Jalandhar, May 15
In a yet another shocking revelation coming through the information gathered using the RTI Act, it has been found that the Apeejay College of Fine Arts does not have any affiliation with Guru Nanak Dev University in its own name.

In fact, the university had granted affiliation to Rajeshwari Kala Sangam for MA music classes in 1975, a reply from Inderjit Singh, Registrar-cum-PIO of the university, to an RTI application filed by activist Ajay Sehgal has revealed.

Vice-president of the Apeejay Education Society Yash Raj Aggarwal when asked about the matter had a one-liner, “The college and the sangam are one and the same thing.” He snapped the call refusing to comment further.

Sehgal had filed an application in this regard on March 2 to which the university Registrar had responded on March 28 saying that since the records were more than 35 years’ old, his staff was unable to trace it. It was after the activist filed the appeal before the university Vice Chancellor A.S. Brar that he got the reply on May 10.

The reply shows that an application for affiliation was moved by Jodh Singh, Adviser-cum-Registrar of Rajeshwari Kala Sangam, on May 30, 1973. The letter mentions, “The institution has its own sound-proof building of the most-modern design comprising 16 rooms and a reception hall on a campus of 44 kanal land in a posh colony of Jalandhar. Over 100 students of various classes from Praveshika up to MA are getting their coaching in various departments.”

Later the case was approved by the university academic council on October 6, 1975, and approved by the Syndicate on October 25 same year. The RTI reply also shows a copy of prospectus printed in the name of Rajeshwari Kala Sangam at that time with admission fee of Rs 10 and tuition fee ranging from Rs 20 to Rs 75 for courses ranging from Praveshika to PhD.

Sehgal, in another application dispatched to the Registrar and Vice-Chancellor of GND University on Saturday, demanded that the officials themselves needed to take up the matter analytically and rationally keeping in mind the career of thousands of students, who had already passed out and were enrolled with the college running by another name than the one approved. He has also demanded a personal inspection of the college dossier as per the RTI Act.

This is the third matter regarding alleged irregularities in the college affairs. The matter regarding the sale of the prime land to Apeejay School and College by the Jalandhar Improvement Trust for just Rs 29 crore, instead of the market value of Rs 400 crore, is already being raked up by former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh. Another RTI activist Sanjay Sehgal has also lodged a complaint with the CBI in the same context.

Municipal Town Planner Tirlok Singh has also served a notice on the college to show the copy of the approved building plan on May 9.

Nawanshahr, May 15
Only five out of 118 young girls aspiring to join the Punjab Police could qualify the physical efficiency test conducted by the district police for the recruitment of women constables at the ITI grounds here on Saturday.

As many as 178 applications were received for filling 14 posts of women constable and after scrutiny of the applications 141 candidates were issued admit cards for taking physical fitness test, for which elaborate arrangements, including medical care for the candidates, were made.

Dr Narinder Bhargav, SSP, said the physical efficiency test for the recruitment of women constables was conducted with utmost transparency. Besides, it had been decided to give another chance to the candidates who could not turn up for the physical fitness test. Now, the remaining candidates could appear for the physical efficiency test at 6 am on May 18.

The desirous candidates should contact the officials concerned at the SSP office for collecting their admit cards for availing themselves of the last chance of appearing in the physical efficiency test scheduled for May 18.

Amritsar, May 15
On the call given by the Punjab Federation of University and College Teachers Organisation and PCCTU, the ongoing struggle to save Khalsa College has completed two months and the chain fast today entered its 14th day.

Various social, religious and political organisations have supported the cause of the college teachers who are fighting against converting public-funded Khalsa College into a personal university. The area councillor, Raman Bakshi, along with Sawraj Singh Dhillon, secretary, Punjab Pardesh Congress Committee, Rachhpal Singh and Harvinder Singh, a cricketer, and various former students of Khalsa College extended support to the struggling teachers.

Raman Bakshi garlanded Prof Bhupinder Singh, Prof Parminer Singh, Prof S.K. Dhingra, Prof Sanjit Amrita Kaur and Prof Rajinderpal Kaur, who sat on chain fast today.

Professor H.S. Wali, a general secretary, PCCTU, said the struggle would continue till the management committee gave up the idea of converting college into a private university and withdraw the false criminal cases registered against the teachers.

Meanwhile, former professors of Khalsa College, Prof R.C. Bhatia (ex-president, KCTU), Prof Hardip Singh (ex-president and secretary, KCTU), Prof Avtar Singh (ex-staff secretary), Prof Madan Lal Rampal, Prof Gian Singh and Prof Iqbal Singh Randhawa will sit on fast tomorrow.

Jalandhar, May 15
The body of a 22-year-old girl of the Gur Mandi area, falling under Rama Mandi police station, was found near the railway track of the area at around 8 am today.

The ADCP, S.K. Kalia, said the girl, Heena, was murdered as the body bore injury marks. He said the body was sent for autopsy and it would be confirmed only after getting the report whether rape had been committed or not before the murder.

Kalia said a case was registered under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) on the statement of Heena’s sister Khushboo.

No arrest was made yet, but the police suspected a youth of the same locality for the crime, he added.