New Delhi, September 2
The local consumer commission has asked a Delhi-based private educational institute to refund the fee to a student who opted out of the course midway.

Dismissing the appeal of Apeejay Institute of Management and Information Technology (AIMIT), the commission presided over by justice J.D. Kapoor termed forfeiting the fee for a two-year course as an unfair trade practice.

The commission noted that by charging a high fee for two to three years in one go, institutions bind students, so that they are not able to leave the course, even if they find the quality of coaching poor, jeopardising their career prospective. Directing AIMIT to refund Rs 39,000 to Prashant Ashok, a resident of Vikaspuri here, the bench observed that all communication by the institute to the student were meaningless and, it was a ploy to forfeit the fee illegally.

Ashok, who was enrolled in M.A. in mass communications in July 2003, failed to attend a single class in the institute following his mother's sudden illness. When he contacted the AIMIT for refunding his fee, his request was turned down, as at the time of admission he had given an undertaking for forfeiture of the entire fee, in the event of his discontinuing the course.

Aggrieved by this, Ashok approached a district consumer forum, which directed the AIMIT to refund his fees, including the cost of litigation.

The AIMIT moved the commission, citing judgements of various apex court and national commission that gave colleges the right to forfeit fees from students, who left the course midway.

The commission, however, differed from the institute's contention, as in this case, the student had not joined the course at all.

New Delhi, September 2
A local court sentenced three persons, who had injured a city bus driver and robbed him of cash in broad daylight 10 years ago, to four years of rigorous imprisonment.

"Robbery in broad daylight, that too in a public transport bus, was committed, which makes the offence heinous," additional sessions judge R.K. Yadav said.

The court also imposed a fine of Rs 3,000 each on Sarfaraj Ahmed (30), Iqbal Ahmed (50) and Rafiq Ahmed (32), residents of old Seemapuri here, after finding them guilty of offences punishable under Section 392 (robbery) and 394 (voluntarily causing injury in committing robbery) of the IPC. The three were convicted for injuring one Shamshad, plying his bus between Seemapuri and Old Delhi railway station, and robbing him of Rs 2,800.

The prosecution had alleged that the accused had entered the bus on October 23, 1997 and injured Shamshad and a helper and, thereafter, took the cash from him forcefully. The court, however, absolved Azaz Ahmed, another accused in the case, after the prosecution failed to produce any evidence against him.

The prosecution, which examined 11 witnesses, based its case primarily on the testimony of Shamshad.

New Delhi, September 2
The country's premier distance education provider, Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has extended its reach to 35 countries with 38 providers, an official said today.

The official remarked that it had become possible as the university was constantly upgrading its curriculum and adding new courses by using educational technologies.

To strengthen the delivery of its programmes, provide exposure to new academic programmes and new dimensions attained by the university during the last one year, IGNOU organised an 'international partner institutions' meet' in the Capital. Delegates from Saudi Arabia, Doha, Bahrain, Kenya, Ethiopia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Oman and the UAE were present.

Inaugurating the meet, IGNOU vice-chancellor V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai introduced the school of journalism and media studies, gender and development studies and tourism and hospitality service sector management.

The other courses pertaining to the school of inter-disciplinary and trans-disciplinary studies include those of social work, vocational education and training, extension and development studies, foreign languages and translation studies and training.

Prof Pillai also talked about the agriculture and law programmes offfered by the university.

He also emphasised on the need to create avenues of newer delivery mechanisms through information and communication technology-enabled education and asked the delegates to participate in this endeavour.IGNOU pro-vice chancellors Bashir Ahmed Khan, Om Prakash Mishra and Latha Pillai also attended the meet. 

New Delhi, September 2
At a time, when public outrage against the Blueline buses is soaring, with nearly 80 people killed this year, the Delhi police chief says that taming their errant drivers is not his "priority".

"We can't monitor every single Blueline bus plying on Delhi's roads. Over five million people travel in the Capital daily and, we have other important traffic related priorities to look after. Managing the vehicular flow and prosecuting law offenders is important," Delhi police commissioner Y.S. Dadwal told IANS.

Dadwal, who took charge as the city's police commissioner in July, talked about the modernisation of his force and plans for the Commonwealth Games in 2010.

"It is important to know the strength of traffic officials. It is not possible for them to run behind the Blueline buses! Simultaneously, they have to perform other important traffic duties as well. The priority is the maintenance of law and order on the city's roads and, not Blueline buses," he said. He added that he had directed the deployment of at least 30 PCR vans at several busy traffic intersections, to the check violations of traffic rules by the Blueline buses and motorists. Dadwal said that with the force at his disposal, it would be difficult to sustain a stringent traffic drive against the errant bus drivers. "Public contribution is required to bring normalcy on the city's roads. Things will largely improve, if drivers keep their vehicles in designated lanes and do not jump traffic signals. A public-police partnership is very important," the police chief remarked.

There are some 4,000 Blueline buses in the Capital, forming a crucial link in the public transport system. Last month, the Delhi government had ordered the 'killer' buses off the roads, after all operators were asked to install speed governors and obtain a vehicle fitness certificate.

Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and Lt Governor Tejendra Khanna came under tremendous pressure from commuters and the families of the Blueline bus victims, to come down heavily on the wayward drivers, some whom had no licenses or were simply ill equipped to drive a commercial vehicle.

But, despite the safety measures, the buses continue to kill and, at least 10 people have died in the last three weeks. Dadwal said his officers were working on the force's modernisation programme called Common Integrated Police Application (CIPA). It was launched two years ago to interlink the city's 129 police stations and also link them with the police headquarters.

"Initially, the national Informatics Centre was handling the project, but now we want our own server. The server will not only help in facilitating the CIPA project, but will also provide other technological advancements. We have asked the Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd to draft a proposal for this project," Dadwal said.

Though the project that would help in eliminating duplication in record keeping and maintaining the details of criminals was to be completed by January 2006; the deadline has been shifted again.

Dadwal said that the 64,000-strong police force was undergoing a special training programme for the 2010 Commonwealth Games. "We are training police officials at all levels to deal with foreigners and provide them a hassle -free assistance. Selected officials are being trained in English," said the 1974 batch officer, who was the in charge of security during the 1982 Asian Games here. Dadwal said his visit to the Commonwealth Games held in Melbourne last year, would help him in giving shape to the vision.

The police have also roped in three private companies to train its personnel to improve their communication skills and hone their etiquette and manners. — IANS

Noida, September 2
The pattern of robbery in fashion designer, V. Bajaj's showroom, has been found to be in the style of 'kachha banyan' gangs. Either it has been done in their style to hoodwink the police or it actually is the work of kachha banyan criminals, police feel.

The police teams investigating the loots have not been able to find a clue to the identity of the criminals involved, although half a dozen persons, including ex-security guards have been taken into custody. The fingerprints of guards arrested are being matched with the fingerprints lifted from the place of incident.

S.P. City and SO police station have again visited the spot and examined the premises minutely. The bandits are believed to have used a small child in the loot, who is believed to have opened the door from inside after slipping in through a small hole or opening. Then the rest of the thieves entered the premises. The entire pattern of loot is typical of criminals associated with kachha banyan gangs.

Each piece of designer garment, for example a lehenga weighs from 15 to 20 kg.

The gang of thieves is believed to have brought a vehicle along to carry the booty. But the way they had taken out the hard disk from computer, it appears to be the handiwork of someone well versed with fashion designing.

Police had taken into custody Yadav, an ex-security guard who let out the names of some other youths who, police claim, were arrested on suspicion. But even five days after the loots, police have failed to crack the case or even develop a positive clues.

Noida, September 2
The announcement of proposed airport in Javer has shot up land prices in the area so much so that the price of land has touched an all-time high.

The District Magistrate G.B. Nagar, A.V. Rajamoli has therefore fixed the minimum prices of property in Javer, Jahangirpur and Rabupura.

The land price along the highways and roads has been fixed at Rs 90 lakh per hectare and if the land is away from roads, its price will be Rs 80 lakh per hectare.

Land located out of this circle will be priced at Rs 70 lakh a hectare while land much away from the roads will be having a price of Rs 60 lakh per hectare.

These rates will apply to Javer alone. Land in Jahangirpur and Rabupura will similarly command a price of Rs 60 lakh on road, Rs 50 lakh away from road.

In Javer town, the circle rate of Abadi land in various localities along the road will be from Rs 2,000 to Rs 6,000 per sq mt while away from road, it will be between Rs 1,500 to Rs 5,000 per sq mt.

In Jahangirpur, the price of Abadi land on road will be between Rs 1,500 and Rs 5,000 while away from road, it will be Rs 1,000 to Rs 4,000 per sq mt.

In Rabupura town, Abadi land near road is from Rs 1,500 to Rs 6,000 and Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000 while away from road.

The District Magistrate has fixed the price of land along Taj Expressway at Rs 40 lakh per hectare and Rs 30 lakh away from road for a hectare.

On Palwal-Javer-Secunderabad Road, the price of land will range between Rs 1,500 per sq mt. and Rs 800 per sq mt away from road in Abadi land. On other link roads, the land prices have been determined at Rs 35 lakh per hectare and Rs 25 lakh a hectare for land away from road.

Mythili who started dancing at the tender age of eight is considered to be one of the most promising young dancers.

Paintings by Bacon, Souza

Tales of a City - Delhi

The Vadhera Art Gallery here is presenting an exhibition of paintings by some of the well-known artists like Bacon, Freud, Souza and Mehta as the second part in their programme of international art exhibitions on their premises here.

Starting in the spring of 2006 with a show of paintings by the famed Picasso, who is considered by critics the Father of Modern Art, this next exhibition progresses to look at those who are in many ways indebted to his legacy, four of the masters of post-war 20th century painting. Though contrasting in their cultural backgrounds, these painters are in many ways connected through their artistic beginnings and their response to a London ravished by war, each respectively exposing through their work the anxieties and fears of Man in the shadow of its aftermath.

Reflecting spirit of ancient cities

The Chawla Art Gallery here is holding an exhibition of recent paintings of artist BB Singh till September 9. An award-winning artist, BB Singh is greatly impressed by the ancient cities and most of his paintings reflect this.

"The Gods of Fire Rule"

The Hungarian Information and Cultural Centre here is beginning the new season with an exhibition of paintings by Peter Solymosi. Entitled, "The Gods of Fire Rule", the exhibition will be open for public from September 5 to September 18.

The exhibition has on view some of the masterpieces of the artist painted on location at Chander Tal in Himachal Pradesh and Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh.

Paintings by Sujata Dere

Nitanjali Art Gallery is hosting a special exhibition of paintings by artist Sujata Dere, "Black on White--A Sense of The Infinitive" at the Galerie Romain Roland, Alliance Francaise de Delhi here from September 2 to September 4.