Chandigarh, July 22
Intervening for the first time during the course of arguments on framing charges in the Cash-at-judge's-door case, CBI judge Vimal Kumar today questioned the direct contradiction between the statements of accused Justice Nirmal Yadav (retd) and Sanjeev Bansal, former Haryana Additional Advocate General during the resumed hearing of the case in court today.

Questioning the accused, Sanjeev Bansal, who argued in the court today, the court said his statements were directly contradictory to that of accused Justice Nirmal Yadav.

While Sanjeev Bansal had admitted that Rs 15 lakh was meant for Justice Yadav towards a land deal, the retired High Court judge negated the theory in her statement and her counsel had denied in the court that Rs 15 lakh was handed over to her on August 14, 2008.

“Justice Yadav’s counsel does not admit either the August 13, 2008, incident or the delivery of Rs 15 lakh on August 14, 2008, in his statement before the court. On the other hand, Sanjeev Bansal stated that Rs 15 lakh was meant for Yadav towards a land deal,” said the court pointing towards the direct contradiction.

The defence counsel clarified his stand saying that there was no contradiction. Since the case was at an initial stage in the court, Justice Yadav was not required to admit anything.

Sanjeev Bansal argued that the charges of creating a false alibi under Sections 192, 193, 196, 199 and 200 of the IPC against them could not be invoked and were not legally admissible in the absence of any private complainant in the case.

The court then questioned the accused as to why charges under Section 201 of the IPC (giving false information to screen the accused from punishment) be not framed against the accused in the case barring Justice Yadav.

The court asked the defence counsel as to why accused Rajiv Gupta, Sanjeev Bansal, Nirmal Singh and Ravinder Singh not be tried under Section 201 of the IPC as they tried to screen Justice Yadav’s name from the case and conceded her name in the initial stage.

The court raised the query in respect of the prosecution theory that accused Sanjeev Bansal had conceded that Rs 15 lakh was meant to be given to Justice Yadav during the initial three days from August 13 to August 16, 2008, when the UT police had first registered an FIR in the case.

“From August 13 to August 16, 2008, when the case first came into light, Sanjeev Bansal has been stating that the money was meant for commission agent Nirmal Singh in a property deal and not for Justice Yadav. On August 19, when Bansal was arrested, he admitted for the first time that the money was meant for Justice Yadav. Why should I not invoke Section 201 against the accused then?” the court questioned Bansal.

“If section 193 of the IPC is not made out against the accused, then why is Section 201 of the IPC with regard to screening the accused not made out against all the accused?” questioned the court.

The arguments will continue in the CBI court tomorrow when the counsel for Ravinder Singh will put his arguments.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court was hit by the scam after a packet containing Rs 15 lakh was delivered on August 13, 2008, at the Sector 11 residence of High Court Judge Nirmaljit Kaur. She complained to police. It was alleged that the cash was actually meant for Justice Nirmal Yadav (now retired), an accused in the case.

The police later arrested the then Haryana Additional Advocate General, Sanjeev Bansal, property dealer Rajiv Gupta and Delhi-based hotelier Ravinder Singh Bhasin in connection with the case.

Justice NirmalYadav went on leave after her name figured in the bribery scandal. She was later transferred to the Uttarakhand High Court.

The chargesheet was also filed against Bansal, Gupta, Bhasin and Nirmal Singh, who is a Delhi-based property dealer. 

New Delhi, July 22
The Supreme Court today quashed two notifications of the Chandigarh Administration for acquiring 128.76 acres for the Chandigarh Technology Park on appeals filed by sprinter Milkha Singh, Gurbinder Kaur Brar and others.

“The notifications dated October 1, 2002, and September 29, 2003, are quashed insofar as the same relate to the lands of the appellants,” a Bench comprising Justices GS Singhvi and V Gopala Gowda said.

Through the 2002 notification under Section 4(1) of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, the Administration had sought to acquire 71.96 acres for various purposes, including the Chandigarh Technology Park. Another 56.76 acres was acquired through the 2003 notification.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court had dismissed the petitions of the three affected parties on March 18, 2011, prompting them to approach the SC. In related appeals filed by Surinder Singh Brar and others, the SC had quashed three notifications issued on June 26, 2006, August 2, 2006 and February 28, 2007, for acquiring land for the Phase III of the Chandigarh Technology Park.

Like in the earlier appeals, Singh and two others had challenged the acquisition contending that the proceedings were vitiated by non-consideration of the objections filed by the landowners.

In today’s verdict, the SC noted that the Chandigarh Administration made a “valiant effort to convince us” that the view taken in the Surinder Singh Brar case on the interpretation of the 1987 Act required reconsideration.

“But we do not find any valid ground to accept the submission. In our view, Section 3(1) of the 1987 Act does not empower the Administrator to delegate the functions of the appropriate government to any officer or authority specified in the notification issued under that section because the Presidential notification does not provide for such delegation.”

“We also agree with the learned counsel for the appellants that the report of the LAO was vitiated due to total non-application of mind by the concerned officer to a large number of substantive objections raised by the appellants under Section 5A(1). He mechanically rejected the objections and senior officers of the Chandigarh administration accepted the report of the LAO despite the fact that the same had been prepared in violation of Section 5A (2).”

The apex court also held that the October 2002 notification “cannot be saved at this belated stage and the competent authority cannot issue a declaration under Section 6(1) of the Act 11 years after the issue of the notification under Section 4(1)…The Chandigarh administration cannot now issue a declaration under Section 6(1) after rectifying the illegalities committed in the preparation of the report under Section 5A (2) and issue of the earlier declaration.” 

Mohali, July 22
“We are not being treated as students but like domestic servants by our teachers in the school,” alleged students of Classes VI, VII and VIII at Government Middle School, Phase IX, Mohali. The students went on a strike today against the behaviour of their teachers.

District Education Offier Mewa Singh interacts with the protesting students at Phase IX, Mohali, on Monday. Tribune photo: Vicky Gharu

Out of 30 students, 20 refused to attend their classes this morning. They were demanding the transfer of two teachers.

Raising slogans against the schoolteachers, the protesting students said they would not attend their classes till their demand was not met. Parents of some of the students also joined the protest.

There are three teachers in the school having strength of 33. There are 16 students in Class VI, 13 in Class VII and four in Class VIII.

“We are made to sweep the floors, bring sweets, milk, fruits and other eatables from the market every now and then. Do we come here for such petty jobs,” said the students in unison.

A Class VI student said that he got 82 per cent marks in Class V and joined the school.

“I don’t know about my Class VI syllabus as the teachers here are least bothered about out future,” he alleged.

Another student of Class VII alleged that the teachers always remain busy on their mobile phones or take rest during their duty hours.

Parents Dharam Nath, Mohan Lal and Shanti also complained against the staff of the school to District Education Officer Mewa Singh Sidhu, who reached the spot and held talks with the students and their parents and recorded their statements.

“If something happens to our children, who will be responsible?” questioned Dharam Nath.

Shati, whose three siblings study in the school, said they were being sent to the school to study, not to work.

“I have recorded statements of the students, their parents and the teachers. Action will be taken after probing the matter,” said Mewa Singh Sidhu.

After the DEO’s assurance, the students agreed to join their classes.

Teachers left red-faced

The teachers continued to refute the students’ allegations of treating them as servants. “They are lying as we never send them to the market,” claimed a teacher. However, they were left red-faced when two students were seen fetching packets of milk and biscuits from the market when the DEO was recording the statements of the students and their parents. Later, one of the teachers admitted that the students of Class VII were made to clean the classroom daily. 

Teachers blame school in charge

One of the teachers alleged that in charge of the school Sarabjit Kaur instigated the students to hold a protest. “She has provoked the students against us,” said Amanpreet Kaur, a teacher. On the other hand, Sarabjit claimed that she had apprised the authorities of the students’ protest. 

Chandigarh, July 22
A gunshot fired accidentally at a rented accommodation of a police constable in Kishangarh village injured a 24-year-old constable of the Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB), identified as Krishan Kumar.

The IRB constable suffered critical injuries. He is undergoing treatment at the PGI, Chandigarh.

The incident took place at 4 am when a .9mm pistol of UT police constable Jetinder went off accidentally. Constable Jetinder, who is posted in the security of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, has been arrested in a case of act endangering life of others under Section 336 of the IPC and various sections of the Arms Act.

Krishan suffered bullet injuries on his back. His condition is stated to be critical. Jetinder claimed that he called the PCR to rush Krishan to the hospital.

The police, however, said Jetinder’s claims were being verified.

The incident has raised a doubt as Jetinder claimed that the gun went of accidentally as he was cleaning the weapon. However, it was strange that he was cleaning his weapon at 4 am, the police maintained.

The rented accommodation in which incident took place was being shared by four policemen. There are contradictions between statements of two policemen.

A case was registered at the Mani Majra police station. The weapon has also been seized. Accused Jetinder will be presented before a court on Tuesday. 

Chandigarh, July 22
Despite a ban on the use of hazardous ripening agent, fruit vendors are extensively using the chemical, especially for mangoes right under the nose of the UT Health Department.

A worker places a packet of calcium carbide in a box of raw mangoes at the Sector 26 grain market. ribune photos: Pradeep Tewari

Vendors are using calcium carbide, commonly termed as ‘masala’, to ripen mangoes. Labourers working in mango godowns often complain of skin eruption and rashes. People consuming mangoes treated with the chemical also complain of rashes and angioedema (rapid swelling f the dermis, subcutaneous tissue, mucosa and submucosal tissues).

The chemical is readily available in markets across the city. The UT Health Department admits that there is no mechanism to ascertain that it being used to ripen mangoes is hazardous.

A vendor sells artificially ripened mangoes in Chandigarh. Tribune photos: Pradeep Tewari

Readily available

Chandigarh Tribune conducted a random survey of fruit markets and found workers adding the chemical to raw mangoes. They were also selling the chemical in small packets.

Calcium carbide or ‘masala’ or potash has been banned in all the countries. It’s also not used in laboratories.

Some workers at the Sector 26 grain market said the chemical is readily available in markets for Rs 50 per kg.

It is usually kept in small packets near the piles of mangoes for a day or two so the fruit ripens completely. A worker at a fruit market said everyone in the market was aware that the chemical was banned.

Effects of the chemical

Cases of skin eruption and intestinal problems due to the use of the chemical in mangoes are being reported in hospitals and clinics across the city. In the past over one month, 10-15 cases of severe skin rashes have been reported at National Skin Hospital in Panchkula. Chief dermatologist at the hospital Dr Vikas Sharma said: “Labourers working in mango godowns complain of skin eruption and rashes. A number of children visit the hospital everyday with complaints of rashes around their lips.”

Two cases of angioedema were also reported among adults, a severe condition where patient suffers problem in respiratory tract, this month, he added.

Cases of gastrointestinal problems are also being reported in hospitals. Dr Gopal Bhardwaj, head, department of internal medicine at the GMSH-16, said: “Patients with gastrointestinal problems are visiting the OPDs. There is a spurt in such cases every year during the mani season.”

No check by Health Dept

The UT Health Department has failed to check the sale of artificially ripened fruits. Designated officer, UT Food Health and Safety Cell, Dr Satbir admitted that not even a single sample had been seized this year. “We don’t have a lab to test the chemical used to ripen the fruits. Calcium carbide is volatile.

It evaporates by the time it is tested,” Dr Satbir told Chandigarh Tribune.

“We have written to the authorities to allow us set up a lab so that we can check the use of hazardous chemicals in fruits,” he said.

In response to a petition filed by the Hari Bhari Environment Society, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has recently directed the UT Health Department, through Health Secretary Anil Kumar, to submit an action-taken report on curbing use of calcium carbide within six months.

Health hazard

The chemical causes blisters if touched. If kept under the sun, it emanates a pungent gas, said workers at the Sector 26 grain market. Calcium carbide is a very reactive chemical.

The fruit vendors are not following the safer ripening process.

The actual process requires five to six days. However, with the use of calcium carbide, it takes 24 to 36 hours to ripen the fruit. Another chemical, ethephon, is permissible for the ripening of fruits. But the vendors don’t use it as it is costly.

“There should be a check on the chemicals being used for ripening of the fruits since mostly the persons involved in the process are not trained to use chemicals,” said Dr Gopal Bhardwaj.

He said calcium carbide could slow down the functioning of brain and could lead to insomnia.

Fruit destroyed

In May this year, the health department of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation destroyed 22,700 kg of mangoes imported Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra. The seized mangoes were artificially ripened with calcium carbide. 

Chandigarh, July 22
The number of malaria cases has declined in the city this year. A total of 42 cases have surfaced so far. Last year, the number was 225. "But the situation is alarming in the peripheral areas of the city," said experts.

"It is sad that only a few cases reach hospitals. We have been holding several awareness camps, especially in risk-prone areas, for the past one month. Yet, we are being forced to revisit the areas to check waterlogging," said an official, National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP). The officials have been surveying area like Bapu Dham Colony, Colony No. 4, Colony No.5, Mauli Jagran and Hallo Majra.

"Residents of the city are requested to take preventive measures," said officials of the health department.

Cause

It is caused by anopheles mosquitoes that carry the parasite and transmit the disease to humans.

Symptoms

Pain in abdomen, chills, dizziness, low blood pressure, muscle ache, loss of appetite. 

Treatment

Treatment continues from three to seven days, depending on the type of medication. 

Dos

* Always keep water tanks covered. Drain out water from coolers and scrub dry these once a week

* In case of fever, get a blood test done

Dont’s

* Drain out stagnant water

* Do not throw discarded containers, tyres, pitchers and pots on rooftops.

Note

* For any complaint regarding water collection, one can contact the malaria wing on 0172-2740408.

Chandigarh, July 22
The UT Administration has decided to construct the first solar cycle stand in the city. The UT science and technology department has decided to construct the cycle stand at Government Model Senior Secondary School (GMSSS), Sector 46.

The department will generate electricity through the solar cycle stand which would be used for running electricity appliances of the school. Confirming the development, director of the department Santosh Kumar said they had decided to construct a cycle stand in the school. Atop the stand, 15 kWp solar photovoltaic (SPV) power plant would be installed, he added.

The department has already floated tenders and after finalising the bidder, the department would start the project, he added.

He said the power generated from the solar stand would be used for running electrical appliances in the school. "The power plant installed atop the stand will be connected to the main electricity grid system of the city," he said. He said solar cycle stands were popular in countries like the USA and Japan. "If the project yields good results, more cycle stands will be constructed in schools and offices," he added. 

Solar photovoltaic power plant at Burail jail

On July 3, Union Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah inaugurated 100 kW grid interactive rooftop-based solar photovoltaic power plant at Model Jail, Burail. Under the model solar city project, the Administration was supposed to set up a total of 12 rooftop-based solar photovoltaic power plants, but so far it has been able to set up the plants only at Paryavaran Bhawan, Sector 19, Model Burail Jail, UT Secretariat building, Sector 9, and UT police headquarters, Sector 9. More solar photovoltaic power plants will be set up at the Lake Sports Complex, IRB Complex at Sarangpur, GMCH-32, and Postgraduate College, Sector 46.

On July 23 (Tuesday), UT Adviser KK Sharma will inaugurate 50 kWp solar photovoltaic power plants at Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 46-D.

Mohali, July 22
Expressing resentment over the dumping of impounded and damaged vehicles on the premises of Government Veterinary Hospital at Balongi village, the hospital staff is up in arms against the police.

The staff said the open space, where the vehicles were dumped by the police officers, was meant for examining ailing animals.

A wall separates the hospital and the police station.

“The officers have encroached upon the portion of the hospital. It has become difficult for us to examine the animals," said a staff member.

He stated that they had given representations to the senior police officers asking them to remove the vehicles from the place, but to no avail.

“This is one of the best hospitals in the area and a large number of animals are brought here for treatment. We have brought the matter to the notice of the authorities and are hopeful of getting rid of the vehicles," said another staff member.

DSP RS Mrar said the vehicles were dumped there as the police station lacked adequate space.

"We will find out an alternative and get the place vacated at the earliest," said DSP Mrar. 

Chandigarh, July 22
After being repatriated to the PGIMER, Dr Raj Bahadur has now shifted focus to the Regional Spinal Injury Centre at Sector 70 in Mohali, seeking technical support from the PGIMER.

Dr Bahadur, head of the department of orthopaedics, PGIMER, and chairman of the centre, stated that an MoU will be signed with the PGIMER and the UT Administration for providing technical support.

The proposal was mooted in a recently held meeting of the Governing Body of the PGIMER, chaired by Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad. Approval is awaited.

"Junior residents and senior residents shall have exposure to spine injury victims as well as patients with spinal problems," Dr Bahadur stated in his proposal.

"The centre will cater to a large number of patients which will in turn solve the problem of overcrowding at the PGIMER or the GMCH-32. The number of operation tables in the orthopaedics department at the PGIMER is not sufficient to cater to the patients," he stated.

Dr Bahadur was repatriated to the PGIMER in April this year after being given as many as nine extensions as the Director of the GMCH-32.

Chandigarh, July 22
Daily wage employees of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) will hold a national-level demonstration against the authorities on July 30. The employees, at a meeting held today, stated that last year the authorities had directed contractors to implement their orders, but the latter had failed to do the same.

On November 2012, the BSNL had issued instructions to the contractors asking them to give minimum fixed wages to the employees on the seventh of every month. It was stated that the money should be transferred to the bank accounts of the employees and they should have an access to information regarding their provident funds in order to maintain transparency. The instructions were unheeded by the contractors. The authorities had asked the contractors to issue ESI cards to the employees.

The employees said the BSNL authorities had failed to issue identity cards to them.The cards were meant for filed jobs.To date, the directions have not been followed by the contractors. The contractual employees were given salary after July 15 and that too after the intervention of the BSNL authorities. 

Mohali, July 22
To expose anti-pensioner policies of the Punjab Government, members of the Punjab Government Pensioners Association will hold a rally on July 24 outside Rose Garden in Phase 3B-II here.

Mohan Singh, general secretary of the association, said there was great resentment among Punjab pensioners as the government has not yet released 8 per cent DA installment due since January 1, 2013. He appealed to all the pensioners to participate in the rally. 

Mohali, July 22
Following a report in these columns, Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) today removed an encroachment on a part of government land at Musical Fountain Park in Sector 70.

GMADA officials oversee the installation of a railing at a spot from where an encroachment was removed at Sector 70 in Mohali on Monday. A Tribune photograph

A team led by Sub-Divisional Officer (Building) Satwinder Singh reached the site and removed the vegetable garden developed by a resident on the government land.

“After removing the encroachment, we have installed iron railing at the site,” said SDO Satwinder Singh. He said a part of the government land was also encroached upon by Vivek High School in the same sector.

“Our team has also removed that encroachment,” he said.

SDO Satwinder Singh said a survey was being conducted to find other such violations in the town. “We would start a special drive against the hazard very soon,” said the official.

A news item in this connection, ‘Clear government land of encroachments, demand residents’, was published in these columns on July 4.

Mohali, July 22
In a major move aimed at helping business persons, investors and budding entrepreneurs wishing to settle in the Quebec province of Canada, the immigration authorities have announced to reopen the Quebec Investor Program on August 1.

This was stated by Lt Col BS Sandhu (retd), the chairman and managing director of World Wide Immigration Consultancy Services, in a press statement issued here today.

He said the program was designed to attract potential investors and entrepreneurs to help in the economic development of the Maple Country and generate employment.

A maximum of 1,750 applications will be accepted under this programme, with a maximum of 1,200 applications per country.

Chandigarh, July 22
The Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA), Punjab and Chandigarh regional branch, and the Department of Public Administration, Panjab University, Chandigarh, today jointly organised a lecture on “Democracy, Development and Good Governance in India”.

The professor of Public Administration, Department of Political Science, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, Dr Rumki Basu, delivered the lecture.

Dr Rumki Basu said good governance was an evolving process in India. Initially, the parameters of good governance were ambiguous, but in the backdrop of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of the United Nations Organisation (UNO), they had become more clear.

Dr Rumki said each citizen of India should get public goods and services like education, health, drinking water, electricity and roads uniformly across the country contrary to the present practice of having many standards across states.

While commenting on development, she said though the rate of growth was lower during the pre-reform period, it was more equitable. After reforms though the rate of growth had improved, its fruits were not equally distributed.

General secretary Prof BS Ghuman, in his introductory remarks, said: “Public agenda of governance was inter-disciplinary and diverse in nature, and hence needs the Central and state governments to arrive at a consensus on the minimum core agenda so that its implementation becomes a smooth affair.”

BS Ojha, IAS (retd), in his presidential remarks said: “We should set common goals and also start prioritising the public agenda”.

Panchkula, July 22
Commuters in Panchkula went through a harrowing time today when as many as 600 teachers staged a protest outside Shiksha Sadan in Sector 5. Demanding regularisation of their services, the guest teachers also burnt an effigy of their director. A large posse of police was deployed to keep the situation under control.

“I have been waiting for the traffic congestion to ease out for long. Due to the gherao by the protestors, roads have been blocked and vehicles are moving at a snail’s pace,” said Ginni Sharma, a resident of Sector 2 here.

“I had gone home for lunch and was about to leave for office again. There were hundreds of vehicles on the road linking Chandigarh and Panchkula. I got late for the office by around half an hour,” said Vikram Marya, a resident of Sector 4.

Vinita Dua, another commuter said, “I was wondering why police personnel were deployed on every roundabout. Later when I saw bumper-to-bumper traffic, I realised it was due to the protest.”

Chandigarh, July 22
With electricity bills not being delivered to their doorsteps, Burail residents are forced to collect these from a centralised place where all the bills are dumped by the department.

Residents have a tough time searching for their electricity bills at Burail village in Chandigarh. Tribune photo: Manoj Mahajan

Blame the workload of the postal department or the lethargic attitude of the electricity department, the residents are the ultimate sufferers.

The area postman has around 2,000 to 3,500 water and electricity bills to deliver. This burden affects the delivery of regular mail.

“If the electricity department is generating the bills, then it is its responsibility to keep a track on their delivery,” said an official of postal department.

The residents, meanwhile, have to toil hard to get the bills, with those getting late to collect the bills forced to pay a penalty.

We can understand the problem being faced by the postman, so we are also helping him in delivering the bills, said Swarn, a resident.

“The bills are kept near the office of Khera Mandir and the residents themselves collect these,” he said. Another resident, Ravipal Singh, said, “The last date to submit the bill amount is nearing and we are yet to receive our bill.” 

Donation for flood victims

The PB Irrigation Retired Engineer Welfare Association has donated Rs 5.77 lakh for the victims of the Uttarkhand tragedy. President of the association KL Bhargava said the association would donate another Rs 2 lakh for the Uttarakhand victims by next month.

Councillor visits nursing quarters

Residents of six-decade old nursing quarters in Sector 15 on Monday apprised councillor Saurabh Joshi of their problems. The councillor was visiting the area with the officials of Chandigarh Municipal Corporation. President of the Nursing Staff Association, GMCH-16, Kamaljit Singh said the area had dilapidated houses with uncovered electrical fittings, putting the residents’ life to risk. The residents tried to approach the administration and civic body a number of times, he said. The people complained of lack of street lights in the area, which has made it accident prone.

Bansal attends Roza iftar party

Former Union Railways Minister and local Member of Parliament Pawan Kumar Bansal on Monday attended a Roza iftar party hosted by the Muslim community leaders at Madina Masjid in Sector 29. Bansal, who was accompanied by Congress leaders HS Lucky, Satish Kainth and others, said he was committed to the development of City Beautiful. Congress leader HS Lucky said Bansal would once again win the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Plantation drives

The management of Chandigarh Golf Club inaugurated a plantation drive on Monday. The ‘Green Initiative’ undertaken by the club envisages the planting of 650 saplings in the various roughs along the fairways. Club president Gurinderjit Sandhu said, “A large number of members volunteered by donating money, saplings and their time for the initiative.” At Chandigarh Club, meanwhile, Rotary Club, Chandigarh Central, organised a plantation drive. Around 100 saplings were planted by the Rotarians and the club staff.

Workshop at PGI

The department of anatomy of the PGI will organise two-day sixth IJ Dewan memorial workshop ‘Organs talk: Time to take prevention’ for high school children and general public from Tuesday. The workshop will be held from 9.00 am to 4.30 pm on both the days at Zakir Hall. This is a primary preventive programme for spreading awareness about the ill-effects of alcoholism, smoking, junk food, driving without helmets and excessive use of mobile phones. — TNS

Chandigarh, July 22
Two days after the high drama over the faculty development programme in front of Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 19, the District Education Office today served show-cause notices on 100 school lecturers for their failure to attend this programme.

These teachers are given three days’ time, till Thursday, to justify their absence from this programme.

Last week on Saturday, a large section of school lecturers, who were supposed to attend this programme, staged a protest in front of GMSSS-19 under the call given by the Joint Action Committee of UT schoolteachers for opposing this scheduled programme on the ground that it was meant to harass the teaching community.

This moved the department to take stern view of the protest. While the department suspended four school teachers - all office-bearers of the Joint Action Committee, it also decided to issue the show-cause notices to lecturers who remained absent from this programme that day.

Officials said the notices were sent to them through their school heads today.

The department found that only 12 lecturers out of a total of 37 teachers of political science and 9 lectures out of a total of 32 lecturers of history attended the faculty development programme on Saturday. Similarly, only 13 out of the 41 lecturers of mathematics and only 8 out of the 32 lecturers of chemistry joined their respective session. Those who did not attend the session were served the notices today.

The Education Department is considering to take a sympathetic view of the whole issue.

In his statement released today, Ajoy Sharma, Secretary, Education, said the replies of these teachers to show-cause notices would be examined and considered sympathetically as it had been reported that these lecturers were ready to participate in the programme but a few teachers prevented them from attending the same.

He said the faculty development programme would continue as per the schedule. The department would give certificates of participation to those who would appear for this programme, which is one of the most important initiatives taken by the Education Department for bringing about qualitative changes in the education system of Chandigarh.

On July 27, sessions on economics and Hindi would be held at GMSSS-10, sociology and physics at GMSSS-16 and English at GMSSS-35.

Panchkula, July 22
For the first time in tricity, internationally known cartoon character Ronald McDonald was present in flesh and blood at The Gurukul School, Sector 20, Panchkula. He had come to spread the message of “Save Water” and would be going to all schools in the city for the same.

Ronald McDonald with the students of The Gurukul School in Sector 20, Panchkula, on Monday. Tribune Photo: Nitin Mittal

It was Ronald’s 25th show in India and he had come to the city for the first time.

The cartoon walked through the corridors of the school all draped in his favourite red and yellow colour.

Ronald is in India on a two-year mission to spread awareness on “Water Conservation” and “Traffic Rules” with over 500 shows on the anvil. His stopover at The Gurukul was only 25th as yet.

“It’s for a better tomorrow. It’s for us and for the coming generation. Water is something we can’t do without,” he said.

Ronald engaged students in fun-filled activities and captured their hearts. Ronald impeccably dwelled on how little things make an impact and make a big change towards preserving water.

Ronald also had some magic tricks up his sleeve and even his magic tricks conveyed the message of saving water, stopping leakages in pipes, etc.

Harsimran Kaur, principal of the school, said: “Children easily relate to their favourite characters. Any message delivered through such characters always drives home effectively.”

Chandigarh, July 22
The Joint Action Committee of UT schoolteachers today staged a demonstration at Masjid Ground in Sector 20 against the Education Department’s decision to suspend and invoke FIR against four members of the committee, besides serving show-cause notice on 100 lecturers over the issue of faculty development programme.

Over 300 people, including teachers and members of other associations, expressed solidarity with the suspended teachers and the teachers who had been served show-cause notices today, and pressed upon the Chandigarh Administration to revoke the suspension of four teachers, cancel the FIR against them and withdraw the show-cause notices.

Kushali Ram Sharma, one of the suspended teachers, said during the day the teachers observed the chalk-down strikes in their respective schools and said the department’s action was unjustified and unnecessary.

He said the teachers were not against the facility development programme but wanted to postpone the same for sometime so that the recently promoted teachers get time to adjust to their new subjects.

However, the department declined our request a day before the protest, he said.

Ranbir Singh, another suspended teacher, said none of the members of the Joint Action Committee stopped the teachers from joining the programme. “The FIR against us was baseless,” he said.

In that demonstration in which other sister organisations of the employees participated, the members said they would continue their fight till the time the suspended teachers were not reinstated and the FIR and show-cause notices were not withdrawn.

The committee also constituted a 15-member panel to put their demands before the administration and called for a protest tomorrow near Shivalik View, Sector 17, at 3.30 pm.

Several unions support Education Department

A meeting of the Working Committee of the Government and MC Employees and Workers (Central Organisation of UT employees) Union was held under the head of Vijay Kumar, president Nursing Staff Association, GMCH 32, and unanimously supported the faculty development programme of the Education Department.

The organizations that participated in the meeting were the Chandigarh Government Transport Workers Union (regd), Electrical Workers Union (regd), Nursing Staff Welfare Association, CCET Employees Union (regd), PEC Employees Union (regd), United Front PH Employees Union (regd), PH Workers Union, Road Workers Union MC and Administration, Chandigarh, Chandigarh Forest Workers Union, UT Building Maintenance Workers Union, Panchayat Samiti Workers Union (regd), Field Workers Union, MC Employees Union, Electrical Street Light Workers Union, Institutional Employees Union, Chandigarh Safai Karamchari Union (regd), Chandigarh Housing Board Supervisors Union, etc.

In its press released issued today, the Government Teachers Union unanimously supported the faculty development programme of the Education Department and appealed to the Chandigarh Administration to take a sympathetic view of the show-cause notices served on the teachers who did not attend the programme.

Chandigarh, July 22
A mock drill to prepare for earthquake and fire emergencies was conducted at Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 35, here today. It was held in coordination with the office of the Deputy Commissioner and the Education Department.

Agencies like ambulance, fire, health, police and civil defence departments were called during the mock drill. Various teams of school students and teachers like evacuation team, search and rescue task force and fire safety first aid task force got into action at the time of the drill.

The sound of a siren was an indicator for the students to take “drop-cover-hold” position in the classes. Some of them were seen taking cover in the corner. In no time, school’s first floor and ground floor were evacuated and the students were rushed to the school ground for safety.

A vigilant team of teachers searched laboratories and toilets to rescue the trapped students. Mock casualties were given first-aid and were also rushed for other medical services. The police, ambulance, fire services and civil defence agencies arrived at the school within 10 minutes and became fully engaged in the rescue operations.

Tanvi Garg, Additional Deputy Commissioner, said this exercise, which started from a government school, was a big step towards preparedness against disaster.