The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

New students’ council raring to go
Geetanjali Gayatri
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 17
With the verdict of the student community under its belt, Panjab University Students Union (PUSU) is all set to take charge of the Panjab University Campus Students’ Council (PUCSC) next week.

On priority, to be taken up as soon as the office-bearers take the reins of the PUCSC in their hand, is the issue of securing an additional re-appear chance for students of the Masters of Computer Application. “I am committed to get this done,” he says.

‘‘Everybody was underestimating us because of the money being pumped in by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). We have proved everybody wrong and we have the students’ mandate. Now, it is our turn to say ‘thank you’ by fulfilling our promises,’’ he adds.

The new team, as an innovative step in the direction of redressing students’ problems, is also in the process of finalising a committee which would carry out random checks in hostel canteens. "They will be assigned the task of tackling problems of the hostellers and ensuring cleanliness and hygiene. In colleges, we will launch an awareness campaign and encourage students to come forward with their problems rather than sending representatives to fight for their cause,” Kang adds.

While the council is sure of securing representation of the students in the university Senate, the opening of a grievance cell is also on the agenda. "We want time-bound results from the administrative block which is known to harass students for any information required. Moreover, we are seeking one day for a meeting between the VC and the students. The idea is to keep him informed of any highhandedness by the staff at the lower level,” he informs.

The provision of better sports facilities, drinking water and bathrooms at the university sports ground are among the other demands that the council plans to make. “We will take it up at the Sports Committee meeting and see that the funds meant for sports are properly utilised,” says Sharanjit Singh Bains, the Joint Secretary of PUCSU.

To be available to the students round-the- clock, Sharanjit Bains informs that the council would ask for a specific time frame for the declaration of results and urge the university authorities to construct an auditorium with a seating capacity of 5000.

“The present hall can accommodate only 1000 students when the number of students in the university is over 6000. While the university authorities would be asked to make funds available, the council, on its part, would also invite politicians and Central ministers to make donations for the cause to students’ functions,” said Kang while replying to a question on where the funds for the auditorium would come from.

Meanwhile, the council has also decided to ask for a hike in funds made available to them for cultural activities to be held during the year. “We will ask for Rs 10 lakh against the present Rs 8 lakh sanctioned for the purpose,” he informs.

Ozone Day at Dev Samaj college
Tribune Reporters

Chandigarh, September 17
A quiz and poster-making contest was held at Dev Samaj College of Education, Sector 36, to mark Ozone Day here today. Students recited poems on nature and spoke on the depletion of the ozone layer and its preservation by adoption of ozone-friendly products.

The chief guest, Prof I.S. Dua, Department of Botany, Panjab University, quoted excerpts from Vedantic philosophy of Dev Samaj on environment. He expressed his views on life, existence of man and nature and explained how the ozone layer acted as a quilt for earth.

He asked students to adopt children from weaker sections of society and make them into responsible citizens. He also motivated them to learn science and live with it.

The Principal, Dr Satinder Dhillon, said the idea behind such celebrations was to create awareness. She also appreciated the efforts of the students and faculty members and urged the Environment Club to generate new ideas and undertake activities to preserve the environment.

The results of the poster-making contest are as follows: Rinky Priya Bali (1), Samita (2), Manika and Sarabjit (3), Jasleen Bindra (consolation). The winners of the quiz contest are Neeraj, Anuradha and Baljeet.

DERA BASSI: An inter house-paper reading competition was organised by Col VR Mohan DAV Public School, here.

Students presented their views on the importance of ozone layer for the existence of life on the Earth. Causes and effects of depletion of the ozone layer were also discussed on the occasion.

The Principal of the school, Ms Jyoti Agnihotri, encouraged the students and staff members to use ozone-safe chemicals.

Priyanka Verma, (Class IX), was adjudged first, Kirti Goel (Class X), second and Shakti Saini (Class VIII), third in the competition.

FROM SCHOOLS
Students urged to preserve environment
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 17
Poster-making contests, a quiz on environment and discussions on the preservation of environment, along with an awareness drive on the depletion of the ozone layer, were among many activities organised at Stepping Stones Secondary School, Sector 38, here today.

Students pledged to plant a sapling on their birthdays and look after it for a year. All students who had their birthdays today were gifted a sapling by the school.

Workshop inaugurated: A four-day workshop of teachers of Physics at the plus-two level was inaugurated in Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 16, here today. Organised by the UT Education Department, the workshop is being held in collaboration with the Indian Association of Physics Teachers.

The aim of the workshop is to acquaint the teachers with the new topics added to the CBSE syllabus, especially those related to telecommunications. The Director, University Institute of Engineering and Technology, Panjab University, said a teacher had to keep abreast of the advances made in science to inspire students. The workshop is being attended by 40 participants from government and private schools.

Seats vacant: As many as 56 seats in science and 37 in commerce are lying vacant in Class XI of Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 46. Interested students, should apply to the school office on a plain paper, along with photocopies, of certificates by September 22 and attend the interviews on June 24 at 9 am on the school premises.

DISTRICT COURTS
Hearing in case against Amarinder adjourned
till Sept 20
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, September 17
Mr Sukhbir Badal, General Secretary of the Shiromani Akali Dal and son of former Chief Minister of Punjab Parkash Singh Badal today appeared in a local court in connection with a defamation case filed against the Chief Minister of Punjab, Capt Amarinder Singh. Mr Sukhbir Badal appeared in the court of the UT Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mr C.L Mohal.

The counsel of Capt Amarinder sought more documents for the purpose of cross examination. After hearing the defence counsel’s plea the CJM adjourned the case till September 20.

It was alleged that Capt Amarinder Singh, after becoming the Chief Minister had spread and published advertisement and false reports about assets and properties owned by former Chief Minister of Punjab Parkash Singh Badal.

PIL against singer: In a Public Interest Litigation(PIL) filed against Punjabi singer Babu Mann today pleading for stay of his song ‘‘Chak lau revolver badla lena hai’’ from his album "Saun di Jhadi" today came for hearing in a local court.

The counsel for the complainants today moved an application seeking permission for exhibiting the video of the song in the court. The court has adjourned the case for October 22.

Rape case: The UT Police today opposed the application moved by the victim in the infamous Shimla girl rape case that she would be heard at the time of framing of charges against the accused involved in the case while filing a reply in a local court.

The two accused in the case —Ram Lal and Narveer— had already been released on bail. While three other accused, including former UT Home Secretary N.K Jain, are lodged in jail at present. Claiming to be just 21, the victim had alleged in the complaint that she had boarded the car of Sector 8 resident M.K. Jain from Sector 20 on August 14 but had lost consciousness after consuming a cold drink given to her by him. Later, on regaining consciousness she had found herself in Sector 16 General Hospital where she came to know about the incidence of violence against her.

However, the investigation done by the UT Police in the case states that the victim was not raped by M.K Jain but the former UT Home Secretary along with others had hatched a conspiracy to falsely implicate M.K Jain in the case. The police had initially filed a challan against four accused, including Ram Lal, Narveer Baldev and Surinder. Later, the UT police had filed supplementary challan against Mr N.K Jain.

DSP summoned: A local court today summoned the UT Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Mr S.C Sagar, and an Inspector, Mr B.S Negi, acting on a private complaint filed a resident of labour colony, Mr Rajpal, to register a case against them.