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135 posts of teacher vacant
Studies in rural schools hit
Panchkula, December 7
As many as 135 posts of teacher in government schools located in rural areas of the district are lying vacant. With most part of the academic year over, hundreds of students in most schools in rural areas have been unable to complete their syllabi.

Advertisers violate law with impunity
Chandigarh, December 7
Trucks carrying billboards have mushroomed in the city, while the traffic police and other wings of the Administration have taken no note of these violations. 



A truck carrying an advertisement in violation of rules. — Tribune photo by Pradeep Tewari

2 arrested in murder case
Main suspects still at large
Chandigarh, December 7
The Mani Majra police today claimed to have solved the murder mystery of a youth, whose body was found on November 30 in a pit near the railway track in Shanti Nagar.

More housing loan for UT staff
Chandigarh, December 7
In a move that will benefit thousands of employees aiming to construct houses, the Chandigarh Administration has decided to take into consideration the enhanced pay for calculating the amount to be given as house-building loan to employees.

Revert Professor, PEC told
Chandigarh, December 7
The Chandigarh Administration has directed the Principal of Punjab Engineering College to to comply with its orders to revert a Professor to his parent department Applied Sciences, in the college.

Sales centre to be set up for handguns
Chandigarh, December 7
The Defence Ministry's Ordnance Cable Factory in Chandigarh is in the process of establishing a sales centre for handguns being manufactured by other ordnance factories. The outlet here would be among 10 other outlets being set up in different parts of the country.

COMMUNITY

India, Pak ‘should focus’ on people-to-people dialogue
Chandigarh, December 7
“India and Pakistan should look beyond their narrow perceptions of nationalism and focus on people-to-people dialogue.” This was stated by Dr Mukul Mangalik from Delhi University during a talk on “Struggle for Democracy in Pakistan” at the Sociology Department, Panjab University, here today.

Mr Mukul Mangalik, Delhi University, delivers a lecture on ‘Struggle for Democracy in Pakistan — a History’ at Sociology Seminar Hall, Panjab University, Chandigarh, on Tuesday. — A Tribune photograph

Rodrigues stresses on better facilities for attendants
Chandigarh, December 7
In his effort to meet the needy, the UT Administrator, Gen S.F. Rodrigues (retd) today met the attendants of patients at Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, and asked officials to equip accommodation for the attendants with mats and mattresses for the winters.

Armed Forces Flag Day observed
Chandigarh, December 7
The Armed Forces Flag Day was observed here today, with Governors of Punjab and Haryana making liberal donations towards the Flag Day fund.

No deadline for reopening vital bridge
Chandigarh, December 7
No short-term relief seems to be in sight for commuters as the authorities concerned have failed to fix any deadline for the opening of the damaged bridge on the Kalka-Ambala highway at Bhankarpur village, about 12 km from here, to heavy vehicular traffic.

Dharna call against Centre's anti-employee stance
Chandigarh, December 7
The Working Committee of Government and Municipal Corporation Employees and Workers will organise a dharna at Matka Chowk on December 29 to protest against the anti-employee policies of the Central government.

PSEB bonanza for 57 villages
Mohali, December 7
The Punjab State Electricity Board has decided to provide 24-hour power supply to more than 57 villages falling in the Mohali circle.

Home Guards annual day observed
Chandigarh, December 7
The Home Guards annual day was observed at the Chandigarh Home Guards Headquarters, Sector 17, here yesterday.

Best police station to be awarded on R-Day
Chandigarh, December 7
Inspector General of Police Rajesh Kumar yesterday introduced competition among various police stations and police posts by declaring the best of them would be rewarded on the Republic Day.

RPO to outsource pending work
Chandigarh, December 7
With a view to ensure faster delivery of passports to the general public, the Regional Passport Office has decided to outsource certain jobs. Under an ambitious plan prepared by the Ministry of External Affairs, the pending works in the RPOs all over the country will be privatised.

Shirdi samaj celebrates ‘moorti sthapna divas’
Chandigarh, December 7
The ‘moorti sthapna divas’ (idol installation day) was celebrated in Shirdi Sai Samaj Temple, Sector 29-A, yesterday. The vice-president of the Shirdi Sai Samaj, Mr Bimal Rai, said the function started at 5.30 am with kakad aarti and mangal snan with Sri Sai Satchitra path being recited throughout the day.

Devotees celebrating the moorti sthapna divas in Shirdi Sai Samaj Temple, Sector 29-A, Chandigarh, on Monday.

CRIME

Villager duped by travel agent
Mohali, December 7
One more case of cheating in which Rs 2.5 lakh were taken from a person on the pretext of sending him abroad has come to light. The aggrieved, Mr Kulwant Singh, a resident of Madanheri village, made a complaint to the Kharar police which was later sent to the local SP, Mr Rakesh Agrawal, as it was linked to an economic offence.

Gold ornaments worth Rs 3 lakh stolen
Chandigarh, December 7
Gold ornaments, valued more than Rs three lakh, were reportedly stolen in two separate incidents of theft in the city, the police said here today.

BUSINESS

CII, Austrade to promote agribusiness
Chandigarh, December 7
The Confederation of Indian Industry and Austrade, the export facilitation arm of the Government of Australia, have joined hands to promote agribusiness between Australia and India.

EDUCATION

Representatives of private schools hold rally
Chandigarh, December 7
Managements of private schools, being run in residential areas, today organised a protest rally at Matka Chowk tomorrow in support of its demand to permit them to function from their existing premises. Representing 220 schools also observed a dharna, demanding a change in the bylaws to allow the schools to operate from the private premises.

A member of the Association of Private Education Institutions holds a banner during a protest at Matka Chowk in Chandigarh on Tuesday. — Tribune photo by Pankaj Sharma

Colourful show by students
Mohali, December 7
Students of Anee’s School, Sector 69, celebrated their annual day here today. In a glittering and colourful function organised by the school at the NIPER auditorium, students presented a number of cultural items.

Seminar stresses on educating underprivileged
Chandigarh, December 7
Reaching out to children from the disadvantaged sections of society who can ill-afford formal education and the need to initiate vocational courses at the post-graduation level was stressed at a seminar on "Extension Education and its Role", held at the Department of Hindi, Panjab University, here today.

COURTS

NHRC moved on posts in courts
Chandigarh, December 7
The Lawyers for Human Rights International today moved the National Human Rights Commission for filling vacant posts in the District Courts of Punjab and Chandigarh.

Tribune Impact
Magistrate re-arrested
Chandigarh, December 7
The police today re-arrested an Executive Magistrate and Tehsildar of Punjab under Section 188 of the CrPC for allegedly firing a shot into the air in Sector 18 on Sunday.

LIFESTYLE

Fitness Trail
ABC of good health
India is riding high on the IT revolution. Economy is booming, development galloping and prosperity is visible all around. But all this has come at the cost of health and time. Coronary diseases, hypertension, diabetes, etc. have acquired a young profile with our busy young professionals sitting behind computers for long periods and falling prey to sedentary lifestyles.

Tribune photo by Pradeep Tewari

Strokes of faith
Ravinder Sharma’s artworks invariably inspire curiosity. Unpretentious and earthy, they stand out for that familiar tinge of mysticism which facilitates an instant rapport. Famed for his “Shiva” paintings, Ravinder seems to have found newer extensions for his “artistic” desires.


Visitors admire one of the paintings by Ravinder Sharma on display at the Fine Arts Gallery, Panjab University, Chandigarh, on Tuesday. — A Tribune photograph

Honoured for propagating Sanskrit theatre
A writer defines country’s national psyche and symbolises its deepest desires and dreams through his creations. One such genius rightfully decorated with the Shiromani Sahityakar award in Sanskrit for 2003 by the Department of Languages Punjab last week at Patiala, is a scholar, Dr Mathura Dutt Pandey.

Pak luminary adds colour to ‘Raag Rang’
Punjabi has a Raag Rang, a programme organised by the National Theatre Arts Society (NTAS), Patiala, in cooperation with the State Bank of Patiala saw the participation of Pakistan’s literary luminary Sarwat Mohiuddin, member, Pakistan Punjabi Literary Board and President, Lok Reet, Islamabad, as chief guest. 

Punjabi folk singer Hans Raj Hans sings Sufi kalam at the NIS in Patiala on Tuesday. — Photo by Rajesh Sachar

Show by Reshma
Pak singer Reshma was in her elements at a cultural evening held at the National Institute of Sports in Patiala connection with the Indo-Pak Games.

Sector 22 man wins Maruti car
Spice Telecom on Tuesday announced the winners of the Divali bumper of “Khelo No 902” in Chandigarh. Mr Tarlok Singh of Kapurthala won the bumper prize — a diamond necklace.

SPORTS

Girl gymnasts suffer for want of coach
Chandigarh, December 7
Resentment prevails among four city girl gymnasts as they have been denied their right to take part in the 45th Junior National Gymnastics Championship to be held at Hyderabad from December 10 to 14.

Abhinav, a versatile player
Chandigarh, December 7
Abhinav Sharma, a Class IX student of St John’s High School, Sector 26, is gradually maturing into a versatile athlete. Fifteen-year-old Abhinav has got outstanding achievements in athletics, football and cricket.

Hockey tourney
Chandigarh, December 7
Western Air Command (WAC) won the Air Force Hockey Tournament by beating Maintenance Command, 2-1, in a thrilling final played here today at Sector 42 hockey stadium. At half time, both the teams were levelled at 1-1.

ADMINISTRATION

SDM writes to EO on tower issue
Mohali, December 7
In what would be the first of its kind, orders passed by an Sub-Divisional Magistrate, the local SDM, has asked the Estate Officer, Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority, to explain why a contempt notice should not be issued against him.