Farmers attend programme
Our Correspondent

Samrala, October 14
Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Samrala, organised a training programme at Kakrala Kalan village on World Food Day. Nearly 125 farmers participated. It was organised by Dr Neelam Mahajan. During the programme, Dr Mandeep Daliwal demonstrated the preparation of apple jam.

Dr Ritu Gupta displayed the preparation of coconut barfi. Dr Parminder Kaur inspired the farmers to make a balanced use of fertilizers and pesticides on crops. Dr R.K. Dhall motivated the farmers to grow nutritious vegetables. Dr Surinderjit Kaur, Dr Kiran Grover, Dr Sukhminder Kaur and Dr Bhupinder Kaur, all experts from Punjab Agricultural University, also trained the farmers.

Nursing students protest against fee hike
Kuldip Bhatia

Ludhiana, October 14
The fee muddle in the medical, dental and nursing colleges here continues as students of General Nurse Midwife (GNM) course in Dr B.L. Kapur Memorial Hospital School of Nursing, accompanied by their parents, staged a protest today against fee hike by the management.

The protesting parents and the students of the second and third year complained that as against an annual fee of Rs 26,000 mentioned in the school prospectus, the students were made to pay a fee of Rs 35,000, in addition to the hostel charges ranging between Rs 4,800 and Rs 7,200 in violation of the recommendations made by the fee fixation committee of the Punjab government.

Some of the protesting students told Ludhiana Tribune that even last year, the school management had made a bid to charge a higher fee from them but after they lodged a protest and the district administration intervened, the old fee was accepted from them. Seeking immediate intervention of the state government, they demanded that recommendations of the fee fixation committee should be scrupulously implemented and any attempt on exploitation by the managements should be strictly dealt with.

However, Dr A.S. Sandhu, medical superintendent of the hospital, refuted the charges levelled by the students and their parents. He said the management had charged the fee strictly as per the government directions and also provided a copy of the government orders issued on April 22, 2005, to substantiate his claim. The said orders, issued by the Secretary, Medical Education and Research, Punjab, said that the decision of fee fixation committee dated 17-7-2004 had to be strictly adhered to for new admissions as also for ongoing classes till a fresh order was passed.

Maintaining that the fee earlier fixed by the fee fixation committee for GNM course was Rs 35,000, Dr Sandhu said it were only the third year students who were holding protest and the some of the second year students, who had paid the prescribed fee during last year, had also joined the agitation which was totally misdirected and unwarranted. “The students have been given the option to deposit fee through bank drafts and proper receipts of the entire fee paid by them are being issued, which shows that the management is abiding by the government instructions.”

Legal fraternity express shock over judge’s murder
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, October 14
The alleged murder of the Additional Sessions Judge-cum-Presiding Officer of the Labour Court, Chandigarh, Mr Vijay Singh, late night near Polo Ground, Patiala, has sent shock waves in the legal fraternity here. He was about 42 years old.

The judge was transferred from Ludhiana to Chandigarh only a few months back. He had served here as the Presiding Officer of the Fast Track Court and enjoyed good reputation amongst the Bar members.

Vijay Singh had started his career as Judicial Officer from Ludhiana. He topped the PCS judicial examination in 1992. He is survived by his wife and three unmarried daughters.

In a joint condolence meeting of the local Bench and Bar here, District and Sessions Judge Harbans Lal, judicial officers alongwith Mr Balwinder Goel, president of the District Bar Association, and other office-bearers expressed sorrow over the incident. Mr Goel urged that the guilty should not escape at any cost. He said it was a great loss to the legal fraternity.

Meanwhile, the deceased was cremated today afternoon in Patiala with full honours by the district administration.

SPORTS

BVM trust honours players
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, October 14
It was a memorable moment for the students of Bhartiya Vidya Mandir, Kitchlu Nagar branch, who won positions in the state and national tournaments during the current season as they were honoured for bringing fame to their school at a function organised on its campus here today. Mr Mitter Sain, president, Bhartiya Vidya Mandir Trust, was the chief guest on the occasion. He gave away trophies, medals and certificates to the sportspersons who made their school as well as the city proud at different meets.

Addressing the students, Mr Mitter Sain announced that the players of all BVM schools who have excelled in different events and those who represented Ludhiana and Punjab would be felicitated during the annual athletics meet of the school to be held in December. The players would be given school colours, track suits besides cash prizes, he said. Ms Santosh Mehra and Mr Baljeet Singh Gill, principal and vice-principal, respectively, of the school were among others who were present.

The players who were honoured today were: (boxing)- Shri Ram Sikka, Kartikey, Karan Pandey and Savin Jain; (judo) — Guneet, Palak and Rohit Gupta; (swimming) — Bharat Sood; (basketball) — Dhruv Gupta and Hanish Kumar; (table tennis) — Chirag Sharma and Karanvir; (cricket) — Sunny Pandey; (kho-kho) — Mohit; (football) — Rohit and Robin; (athletics) — Akshin Jain, Priya, Pushkar, Kajal Vohra, Shivani, Narinder, Tarun Mittal, Prince Grover and Saloni; kho-kho teams and volleyball team which won position in the Ludhiana Sahodya Schools Complex and inter-district zonal tournaments.