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Wear your thinking cap
Now on, rote won’t do for CBSE
Chandigarh, January 14
Students appearing for Class X and XII exams in March 2008 will see a change in the pattern of question papers. The CBSE has redesigned the question papers in almost all major subjects. The papers will carry multiple choice options.

Speed up, Rodrigues tells engg dept
Slow pace of projects rags administrator
Chandigarh, January 14
Reasons for the slow pace of various pending development projects in the city were sought by UT Administrator Gen S.F. Rodrigues (Retd) today, who issued instructions to the engineering wing to “speed up,” well-placed sources said.

22-yr-old Kajheri resident killed in accident
Chandigarh, January 14
A 22 years old Kajheri resident was killed after his scooter collided with a cycle on the road dividing Sectors 16 and 17 here, a little after mid-night. The cyclist was also injured seriously in the mishap.

Farmhouse caretaker killed by thieves
Panchkula, January 14
Padam (35), caretaker at Talwar Farmhouse on Aasrewali road on Barwala road, was killed by thieves when they broke into the farmhouse to steal fowls last night.

Manoj Datta is PEC director
Chandigarh, January 14
The name of Manoj Datta, professor at the Indian Institute of Technology, was cleared as director of Punjab Engineering College (PEC) today.

HERALDING MAGHI: Lal Singh and Gurdev Singh, who have been playing traditional punjabi instruments for 40 years at the Maghi Mela, perform at Gurdwara Dau Sahib, Kharar, on Monday. Tribune photo:Vicky Gharu

Non-compliance with DC’s orders
SDM fails to call MC meeting
Mohali, January 14
In what can be termed as disobedience of the deputy commissioner’s orders, the SDM has failed to call the meeting of the municipal council to fill the vacant posts of senior vice-president and vice-president of the civic body. With nearly half of the one-year term fixed for incumbents of these posts over, there seems to be no signs of early elections.Rishiv Jain and Harmanpreet Singh were elected senior vice-president and vice-president respectively, after the council elections were held in July, 2006.

COMMUNITY

Ban on smoking goes up in smoke
Chandigarh, January 14
Calling it the first non-smoking city, Chandigarh is still not smoke-free. Smoking is openly carried out in almost all public placed without any check.

CPM protests over decision on buses
Chandigarh, January 14
Members of the CPM held a protest at the local bus stand of Inter-State Bus Terminus, Sector 17, here today. A. Sawhney, secretary of the CPM said the party opposed the decision of the Administration to shift the inter-state buses from Sector 17 to Sector 43 as it would cause immense inconvenience to the people.
Members of the CPM protest at the local bus stand in Chandigarh on Monday. A Tribune photograph

Plan to improve police mindset
Chandigarh, January 14
To hone up policing skills and to improve the mindset of its force, the Chandigarh police today launched an attitudinal change programme at the Police Headquarters in Sector 9, here today.

Foreigners not under watch despite rising crime
Chandigarh, January 14
The Foreigners Act is being flouted with impunity as a large number of foreigners visiting the city go unregistered either due to ignorance of rule in public or lack of police surveillance. The police records shows only those visiting hotels and guest houses are registered while those visiting residents of the city go unnoticed.

Merchant Navy to increase activities in region
Chandigarh, January 14
The Chandigarh chapter of the Merchant Navy Officers’ Association (MNOA) is looking towards expanding its strength and activities in the region. It has drawn up a plan to organise a series of seminars and other events aimed at projecting the merchant navy.

21 vehicles challaned
Mohali, January 14
As many as 21 vehicles were challaned by the district transport officer (DTO) here today and fines to the tune of Rs 40,000 were imposed on violators. DTO Balbir Singh said a checkpoint was set up near Verka chowk at 3.30 pm to check offenders and the drive went on till 5 in the evening.

DTO Balbir Singh checks the documents of a traffic violator during a drive to check traffic violations in Mohali on Monday. A Tribune photograph

Registration of Flats
HUDA postpones personal hearing till Jan 21
Panchkula, January 14
The Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) has postponed the date of personal hearing accorded to the cooperative group housing societies regarding implementation of the Haryana Apartment Act, 1983.

Govt offices to have  new buildings
Panchkula, January 14
Many government offices in the city would get new buildings this year as the Haryana government had planned to spend a sum of Rs 52.85 crore for the work. The departments, boards and corporations, which are scheduled to shift to new buildings in the near future include technical education department, Haryana Public Service Commission, Patwar Training School, Haryana State Roads and Bridges Corporation, Haryana Forest Development Corporation, and Haryana State Science and Technology Council.

Poor get credit cards
Chandigarh, January 14
Union minister of state for finance Pawan Kumar Bansal presented credit cards under various schemes to the beneficiaries of economically weaker section here.

Letters
Village cries for medical help

CRIME

Couple assaulted; accused at large
Chandigarh, January 14
The police booked a group of persons of Sector 25 on the charges of rioting and causing hurt for allegedly assaulting their neighbours this morning.

BUSINESS

Milk prices to remain stable
Chandigarh, January 14
Prices of milk and dairy products had stabilised in the past six months and will remain so, said H.S. Garewal, general manager, Verka Milk plant, Mohali.

Andhra Bank net rises by 11pc
Chandigarh, January 14
For the year ended September, 2007, Andhra Bank has shown all-round improvement in business, profitability and other growth parameters. Total business is up by 33.53 per cent at Rs.74,928 crore. Deposits up by 36.66 per cent at Rs. 44,434 crore. Loans and advances up by 29.21 per cent at Rs.30,494 crore.

EDUCATION

PU convocation tomorrow
Vice-president Ansari to confer degrees on students
Chandigarh, January 14
Panjab University will confer honorary degree of doctor of laws (honoris causa) upon renowned Bollywood director and producer Yash Chopra, environmental scientist Dr Rajendra Pachauri, former vice-chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University Dr G.K. Chadha and Punjabi writer Dr Pritam Singh during the convocation to be held on January 16. Vice-president of India and PU chancellor Mohammad Hamid Ansari will be the chief guest.

PU Notes
Experts dwell on ways to improve in-service training
Chandigarh, January 14
A workshop of coordinators of in-service training programmes for college and university lecturers was held on the PU campus here today. Core faculty from Academic Staff Colleges of Jamia Millia Islamia, Nainital, Ajmer, Srinagar, Shimla, Amritsar, Kurukshetra and coordinators of refresher courses from the university attended the workshop.

From Colleges
Alumni, students celebrate Lohri
Chandigarh, January 14
In tune with its tradition, Chitkara College of Education for Women-25 invited its alumni of the past four years on the occasion of Lohri yesterday.

Students display culinary talent
Mohali, January 14
Students of Saupin’s School participated in a sandwich making competition. The students came with the ingredients and worked on breads to create gastronomical delights. Parents of students had been invited as judges.

Teachers’ degrees under scrutiny
Chandigarh, January 14
The Chandigarh education department has decided to check degrees of teachers working in various schools.

COURTS

Assurance firm told to pay Rs 2 lakh
Chandigarh, January 14
The Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum-I has directed New India Assurance to pay Rs 2 lakh, that is half the amount of the claim, to consumer.

SBI staffer gets 3-year RI for embezzlement
Chandigarh, January 14
After a trial of 16 years in embezzlement case of Rs 32,000, the accused has been sentenced rigorous imprisonment (RI) of three years today. A fine of Rs 2,000 was imposed on him by judicial magistrate first class (JMIC) Balwinder Kumar.

CULTURE

Showcasing nature’s beauty
Exhibition on till tomorrow
Chandigarh, January 14
As this group of avid photographers captured moments of their adventure trail in lens, varied hues of a variety of flowers was one thing they could not have ignored. Experience profound serenity and beauty of nature at the photography exhibition - Valley of Flowers - inaugurated today at Government Museum and Art Gallery, Sector 10. 
A visitor takes a look at pictures displayed in a photo exhibition at Government Museum and Art Gallery in Sector 10, Chandigarh, on Monday. Tribune photo: Vinay Malik

NEIGHBOURHOOD

Rs 80 crore sewerage plant for Patiala
Patiala, January 14
The Patiala municipal corporation has announced the establishment of a massive sewerage plant at the cost of Rs 80 crore in the city.

Lose control: Karate players in action during the selection camp of district karate championship in Ambala on Monday. Tribune photo: Kamal Sachar

Police, judicial officers to meet on Jan 19
Patiala, January 14
Punjab and Haryana High Court Chief Justice Vijender Jain said here yesterday that a meeting of senior officers of the Punjab police with judicial officers would take place in Chandigarh on January 19 to chalk out ways and means for expeditious disposal of criminal cases pending in courts. After distributing prizes to the winners in the moot court competition at National Rajiv Gandhi Law University here, the Chief Justice said an endeavour would be made for settling criminal cases within 10 years.

SPORTS

B’desh duo takes lead in All-India Amateur Golf
Chandigarh, January 14
Shahid of Bangladesh fought off cold windy conditions to return the best card of one under par 71 to help his team take the lead on the opening day of LG All-India Amateur Golf Championship which got under way on the par-72 greens of the Chandigarh Golf Club here today. While Shahid returned a one-under card, his teammate Zaman Mollah played a two-over par 74 card for a team aggregate of one-over par 145.

Seventeen-year-old Rahul Bakshi of Chandigarh on the 18th hole after playing a two-over par 74 on the opening day of the LG All-India Amateur Golf Championship at the Chandigarh Golf Club on Monday. Tribune photo: Pradeep Tewari

College of Engineering bundled out for 106 runs
Chandigarh, January 14
A deadly bowling spell by Yuzwinder, who took 5 wickets and an unbeaten century by Sidharth (103) paved the way for DAV College, Sector 10, to outclass College of Engineering, Sector 26, by 178 runs in the quarter-final match of the Inter-College Limited Overs Cricket Tournament of the Administrator's Cup organised by the Chandigarh Sports Department being played at the Sector 16 Cricket Stadium here today.

Jarkhar Academy register win
Ludhiana, January 14
Jarkhar Academy and Sports Wing, Ludhiana, registered victories in the boys and girls’ sections, respectively, in hockey on the inaugural day of the 22nd edition of the annual sports festival at Jarkhar village, around 15 km from here, today.

SIKHYA organises athletics meet
Chandigarh, January 14
The 2nd Athletic meet of SIKHYA- The School of learning, started with great fanfare on its premises in Sector 46, here. Although the school caters exclusively to the children of marginalised communities, the professional standard and decorum of the meet was very impressive.

The athletics meet in progress at SIKHYA-46 in Chandigarh on Monday. A Tribune photograph

These twins make a winning combination
Chandigarh, January 14
This team of twin brothers is creating ripples in the tennis arena together. Meet brothers Chandril and Lakshit Sood, who emerged winners in doubles International Tennis Federation (ITF) (Grade 3) Tennis Tournament, concluded recently at Chandigarh.

Sood brothers after winning ITF Tennis Tournament. A Tribune photograph

Akshit selected for international games
Panchkula, January 14
Local badminton player Akshit Mahajan cornered glory as he has been selected for International Youth Commonwealth Games camp to be held next year.

20 shuttlers selected for school games
Ludhiana, January 14
Twenty shuttlers have been selected to represent Punjab in the National School Games to be held at Panchkula from January 15 to 20.

Inter-varsity hockey meet from today
Ludhiana, January 14
The stage is set for this year’s edition of the North Zone Inter-Varsity Hockey Tournament for Men that begins at Prithipal Singh Memorial Astroturf Stadium of Punjab Agricultural University here tomorrow.

HEALTH

Lifetime achievement award for S.K. Mehta
Chandigarh, January 14
Dr S.K. Mehta, one of the pioneers of gastroenterology in India and former professor and head of the department of gastroenterology of the PGI, Chandigarh, has added another feather to his cap. He has been awarded the ‘lifetime achievement award’ by the Indian Society of Gastroenterology for his outstanding contribution to gastroenterology in India. The award was presented to Dr Mehta, credited with the setting up of the speciality training programme at the PGI, at the annual conference of the society at Bangalore recently.

Diabetic smokers more prone to heart attack
Chandigarh, January 14
For diabetic smokers it is time to quit smoking as they are 11 times more likely to die of heart attack or stroke than a normal human being.

Rare tongue cancer surgery performed 
Chandigarh, January 14
For Amar Dass, a poor cancer patient, struggling to make both ends meet, treatment at a private hospital was a luxury. However, thanks to the gesture of certain good Samaritans and a Mohali-based hospital, Amar Dass is on way to recovery following a major operation here today.

ADMINISTRATION

Admin invites applications for scholarships 
Chandigarh, January 14
The Chandigarh administration has invited applications for merit-cum-means-based scholarships from the students belonging to the minority communities.