Chandigarh, March 8
Panjab University Syndicate in its meeting scheduled for March 12 would deliberate upon the faculty option of the eight Senators, including the city Mayor, Ms Anu Chatrath, as these members have not opted for the faculties related to their core qualifications.

The otherwise highly qualified persons in their respective fields, the eight Fellows have “completely deviated academically” while opting for the faculties, which take the academic decisions for the courses that fall under their gamut, after winning Senate elections last year.

Under the university rules, each fellow has to opt for two faculties after he or she is elected to the Senate. While the Dean of each faculty is elected, the Fellows can simply opt for the faculties of their choice.

However, given the high politicisation of the PU Senate, the option for the faculties by the fellows is considered more of a “political” decision guided by the vested interests. “Generally fellows want to have group dominance in various faculties. This is the reason that the option for the faculties is guided by the non-academic decisions,” remarked a member.

Skeptic about the cases of what a qualified lawyer would be academically contributing to in the faculty of medical science and languages (as is the case of Ms Chatrath), the university has prepared a list of such fellows and would present it in the forthcoming Syndicate meeting for reaching a decision.

“The rules on the issue of option of faculties are silent. It would be up to the syndics to decide what should be done in this case. However, it is very obvious that is a Fellow who specialises in a particular field can only contribute academically in that field effectively. It would be in the interest of university if such qualified persons at least opt for their core subject as one of their faculties,’’ said a member of the Syndicate.

Apart from the Mayor, other names that figure in the list include, senators Justice Ajay Pal Singh Gill, Mr Dharinder Tayal, Dr Mukesh Kumar Arora, Dr Ravinder Kaur, Dr Tejinder Kaur, Dr Ganesh Dutt Bhardwaj and Economics Professor V.K. Mahajan.

Named after the eighth Sikh Guru, Sri Guru Harkrishan Public School, Sector-40C, Chandigarh, was started under the auspices of the Chief Khalsa Diwan, Amritsar, in 1986.

Due to the untiring efforts of the school managing committee this four- storied institution has three well-equipped science laboratories, a computer room, an audio visual room and a library to provide excellent reading facilities to the staff and students. The school has 40 well-furnished classrooms and a nursery section for tiny tots. It has volley ball, basket ball, badminton and ball badminton courts. Two students recently won the ball-badminton championship organised in Chandigarh. Another two were awarded the Sports Authority of India scholarships. Out of them one went up to the international level and won silver medal in the tug of war championship. The school have been winning gold and silver medals for the high jumps in inter-school UT tournament for the past five years. Since 1997, about 32 students have represented UT in various streams of sports.

The school management arranges about Rs 103,000 per year through donations for fees, books ,stationary and uniforms for 21 needy students. Besides this, 30 merit scholarships are awarded every year.

Why are we complicating the system?

Education literally means to train mentally or provide systematic instruction. Our great educationists since the time of the Ramayana and the Mahabharata like Vashista, Dronacharya and many more down the ages, besides honing the skills of their wards made them good human being. The technique of educating students was comparatively simpler than today’s. Why then are we complicating the system? Anyone who has the knowledge of three “r’s” becomes a self-proclaimed tutor. It sems to be profitable past time at the cost of young, innocent minds. The schoolchildren are bewildered lot. The schoolteacher is looking for her results and the parents theirs. Torn apart, the child knows not what to do. Teachers are required to build the child’s EQ (emotional quotient), teach him to love and respect nature.

The way the world is today, maybe it is not possible to simplify life but teaching the younger generation to rationalise and accept will make them happy and self-satisfied.

Teachers should inculcate life long values and be knowledgeable themselves. We at Sri Guru Harkrishan Public School are trying hard to make them worthy citizens of the nation.

Chandigarh, March 8
The Chandigarh Bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) yesterday issued notices to the Union of India and the Chandigarh Administration on a petition challenging the appointment of Dr Reet Mohinder Singh as the General Manager of the Lake Club.

In their order, Mr L.M. Goyal and Mr J.S. Dhaliwal, Vice-Chairman and Judicial Member, respectively, asked the UT Director (Sports) to file a reply in the court on April 29.

An application challenging the appointment was moved by Mr Rajiv Sharma, an advocate, on the ground that “irregularities” had been committed.

The appointment of Dr Reet Mohinder Singh was quashed by CAT on August 17 last year. It was termed as “arbitrary, capricious and unjust”. The tribunal had then directed the Administration to fill the vacancy in accordance with law within three months after advertising it.

However, the applicant alleged that with a view to accommodate Dr Reet Mohinder Singh, the Administration changed the rules without calling a general body meeting of the Chandigarh Sport Council (CSC).

It was also alleged that the applications for the posts were called within a period of five days and several eligible candidates could not apply within this short span of time. Moreover, experience in water sports was waived off to favour Dr Reet Mohinder Singh, Mr Sharma alleged.

Quoting another advertisement, the applicant alleged that for other posts a time of 15 days was usually given for the submission of application. He also alleged that while a boatman was denied extension by the CSC on the plea that he had crossed the age limit of 60 years, Dr Reet Mohinder Singh, who was already over 60 years of age, was appointed.

Certain persons, who had applied for the post, were allegedly not invited to the interview conducted by the Administration. Terming the interview as an “eyewash”, the application alleged that the entire exercise was done to “hoodwink” the CAT orders.

LEISURE

Priyanka has ‘aitraaz’ over skin show in films
Swarleen Kaur

Kalagram served as a venue for a truly inspiring women’s day celebration today. With 17 women artists coming together on its campus, it was time for the onlookers to enjoy the spill of creative energy. In focus were the concerns of women, conveyed through a mélange of images, all vibrant and alive.

Organized under the aegis of We, a group of women artists from the region, the art workshop concluded on a heartening note. Every participant consciously kept the element of gloom out of the canvas.

There were reflective moments in the process of creation but none that did not have a silver lining.

Sharing the joy of art were 17 partners, including Sadhna Sangar, Neenu Vij, Bharti Vandana, Nirmala Singh, Anju Pasricha, Aradhna Tandon, Puneeta, Darshanjit, Geeta Gayatri, Robin. Joining seasoned artists were students from various colleges, including Ishpreet, Rajni and Randeep. Anita Gupta from Government College of Art, Sector 10 and Asha Sharma, another famous painter were also there with their palettes and predilections.

The forms that emerged were full of inspirations taken from nature. While some artists linked woman to nature, celebrating her bounties, others painted the many manifestations of nature.

At the heart of every pursuit was the woman. tns