The proposal for contribution towards campus maintenance funds out of the salary of residents' employees has been kept in abeyance for the moment. The committee will review the situation every two months.

"Action, if any, will be suggested only if the residents fail to pay heed to the warnings", a committee member said. 

500 students participate in ‘Melange’
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, August 28
About 500 students from 16 different schools in the city took part in ‘Melange’; an inter-school event was organised by ‘Les Amis’, a student organisation at Bal Bhavan in Sector 23 here today. The competitions organised under ‘Melange’ included maskcade — a face painting competition, a mock press conference, poster making contest, a literary quiz and a dance competition which set the stage on fire with its pulsating energy and tempo.

The day culminated with the prize distribution ceremony. Various competitions were judged by eminent personalities including Col J.M.S. Hatter, a speaker of international repute, Mr Harsh K. Vijh, a public speaker and teachers from the Government College of Art and Pracheen Kala Kendra.

Following are the winners of various contests- face painting — I- Khusboo and Rupinder from St Xavier High School; II- Sumit and Suneeti from Bhavan Vidyalaya; and III- Daljit and Pooja from Shivalik Public School.

Literary quiz — I- Ganeev and Kokil from Carmel Convent School; II- Shruti and Kavisha from Sacred Heart Senior Secondary School; and III- Manisha and Sonia from GMSSS -16.

Poster making — I- Jaspreet Singh, GMSSS-16; II- Shreyashi Ashta, GMSS -16; and III- Simran Kaur, GMSSS -35.

Mock press conference — I- Yuvraj, GMSSS- 16; II- Gurpreet Singh St. Stephen’s School; and III- Aditya Goel, Shivalik Public School.

Quiz — I- St Stephen’s School II- St Anne’s Convent School; and III- Carmel Convent School.

Dance — I- Manav Mangal School; II- Eicher School, Parwanoo; and III- Ajit Karam Singh International Public School

9 shortlisted for award contest
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 28
The second day of the local Bal Shree Awards contest being organised by the local chapter of the Indian Council for Child Welfare, Chandigarh, saw a participation from 100 students of 37 city schools. The contests were held in categories of creative writing and creativity in science.

The results in the creative writing section (in the order of merit) are: Gaganjot (International Ajit Karam Singh School, Sector 41), Navjot (Motiram Arya School, Sector 27), Jayati (Motiram Arya School, Sector 27).

In creativity, in science, the prizes (in the order of merit) went to Abhinav (St Kabir Public School, Sector 26), Himani (Motiram Ayra, Sector 27), Aradhna Gupta (Carmel Convent, Sector 9). The contests were sponsored by Punjab National Bank.

With today’s selection, eight students have been shortlisted for the zonal-level contest for Bal Shree Awards to be held at Hardwar next month. One special child Ashish will also contest for the Bal Shree awards at zonal level.

Counselling for engineering courses
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 28
The third counselling session for admission to the first year of the Bachelor of Engineering and BSc (honours) courses would be held on August 30, said a press note of Panjab University issued here today. 

COURTS

HC notice to PGI on public interest plea
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 28
Acting on a petition filed in public interest by a social organisation seeking better facilities at the trauma ward in the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today issued notice of motion to the institute.

In its petition taken up by the Bench, comprising Chief Justice Mr Justice B.K. Roy and Mr Justice Viney Mittal, World Human Rights Protection Council, through Chairman Ranjan Lakhanpal, had earlier sought directions to the institute for providing air-conditioners, besides proper beds, for the patients.

He had added that there were no air conditioners in the ward. Moreover, the patients with spinal cord injuries were made to be on the iron trollies. Mr Lakhanpal had added that even doctors had confirmed that the air conditioners were a must as a specific temperature had to be maintained to prevent infection from setting in. The state was duty-bound to provide basic facilities in the wards as the right to life, included proper medical facilities also, he had concluded. 

Special Lok Adalat on August 30
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, August 28
A Special Lok Adalat will be organised on August 30 on the premises of the district court in Sector 17, informed the UT Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mr C.L. Mohal, here today. Mr Mohal said 15 courts would take up at least 1400 different cases, including summary challan cases.

Directive to Akali leader: A local court today directed the Akali leader belonging to Ropar, Mr Gurmeet Singh Matharu, to submit the list and names of all Congress MLAs while hearing the application moved by him to implead all Punjab MLAs of the Congress to declare their assets.

Mr Matharu had filed a civil suit for mandatory injunction directing the Punjab Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, and others MLAs of the Congress to declare their assets on the date when they have taken oath in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha. 

Vehicle challan case
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 28
Taking up the case pertaining to the challaning of a Punjab and Haryana High Court vehicle, a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, headed by Chief Justice Mr Justice B.K. Roy, today directed the filing of an affidavit.

Chandigarh’s former Superintendent of Police, in charge of the traffic, Balbir Singh, was present during the proceedings. The case pertains to the challaning of a vehicle with a red light atop in July 1997. The high court had taken a serious note of the act and had issued notices to the authorities concerned.