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Nod to multiplexes in shopping malls
HUDA to auction sites today

Panchkula, January 19 The Haryana Urban Development Authority has allowed multiplexes in two shopping malls here. The auction of sites for these malls will be held tomorrow. Besides, HUDA has also decided to cover the malls under the Haryana Apartments Ownership Act. The Act will enable the mall owners to sell or lease out the built-up property, according to sources.

Ludhiana lecturers sweep Academic
Council poll
Chandigarh, January 19
Candidates from Ludhiana swept elections for the 15 seats of the Academic Council in the lecturers category. The results for these seats were declared at Panjab University here today.

Counting of votes for elections to the Academic Council in progress at Panjab University, Chandigarh, on Monday

Legal opinion against Dean above 60 years
Chandigarh, January 19
While convention at Panjab University has it that the seniormost Professor usually above 60 years and less than 62, is offered the Chair of Dean of University Instruction, legal opinion sought by the university in this regard recommends otherwise.

Man killed, 2 others hurt in mishaps
Dera Bassi, January 19
One person was killed while two others sustained serious injuries in separate accidents on the Kalka-Ambala highway here over the past 24 hours. According to police sources, Joginder Singh of Bhabhat village was crushed to death when a vehicle hit his cycle on the Chandigarh-Zirakpur highway early this morning.

SI succumbs to injuries
Chandigarh, January 19
Chandigarh Police Sub-Inspector Somnath, deployed in the security of Adviser to the Administrator Lalit Sharma, today succumbed to injuries sustained in a hit-and-run accident on January 12.

COMMUNITY

Consumers not aware of rights, says forum
Mohali, January 19
Most consumers are either not aware of their rights or are reluctant to file cases, even when they have been supplied substandard products. Every consumer has the right to make a claim because he has paid for the item.

MC takes over sanitation work
Mohali, January 19
The Municipal Council today took over sanitation work in the town as the process of allotting work to private parties is in progress. The term of the contractor, who had failed to provide satisfactory work, ended yesterday.

Verma for collective war on AIDS
Chandigarh, January 19
The Punjab Governor-cum-UT Administrator, Justice O.P. Verma (Retd.), today called upon voluntary bodies and non-government organisations to wage a collective war against AIDS.

Giani Gurmukh Singh Musafir remembered
Chandigarh, January 19
“The late Giani Gurmukh Singh Musafir, a former Chief Minister of Punjab, can be role model for politicians and religious leaders who have strayed from their prime duties, said Justice Kuldeep Singh, a former Judge of the Supreme Court.

New British Library opens tomorrow Chandigarh, January 19 Sir Michael Arthur, the British High Commissioner to India, will inaugurate the new British Library in Sector 9 here on Wednesday January 21. Mr Robin Baker, the Deputy Director-General of the British Council, will also attend the function. New premises of the British Library at Sector 9 in Chandigarh.

Candidates for post of clerk taken aback
Chandigarh, January 19
Candidates appearing for the post of a Lower Division Clerk in the regional office of the Indian Council of Social Science Research Centre, North-Western region, were taken aback when they were asked to show their typing speed on computers.

Fauji Beat Army mess life undergoes a welcome change Time was when women could go to an officers’ mess rarely and that too for certain social functions. Each mess had a women’s room, where an officer could, with the permission of the President Mess Committee, invite a woman guest. Women officers interact with their men colleagues in the officers mess.

• Army Hospital adopts latest technology

• New promotion policy

• Stopping malpractice in canteens

Readers Write
Pollution on your doorstep
Residents of Chandigarh should thank the city administration for bringing pollution to their doorsteps. When Chandigarh had only a few schools with buses picking up their students, the school buses were never allowed to enter bylanes (roads in front of houses).

• 3,000 Cong men join BJP

• Autopsy conducted on Geeta’s daughter

• Prof K.K.Dhawan dead

CRIME

Held for setting neighbour ablaze
Chandigarh, January 19
The Sector 31 Police Station today arrested one person from Hallomajra village for allegedly setting a neighbour ablaze on suspicion of having illicit relations with a married woman.

2 purse snatchers arrested
Mohali, January 19
The police arrested two persons here today on the charge of snatching a purse from a woman on January 14. It is learnt that a constable saw two persons with a scooter standing near Diplast Chowk.

Police yet to trace girl Mohali, January 19 Mystery shrouds the disappearance of an 11-year-old girl from a house in Phase VII here with the police yet to find her. Mr Surjit Singh said here yesterday that he had complained to the SDM, who had directed the police to look into the matter. He said the girl, Jugnu, was working as a domestic help in his house.

BUSINESS

Small enterprises must turn to IT, say experts Chandigarh, January 19 Information and technology can increase productivity and efficiency of small and medium-scale enterprises. Despite stiff competition from large-scale units and MNCs, the SMEs are playing a decisive role in economic development of the country and creating employment opportunities, the UT Administrator, Justice O.P.Verma, said here today.

Participants at a workshop organised by the National Productivity Council, Department of Industries, Haryana, Punjab and SIDBI, in Chandigarh on Monday. — A Tribune photograph

BoP’s help desk inaugurated Chandigarh, January 19 The Governor of Punjab and UT Administrator, Justice O.P. Verma, today inaugurated the help desk of the Estate Office and that of the Bank of Punjab on the Estate Office premises, (Sector 17) today. The Punjab Governor and Administrator, Union Territory, Chandigarh, Justice O.P. Verma (retd) having a round of the felicitation counter after inaugurating them at the Estate Office, Chandigarh, on Monday. — A Tribune photograph

EDUCATION

Make exam duty compulsory, board urges Secretary
Mohali, January 19
The Punjab School Education Board has recommended to the Education Secretary to make examination duty compulsory as in the case of election duty so that the services of persons with a good image could be utilised to curb copying during examinations.

Preparations on for Republic Day Chandigarh, January 19 The preparations are on. With less than a week to go before Republic Day parade, tiny hands are busy making big tableaux on nature, science and technology, besides Sarav Shiksha Abhiyan. YOGA ALL THE WAY: Students of Carmel Convent School rehearse a yoga item for Republic Day celebrations in Chandigarh on Monday. — Tribune photo by Manoj Mahajan

Principals back teachers’ bandh call
Chandigarh, January 19
The general secretary of the Federation of Association of Principals of non-government affiliated colleges of Punjab and Chandigarh, Mr P.S. Sangha, yesterday said that the association would support the bandh call given by the private college teachers of Punjab and Chandigarh on January 21.

Shruti is ‘princess’, Sohail ‘prince’
Chandigarh, January 19
Shruti Sharma was declared the “North India Princess”, and Sohail the “Prince” at a modelling competition organised by J.C. Modelling Institute at Forest Hill Resort in Naya Gaon on Saturday.

COURTS

High Court
Cop’s death: next hearing on April 2
Chandigarh, January 19
In less than a year after the death of a Chandigarh police constable was passed off as suicide by the authorities, a petition filed by the victim's father —alleging murder by the official's wife — was taken up by Mr Justice Jasbir Singh of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

CULTURE

Peep into Bengali culture through handicrafts AT the first instance it seems like any other craft mela but the exhibition of Bengal handicrafts at the Panchayat Bhavan, Sector 18 is different as far as the concept is concerned. Swayambhar NARI, a no-profit organisation, that has brought craftsmen and handicraft items from Bengal is what makes it different from the other exhibitions held in the city from time to time. Handicraft items on display

LIFESTYLE

Contraband cigarettes a fad with city youth

Neeraj Tyagi, a business executive, loves his Rothmans fag. Till three years ago, this tobacco lover was dependent on his friends and cousins abroad to send him some of his favourite cigarettes, or would pick them up while holidaying on foreign shores. Contraband cigarettes are easily available in the city. — Photo by Manoj Mahajan

Theatre is his first love
Seven tough years in Bollywood have only hardened his resolve to return to his first love- theatre. Abhay Bhargav, TV artiste-turned-theatre activist- turned- film artiste, says he longs to return to the live media.

Artist’s gratitude to Creator
He believes in sharing his multifarious talents to honour his Creator. Joshua John, 24, is a trained drummer, a painter... and a pastor under training. The young man, who halted in the city briefly, while on a trip to Himachal, believes in living life to its full... and teaching the same to others.

Slimming carnival
A three-day slimming carnival has been organised at the VLCC, Sector 9, to help people get “the body they deserve.” The carnival is being held simultaneously at Chandigarh, Panchkula and Ambala centres.

Smirnoff goes in for relaunch
Smirnoff, premium vodka manufacturer, is working on distinctive packaging and a global advertising campaign to reinforce its premium status and quality. It has unveiled a sleek bottle and bold television and print ads as part of a global relaunch that hits India today.

It’s my life
I like to experiment with ideas
Experimenting with ideas has been part and parcel of my character. My interest and aptitude for fine arts, painting, drawing, sports and music has made me excel in all these fields. I have won a lot of prizes and medals in sports, including throwball, roll ball, handball, athletics, kho-kho and skating.

HEALTH

Hospice completes a year
Chandigarh, January 19
A function was organised on the completion of one year of Chandigarh Hospice being run by the Indian National Red Cross Society in association with the Department of Radiotherapy, PGI, at Sector 43 today.

Workshop to train drug regulators
Mohali, January 19
The first training programme under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare World Bank-assisted capacity building project was inaugurated today at NIPER here by Dr S.R. Gupta, Joint Drugs Controller (India).

45 examined at camp for psychiatric problems
Chandigarh, January 19
As many as 45 patients were examined at a one-day camp for psychiatric problems held at the Civil Hospital in Manimajra today. Patients with anxiety disorder, including adjustment problems, obsessive, compulsive disorder and hypochondriacal disorder were attended upon.

Reiki camp concludes
Chandigarh, January 19
A two-day reiki healing camp organised by the Paradise Reiki Healing Organisation, a voluntary organisation, free of cost concluded here today. The camps were conducted by Dr Sonika reiki grandmaster.

SPORTS

St John’s bags cricket title Chandigarh, January 19 St John’s High School, Sector 26, bagged the ESPN Cricket Tournament played on the premises of St John’s School here today. In today’s match, St John’s beat St Stephen’s School, Sector 45, by 24 runs. St John’s High School, Sector 26, boys who won the ESPN Cricket Tournament played in Chandigarh on Monday. — A Tribune photograph

A school playground open to outsiders Chandigarh, January 19 Rai School, Sector 48, a branch of Rai School, Delhi, has ambitious plans to provide sports facilities to its students as well as other children. The school has earmarked more than half of its 5-acre area for sports activities. Tiny tots of Rai School, Sector 48, Chandigarh, learn the fundamentals of skating on the school premises. — A Tribune photograph

Teaching martial art at the age of 14
Chandigarh, January 19
Nitin Sharma, a Class IX student of St Xavier Senior Secondary School, Sector 44, has become an assistant instructor in martial art at the age of 14. Trained by Mr Sudhir Kumar and Mr Suresh Kumar Dogra , chief instructor and instructor, respectively, he has also been selected as the best candidate among black belt competitors.

Chess meet from Jan 25
Chandigarh, January 19
The Chandigarh Chess Association will organise the Chandigarh Prize Money Chess Championship at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalya School Sector 25, from January 25 to 27.