EDUCATION

2,000 appear in mock CAT
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 7
Bulls Eye, an MBA preparatory institute, in association with The Tribune conducted a free mock CAT today at DAV College, Sector 10. About 2,000 students appeared in the test. Besides, the test was conducted at five more locations in Patiala, Bathinda, Shimla, Ludhiana and Ambala.

According to Hirdesh Madan, centre head, Bulls Eye, it will offer scholarships of more than Rs 3.5 lakh to the students, who have appeared for this test. The results of the test will be declared on May 12. CAT will be held in December this year.

Japanese language school
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 7
System Toyo, Gaigo Japanese Language School and Samyo Language School opened their first Japanese language school in Sector 17, Chandigarh, today. It was inaugurated by Mr Takashi Igrashi today.

The course being offered is a 14-month degree course, two months classes in Chandigarh and the remaining course will be completed in Japan. It will cost Rs 5.5 lakh. 

Kawaljit crowned
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 7
Kawaljit Kaur was adjudged Ms Chitkara at a farewell party held today for the 2005-06 batch of Chitkara College of Education for Women. Nupur Sood was adjudged Ms Charming and Paramjit was declared Ms Elegant.

Suman Saini was adjudged the best student while Kanika and Shuchi were chosen as best students in co-curricular and curricular activities, respectively.

‘Create your own toon’ workshop held
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 7
British Library organised a "create your own toon" workshop today for the children members in the age group of 10 to 14 years. Nearly 50 children between 10-14 years attended the workshop.

The children were taught how to create their own toon characters rather than imitating the already famous ones on their favorite TV channels. The work of the children will be displayed all through the week in the British Library.

Bipin Kumar, manager , British Library, while welcoming the kids, spoke about the Reading Voyage for which the registrations are still on and the Reading Voyage will be flagged shortly. He also encouraged them to read more books as 2006 being dedicated by the British Library to promote reading habit among the children.

Michaelangelo Francis, a fine arts graduate from the Government College of Arts, Sector 10, and teacher of St John's High School, Sector 26, was the resource person for this workshop. 

COURTS

High Court gears up to dispose of 3000 quashing cases
Maneesh Chhibber
Our High Court Correspondent

Chandigarh, May 7
On May 10, as many as 16 Benches of the Punjab and Haryana High Court would try and settle about 1,100 quashing matters, many of which have been pending for years. The same attempt would be repeated on May 17 and 24 also.

In all, a total of over 3000 quashing matters would be dealt with.

Experts say that the decision to constitute special Benches to hear and dispose of quashing cases, probably the first-of-its-kind anywhere in the country, would go a long way in tackling such cases in the High Court.

"Of the 1,100-odd quashing matters that would be taken up on each of these three dates, many have already become infructuous with the passage of time. This is a very positive step," says region's top criminal lawyer and Advocate- General, Punjab, Rajinder Singh Cheema.

According to available data, there are about 2.4 lakh cases pending in the High Court, with the total number of pending quashing matters numbering about 4500.

Explains advocate Raman Walia why fixing such a large number of quashing matters on a single day makes sense,

"In many cases, when a case is filed in the High Court for quashing proceedings that are on in a lower court, the High Court does not stay the proceedings. What happens most of the times is that even while the case is pending in the High Court, the proceedings in the lower court are completed. So, little purpose is achieved by keeping the case alive in the High Court. But, since the litigant in such case also loses interest, the High Court is not informed about the development, thereby resulting in the case lingering."

However, another lawyer, who did not wish to be quoted, said while the move was a welcome one, the High Court Judges would have to be cautious so that injustice is not done. "It is important that cases are not dismissed only for the sake of reducing pendency. No side should feel that it has not been heard properly," this lawyer observed.

The newly-elected president of the Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association, Mr Anmol Rattan Sidhu, also feels that the decision is a welcome step. "I am sure the lawyers will welcome the step as no lawyer wants his case to linger on indefinitely," he said.

CULTURE

Subh-e-Afsana organised

Chandigarh, May 7
The Chandigarh Sahitya Akademi organised Subh-e-Afsana, a forenoon of short stories, in which eminent writers Ravindra Kalia, Gurmail Madaharh and Bashir Malerkolavi read out their choicest stories in Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu, respectively.

Dr Naresh, chairman of the akademi, while welcoming the guest writers, said short stories were a very influential medium for the transformation of society. “If a story touches the reader, it is bound to make him think and act for the betterment of society,” he said.

Mr J.B. Goel, secretary, Industrial Training, Punjab, who was the chief guest, complimented the akademi for creating an atmosphere of creativity in the city. Prof Lakshminarayan Sharma of Panjab University offered immediate reactions to the stories that were read out. He hoped that writers would discharge their duty towards the social uplift of the country and continue to inspire future generations. — TNS