From Colleges 
College celebrates Punjabi week

Ludhiana, December 10
The Punjabi Sahit Sabha of GHG Khalsa College Gurusar Sadhar celebrated “Punjabi Week” recently at Nihang Shamsher Singh Hall in which Punjabi novelist Prof Niranjan Tasneem had a face-to-face with students, faculty and other distinguished audience. Principal (Mrs) Harbans Kaur Khatra welcomed the chief guest and introduced him to the audience. She also told the gathering about the long-term association of Prof Tasneem with the college.

Prof Tasneem shared fond memories of experience as a teacher at the college with the students and presented ideas on the art of novel writing. He also highlighted his own creative process and the use of stream of consciousness technique in his novels. He expressed his views on creative skills used by other novelists like Sant Singh Sekhon, Gurdial Singh, Nanak Singh and Jaswant Kanwal.

Taking part in the discussion, college students raised certain questions which were answered by Prof Tasneem.

Amongst others present on the occasion were Dr K S Gill, Prof Baldev Singh, Prof Davinderpal, Prof Bawa Singh, Prof Rajdev Kaur, Prof Harcharan Kaur, Prof Harpreet Kaur, Dr Balbir Singh, Dr Swaranjit Singh Deol, Prof Vasundhra, Prof Harpreet Singh, Prof Ranjit Jiwan Kaur and Prof Yadwinder Kaur. Prof Surinder Singh, Head Department of English of the college presented a vote of thanks.

Non-teaching staff union: A meeting of the Arya College Non teaching staff Union was held here on December 8, under the Chairmanship of Mr Thakur Singh Karakoti, President Mr Raj Kumar Malhotra and Secretary Mr Jai Gopal Sharma. The meeting was attended by more than 50 non-teaching employees. The members condemned Principal's alleged partial attitude. They said that it was visible from his refusal for not granting permission to hold a meeting of the legally constituted Union. Inspite of the fact that the Principal knew that the union enjoyed the support and majority of 56 out 67 Non-Teaching employees.

Principal's attitude towards the demands of Non-teaching Employees which include the release the arrears of revised Grades of 1996, Proficiency step-ups, Uniforms of the Class IV employees and restoration of Washing Allowance, ADA etc was condemned by the members.

The union members threatened that if their demands were not accepted, they would be forced to take necessary steps including agitation, protests etc.

Gurpurb function: The Parkash Utsav of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji was celebrated at Gujranwala Guru Nanak Khalsa College here today in the campus by the management, staff and students of the college. The programme included recitation of shabad and religious discourse followed Guru Ka Langar. The celebrations were part of annual feature of the institution to commemorate this historic day.

Principal, Gurdip Singh Sobti exhorted the students to follow the path shown by Guru Nanak.

Christmas celebrations at College of Nursing
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 10
College of Nursing organised Christmas lunch and cultural programme to mark the beginning of Xmas and new year celebrations at Christian Medical College and Hospital here today.

Atmosphere of the nursing college was festive with Christmas decorations all over. The main entrance to the college was decorated with rangoli depicting the Xmas zest. Walls were painted with biblical scenes of Jesus’ birth and the merry Santa Claus.

The event started with song sung in glory of Lord by the students of nursing college. In his inaugural prayers Fr. John said that Lord Jesus is born every moment through our kind word and noble deeds. Short musical skit enacting the birth of Jesus Christ and his life “Born in the Crib and Died on the Cross” mesmerised all those who where present. The students also sang melodious carols. But the visit of Santa stole the show. The Santa distributed sweets to audience and distributed gifts to all students of College of Nursing. Interactive games amongst administrators, teachers and students, like Santa’s game and the memory game followed the cultural programme with students winning in all. The day ended with Xmas Lunch for all.

School annual function held
Our Correspondent

Khanna, December 10
The annual prize distribution function and the Bal Bhalai Jagriti Samaroh were organised at Government Senior Secondary School, Manki, on Thursday. The function was presided over by Mr Bahadar Singh Bath, Sarpanch of the village. Mr Ajit Singh Khanna was the chief guest.

Mr Khanna said the Punjab Pardesh Teachers Union had started the Bal Bhalai Jagriti Samaroh to improve the education system. He expressed concern over the present education set-up in the state.

The union announced a grant of Rs 16,000 for the Bal Bhalai Jagriti Samaroh. The sarpanch announced Rs 5,100 and the sports club of Bath village announced Rs 2,100 for the needy children of the school.

COURTS

Seeds dealer denied bail
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 10
The Additional Sessions Judge, Mr Sukhdarshan Singh Khaira, dismissed the anticipatory bail application filed by Ramesh Kadiyan, owner of Kadiyan Seeds Corporation, Karnal. He was accused of duping the farmers by supplying sub-standard seeds, due to which they faced lot of hardships.

A number of farmers had complained to the Deputy Commissioner, Ludhiana alleging that they were supplied sub-standard seeds. Resultantly the yield was not up to mark and it also reaped earlier. Following which, the Deputy Commissioner had ordered inquiry from the Chief Agriculture Officer, who after holding the enquiry had held that the seeds supplied by the accused were sub-standard.

Thereafter, Mr Anurag Verma-Deputy Commissioner had ordered the registration of the case.The accused along with others was booked under Section 420 and 120 of the IPC at Koom Kalan Police Station on September 8, 2004. Since then the accused was evading arrest.

‘’The public at large had to face with the bad results of the crops after sowing the substandard seeds supplied by the accused firm under the category PUSA-44. To my mind the custodial interrogation of the accused is necessary and he does not deserve the concession of pre-arrest bail ‘’, observed Mr Khaira while pronouncing the order.

Goel, Bal in race for Bar president post
Legal Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 10
On the last day of the filing of nomination papers for the annual elections to the District Bar Association, 10 more candidates filed their papers. The Bar president, Mr Balwinder Goel, filed his papers. Mr G.S. Bal also filed his papers for the post of president. With the filing of the papers by Mr Bal, the elections are most likely to be contested hotly. Earlier, when Mr Harish Rai Dhanda said he would not contest the elections, it was looking like a cakewalk for Mr Goel.

Mr Dwarka Nath Bakshi filed his papers for the post of vice-president. For finance secretary, Mr Arvind Sood filed his papers and for executive members Mr Rajiv Saggar, Mr Sanjeev Sharma, Mr Jaswinder Babbal, Mr Rajeev Bhatia and Ms Veena Gupta have filed their papers.

The scrutiny of the nomination papes would be done tomorrow. The last date for the withdrawl of the papers is on December 13.

HEALTH

CME on adolescent health held
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 10
Dr A.S. Chawla, President, Indian Academy of Paediatrics, Adolescent Chapter, Punjab State Branch recently delivered a lecture on ‘Adolescent Health’ at Government Medial College, Patiala. In his address, Dr Chawla said that adolescents were being neglected so far, their problems were different from those of adults and proper counselling could do justice to them.

Dr R.S. Sibia, Secretary of the Chapter said that CME was attended by 70 paediatricians from all over Punjab and Haryana. Dr Kusum Mahajan, Associate Professor at Government Medical College, Patiala — the organising secretary of CME said that the topics of CME were selected keeping in mind, the problems of this age group. Dr Jugesh Chatwal, Head of the Paediatrics Department at CMC showed concern about rising number of obese adolescents in the society. She talked in detail about problems the youngsters will face like high blood pressure and heart disease as they grow up. She stressed that lack of physical activity and fast food were the main culprits for the diseases.

SPORTS

Ottalan village sports begin
Our Correspondent

Samrala, December 10
Today in Annual sports of Ottalan village, 3 km from here, began. Matches of hockey, bullock carts and kabaddi were the highlight of the day. In hockey, the team of Ropar team defeated Fatehgarh Sahib by the margin of 4-0 and similarly the Kurali team and Jandiala village, Jandiala won with 5-0 goals: The team of Lasarra defeated the Sarih with the margin of 2-1 and in hockey club Shahpur and Raikot, the Raikot team won with the margin of 4-1.

In Kabaddi competitions of 52 kg weight Mattaura Team defeated Buani team, similarly the Ottalan team defeated Rajewal, Ghulal and Lal Kalan.

In the horse races, Mr Sadhu Singh Ottalan, Raja Balion and Ranjeet Damherri remained Ist, IInd and III rd today.

ADMINISTRATION

45 commercial sites auctioned
Our Correspondent

Samrala, December 10
The auction of commercial booths/SCOs sites here on the Chandigarh-Ludhiana road was held here last evening under the chairpersonship of Ms Alaka Nanda Additional Controller PUDA along with Mr Tilak Raj Bias Estate Officer and local SDM Baldev Singh.

On the occasion only 11 SCOs and 34 booths were auctioned and all sites have been sold for total price of Rs 507 lakh according to Mr Tilak Raj Vias.

Mr Tilak Raj said that the price fetched is five times the reserve price. An amount of 10 per cent is Rs 50 lakh has been received. The highest auction of a single-storey shop fetched Rs 10.10 lakh and SCO was sold for Rs 27 lakh, a record in a small town like Samrala.

On this occasion Mr Vias advised the purchasers to deposit the 25 per cent price in 30 days and also guided them to get their building plans approved after completion of 25 per cent and start construction thereafter.

Bidders came from Chandigarh/Ludhiana/Khanna. Persons from Samrala who would purchase these plots, could not do be-cause the price was high.