Chandigarh, January 10
The department of mass communication at Panjab University will organise a three-day media fest from January 18.

This first-ever national-level festival is a students’ initiative and will see a number of events ranging from photography, documentary making, collage making and quiz competitions.

The final day of the media fest will see dignitaries from various fields participating in a panel discussion on “Democracy and its four pillars: Issues of Conflict and Resolution” in the university auditorium. The discussion will start at 12 noon.

Chandigarh, January 10
The Chandigarh District Council of Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers’ Union (PCCTU), in a meeting held today, decided that teachers working in the aided colleges of Chandigarh would not work on January 15 and assemble in front of the DPI’s (C) office, Punjab, Sector 17, where the copies of the amendment made to the Security of Service Act-1974 would be burnt.

The teachers will lodge their protest against the Punjab government for having snatched the security of service of around 2,000 teachers working on unaided posts in the aided colleges of Punjab. The Punjab Legislative Assembly amended the Act on December 24, 2007, and deprived these teachers of the security of service which they had since 1974 even when there was no grant-in-aid scheme for the colleges.

Prof Rakesh Mehta, president, Chandigarh District Council of Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union (PCCTU), said, “We cannot accept that the teachers, working against unaided posts, and their families lead a life of insecurity. Therefore, the copies of the amendment bill will be burnt to register our protest.”

In another significant decision, the Chandigarh District Council decided to burn the copies of the Panjab University letter of September 20, 2007, directing the managements and principals of the non-government affiliated colleges to implement provident fund on gross salary and encashment of earned leave to their employees failing which penalties under the regulations 11.1 and 11.2 of the PU calendar Vol. 1 of 2005 would be imposed. 

Mohali, January 10
Students of Gian Jyoti Public School celebrated road safety week. The theme of the week was ‘Drive to care! Not to dare!’ Poster making and slogan writing competitions were also organised.

LOHRI: A Lohri function, which focused on female foeticide, was organised at Government Senior Secondary School, Phase 3B1, here today, for creating social awareness among students. MP Paramjit Kaur Gulshan presided over the function.MP Varinder Bajwa announced a grant of Rs 1 lakh for the school.

PRIZE DISTRIBUTION: A prize distribution function to felicitate the winners of the district-level Roller Skating Championship was organised at Manav Mangal Smart School here today.

Zirakpur
VISIT: A cultural event was organised by students of Mount View Public School to welcome the delegation of teachers and students from Mokpo Jeong Girls Middle School, South Korea. 

Chandigarh, January 10
Not complying with the order of the Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum-I has landed the managing director (MD) of Indus Airways Private Limited in soup.

The forum has sentenced the MD to one-year imprisonment and a fine of Rs 10,000 has been imposed on him.

The forum had directed the airways to pay a compensation of Rs 60,200 to the complainants for the cancellation of flight without a justification.

Taking note of the non-payment of compensation, the forum stated: “When the learned counsel for the airways was told there appeared to be no justification in not making the payment, she left the room saying it may pass any order it likes, they will have their own remedy against it. We are therefore of the opinion that the airways have intentionally not obeyed the order.”

Arvinder Pal, a resident of Jalandhar, had approached the consumer forum, seeking a refund of the amount spent on the tickets and the fare of taxi hired from Chandigarh to Delhi.

Another complaint with a similar prayer was filed by Panchkula resident Anil Goyal.

Arvinder Pal said he had purchased four tickets in 2006 from Indus Airways to travel from Chandigarh to Delhi, for which the payment was done through credit card.

He said, “On reaching the airport with his family to board the flight, the staff revealed that the flight had been cancelled.”

The president of the forum said, “The airways is liable to compensate the passenger for harassment caused, thus, they are directed to pay a compensation of Rs 10,000 to each passenger. Arvinder Pal would be paid Rs 40,000 while Anil Goyal will get Rs 10,000. The airways would also reimburse Rs 4,000 each to Arvinder Pal and Anil Goyal along with Rs 1,100 cost of litigation to both.”