Amritsar, December 14
Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) has decided not to refund fees to the students enrolled in self-financed courses in case they leave the course without attending even a single class.

The university has however continued with its earlier decision to refund a part of the fees earlier deposited in case of students enrolled in non-self financed courses. The decision is expected to hamper the interests of the students who wish to leave the course midway to join some other institute or course of their choice.

"The first thing for all the students of higher studies is to secure their seat which is available at any institute. Later, when they get a seat in an institute or course of their liking, they forfeit their claim on the earlier acquired seat," said a university teacher while adding that in the present scenario, the student would have to bear the loss of amount deposited earlier if he or she wishes to leave the course.

The self financed courses have more fees than the non-self financed courses. The GNDU is running self-financed courses like MBA (honors), B Tech (computer sciences, electronics), MCA, and masters in sports and physiotherapy. The fee structure for self-financed courses is almost double the traditional courses.

For the non-self-financed courses, the university has a provision to refund fees to the students if they don't attend even a single class after deduction of certain amount. For students who leave the course after attending few classes, the fee is refunded after deduction of tuition fees for three months. The university also refunds fees to students to shift to another general course after deducting Rs 5,000.

University Registrar Dr Inderjit Singh said the university's decision is justified. It has been taken after thorough deliberations. He said that in case the students shift to another course or leave the course, the said seats gets wasted as in most of the cases no other deserving student would be able to avail the facility. 

Amritsar, December 14
The shopkeepers at Vijay Nagar, Batala road, staged a protest against the demolition of raised pavements outside many shops in a late night action yesterday.

The shopkeepers alleged that the MC had not served any notice to the shopkeepers for demolition of the pavements. The MC had however made public announcement on loudspeakers in the area a day prior to the action.

The shopkeepers alleged that the MC officials were also selective in choosing shop owners who shops were damaged. The police had to use mild force to disperse the large crowd of shopkeepers who gathered at a place to protest last night. The protestors raised slogans against the MC for the action.

Congress leader Raj Kawal Pal Singh Lucky said the MC should have served a notice to the shopkeepers at at least 15 days prior to the action. He said there was no necessity of damaging people’s properties in late night action.

A protesting shopkeeper, Vishal Sharma, said: “The shutter of a shop and electricity meter installed outside other shop was also damaged by the ditch machines.”

Another shopkeeper Lakhwinder Singh said the MC should pay damages to the shopkeepers for the loss caused to them

Holding a protest outside the Sadar Police station, the protestors demanded that an FIR should be registered against the MC employees who had carried out the action.

Youth Congress Leader Karamjit Singh Rintu said the late night drive to demolish pavements was aimed at settling personnel grudges of the leaders of ruling alliance. He said instead of targeting small shopkeepers, the MC should focus on real encroachers who are being backed by leaders of the ruling alliance.

Later, the shopkeepers ended their protest outside the Sadar Police station on assurance from police officials that action would be taken after erring employees after conducting an enquiry. 

Amritsar, December 14
An exhibition of rarest of rare coins and currency from sixth BC onwards was put on display by a city-based collector Dev Dard.

A poet by profession and collector by passion, his collection of coins and currency spans over 400 years.

"The annual exhibition of the collection of rare coins is for the children and young generation to gain knowledge about our history and heritage. I have been sourcing out these coins every year through various excavation sites and collectors for the benefit of the next generation," said Dard. The highlight of the exhibition was a rare coin, one of the only three such in the world, from 271 AD French King Dominques era, which he got from Ujjain's Shipra river. "The two other coins are with the British Museum and I was invited by them twice to present my coin for the exhibit as well," said Dard. Other displays include coins from Mughal era, Indo-Greek origins, Kushan period, Lodhi period, The British Raj and some modern century coins.

Keeping his collections in a specially constructed room at a private school located in the Islamabad area here, Dard says he decided to keep these collections in the school so that students could know about their rich culture and heritage and the history of their country.

"I have spent nearly 40 years on this collection. Sometimes, I had to borrow money to purchase these. One of my most fascinating antiques include about 200-year-old idol of 'Menka' (a mythological character), a unique folding metallic glass, a 400-year-old metallic urn, a 150-year-old typewriter still in working condition and models of steam engines," he said. His collection of coins includes 3,000-year-old silver and copper coins belonging to the early Kushan period, Gupta period, Mughal period, Sultan era and Brahmani and Malvi periods. This collection also has coins belonging to the period of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, coins of Suri and Khilji dynasties and Sindhi coins. He also has earthen utensils of the Greek period. He also has about 70 handwritten manuscripts, including Damodar Heer, Pandu lippi, Hikmat De Granth and manuscripts of poets during the times of the Sikh gurus, stone-printed books and books written in Sanskrit language.The collector in him craves for more. "I work with a good network to source out these rare coins. Some of them hold great value, commercially and historically as well,” he said.

Amritsar, December 14
Employees working under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act scheme (MGNREGA) staged a protest outside Additional Deputy Commissioner’s office demanding regularisation of their services.

The protesting employees said that they have not been paid salaries for the past five months as a result they are facing hardships. The employees said the daily wage for workers availing the scheme has been revised many times but the salaries of the technical support staff has not been revised since 2007. Varinder Singh, president of the protesting employees, said: “Wages of the workers have been revised from Rs 98 per day in 1997 to Rs 184 currently but the employees are still working at the same salaries at which they were employed.” He said the employees would stage a protest outside the Panchayat Minister Surjit Singh Rakhra’s residence on December 17.

Amritsar, December 14
Even as the Health Department claims to provide corruption free environment to the general public at Civil Surgeon office here, it seems to be helping the touts to flourish as employees often send people to them for getting application forms.

The forms which are to be filled by the general public as a prerequisite for availing various facilities which are not available at the Suwida Centre office. However, these forms are readily available with the touts who have set up their stalls, in front of the road leading to the office.

“The people have to fill various forms for availing these services. The officials must ensure that these are available in the office and sell to people on one of the counters at Suwida Centre,” said Rajpreet Singh, a visitor.

The visitors said how can the department claim to check the role of the touts and agents in the office when its own employees are sending people to them for preparing the files.

Pritampal Singh, another visitor, said, “The way these touts have become a necessary evil as people have to visit them for getting the forms the office should devise a mechanism to make these forms available to people.” He said when someone goes to get a form, he or she gets lured by the tall claims of the touts.

When contacted Civil Surgeon, Dr Usha Bansal, said she had not noticed any touts or agents operating near the office and even at the Suwida Centre. The Civil Surgeon office complex is under the control of Deputy Commissioner. She said she was not sure whether the forms were available with the office or not. However, she added that a strict action would be initiated if any such thing is found. 

Amritsar, December 14
A delegation of 15 senior journalists from Nepal visited Amritsar to have an insight into the trade relations between India and Nepal. The delegation was led by Bala Krishnan, a senior official from the Ministry of External Affairs, India. The delegation comprised of journalists from the leading newspapers such as The Kathmandu Post, Aarthik Abhiyan National Daily, Naya Prakashan, and The Rising Nepal.

During their tour, they visited Khanna Paper Mills which is a state-of-the-art manufacturing unit exporting its products to Nepal since long. The journalists were quite keen on visiting an Indian manufacturing setup, especially the one that is actively in business with Nepalese firms. Speaking on the occasion, Khanna Paper Mills Director Suneet Kochhar said Nepal and India, despite their vast differences in size and population, were closely held together by their culture and traditions. A history of close co-operation and friendship between the people of these two nations has been greatly facilitated by the long and open border and close economic ties between these countries. 

Amritsar, December 14
The Border Security Force (BSF) today organised drug de-addiction programmes at three border villages, Lopoke, Mode and Havelian.

Thirteen youths, all from Havelian village had approached the Border Security Force seeking help in getting them de-addicted.

Earlier, 12 youths were de-addicted under the campaign. They were also honoured by the Border Security Force .

The campaign, which is a brainchild of DIG (Border Security Force ) M F Farooqui, had already received a major response from the residents of border villages.

"We will organise a major programme in Attari on December 23 wherein authorities of various banks, including Punjab National Bank, Animal Husbandry Department and dairy farming, will educate people about the self-employment schemes, which will help them in choosing occupation of their interest," said Farooqui.

He said they would organise a major de-addiction programme at Havelian village which is infamous for drug trafficking and abuse.

Earlier, the SSAI Creations theatre group staged a play "Punjab Karan Ki Sift Teri" at three villages. The play was written and directed by Gurinder Makna. 

Amritsar, December 14
The Civil Lines police have nabbed Jaskaran Singh, alias Karan Sodhi, who was allegedly wanted in a case of firing.

Jaskaran, a son of infamous drug smuggler, Hargobind Sodhi, was nabbed by the counter intelligence wing with 14 kg of heroin around two months ago.

The police said the accused was a habitual offender and was also wanted in a case of fraud.

The police official said he was nabbed by Ranjit Avenue police post following a tip-off. He said he was brought on a police remand for further investigations in the case registered against him. 

Amritsar, December 14
Another dose of shopping fun took rounds as Wedding Mantra’s winter carnival began at Golden Tulip. The biannual shopping extravaganza that has designer lifestyle products and services, swathe usual rush and labels bringing the best in winter fashion.

The two-day exhibition has more than 50 stalls from 15 cities showcasing bridal wear, bridal gowns, western wear, artificial and real jewellery, footwear, bags, home accessories, home decor, fashion accessories from popular designer labels from Wills Lifestyle and Lakme fashion week designers.

Manish Arora’s label with tunics, straight suits and digital prints was a hit and so was Alpana and Neeraj’s designer Anarkali suits. Beaded Anarkalis by Niket Mishra, Mayyur R Girotra wedding designer suits, Neeta Bhargava’s block printed suits were some of the highlights. Trending designs in neons and customised shoes by Swatimodo were a new addition. The popular Pakistani suits by Ruzaan, woollens by Closet presented winter specific designs and fabrics. While their mothers shopped their heart out, the children enjoyed in their corner with the video games and hot air balloon ride. 

Amritsar, December 14
A Maqboolpura resident, Sony, committed suicide by hanging himself at his residence.

Following the statement of his wife Manjit Kaur, the police have initiated action. She told the police that the he was under some mental pressure for past few days.

The police officials said they were yet to ascertain the reason behind suicide while further investigations were under way.