The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

EDUCATION

Mesmerising show by Guru Nanak students
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 15
Students of Guru Nanak Public School, Sector 36, presented a colourful cultural programme on the annual day celebrations on the school premises here today evening.

The students mesmerised the audience with a dance drama, projecting the rich Indian cultural heritage and “unity in diversity” theme through a bouquet of folk dances from Kerala, Nagaland, Jammu and Kashmir, Guajrat and Goa. The students then formed a map of the country.

Tiny-tots of the school also presented a dance item to spread the message of ‘a time to be happy’. Senior students of the school presented a group song “The chimes of time”.

The group song was followed by a comedy play. The play, written by Hans Christian Anderson, presented the story of an emperor’s passion for new clothes and an unusual situation in which he finds himself as a result of his passion.

The function concluded with a thematic dance giving an insight into Punjab. Earlier, the Punjab Governor and Administrator of Chandigarh, Lieut-Gen J.F.R Jacob (retd), while speaking at the function stressed the need for community participation to achieve the target of making the City, fully literate.

The Administrator said the children must be given facilities to play sports as games build the character and develops the team spirit in a person. He expressed dismay at the poor performance by India in sports at the international level. He called upon the students to join the NCC and opt for career in the armed forces.

Ms Simar Preet Kaur, who had topped in the school, in the class XII examination conducted by the CBSE, was presented silver medal by the Governor. She is the first recipient of the medal, constituted by the school in the memory its founder trustee.

A former Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Justice R.C Narula, welcomed the Governor. The school’s annual report was presented by the Principal, Mr Jaswinder Singh.

EXHIBITION: An exhibition of handicrafts was organised by tiny-tots of Vivek Nursery and Preparatory School, Sector 9, on the school premises, on Monday. On display at the exhibition were handicrafts and project works prepared by students during the past few months of the classwork. Enthusiastic parents were full of appreciation for the work. On the occasion, the Principal, Ms Sunaiyna Dass, said improvement in facilities available at the school as well as expansion work would be started soon.

She added that the association of former students of the school was keen on being involved in the progress of the school. She said the next meeting of the Vivek Ex-Student Association (VESA) would be held on Sunday.

LITERACY CENTRE: Five centres for literacy and vocational training to prepare neo-literates for Class III and V examination were launched by the Regional Resource Centre, Panjab University, for residents of Dadu Majra and Janta colony in Sector 25, here on Monday.

To be run for six months, the centres will enable research by giving additional inputs on health, environment protection, food and nutrition, beauty culture and family counselling to bridge the gap between formal and non-formal system of education for the neo-literates.

The centres were inaugurated by Ms Harjinder Kaur, Mayor. She distributed books and sewing machines at Dadu Majra and appealed to the residents to come forward and benefit from these centres. The Director of the centre, Ms Manjeet Paintal, introduced nodal preraks and preraks selected from the community to run these centres.

Giving right direction to confused minds
Parbina Rashid

Chandigarh, October 15
Mamta Bhandari was a girl with an outgoing nature. With a score in Class X, she was expected to take up science stream to follow her parents’ footsteps. Daughter of science teachers, Mamta’s interest was somewhere else.

Confused as to what to take up, she rushed to the Guidance Resource Centre of the State Institute of Education in Sector 32 here. The counsellors advised her to take up courses related to management studies. After Class XII she joined MBA. Today she is a successful business executive with a multinational company.

Mona Gupta, after scoring 55 per cent in CBSE exam, was going to take up commerce. Before she enrolled her name in a college she went for an aptitude test in the centre and was told to go for non- medical stream. She later graduated from Punjab Engineering College. Now she is teaching at Chicago University.

These are only a few examples. There are hundreds of students who get caught between the expectations of their parents and their own potential, which in most cases remain undefined at that stage, making it hard for them to follow some well-defined path. Entry of the new career options is adding more to their confusion. This is where the Guidance Resource Centre comes to their rescue.

About 80 to 100 students and their parents visit the centre in the peak season, which starts in April and lasts till August, says Mr Krishan Kumar, Counsellor of the centre. Most of the clients come with a set idea and about 50 per cent come out with a fresh idea after two or three sessions of counselling, he adds.

An interesting fact is that girls are somehow more aware of their abilities, claims Mr Kumar. “Lured by the prospects of self-employment, multinationals and going abroad, the youth readily fall into the trap of choosing the wrong career for themselves. Mostly boys and parents need most of the counselling, he adds.

Every human is endowed with certain talent, which needs proper polishing to flourish in life. What is important is to detect it in an appropriate stage to channelise that talent in the right direction, says Mr Surinder Singh, also a counsellor at the centre.

It is not necessary that children follow the career of either of his or her parents, says Mr Kumar. He cites the case of an engineer whose son, having a flair for biology, is now a doctor in this city. A child can inherit genes from six generations of his both father’s and mother’s sides,” according to Mr Kumar.

The Guidance Resource Centre was established in 1986. It is equipped to evaluate 150 different abilities among students through a series of tests like mental ability, aptitude test and personality test, besides giving out details in all career related options available in India and abroad.

Students submit memo to VC
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, October 15
The newly formed Dr Ambedkar Students Association, Panjab University, which claims itself to be a apolitical organisation, today submitted a 10-point memorandum, regarding demands and problems faced by students belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, to the Vice-Chancellor.

The association has demanded that the reservation policy in teaching and non-teaching departments should be implemented properly.

It also demanded that a proper roster system keeping in view the backlog of vacancies should be maintained at all level and the backlog should be filled according to Supreme Court’s guidelines.

It also demanded interviews for the posts which were advertised by the university in March, 50 per cent concession in all types of fees for the SC and ST candidates and free coaching facilities for preparation of IAS and UGC examinations.

COURTS

HIGH COURT
Compassionate appointment cannot be cancelled
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 15
The Punjab and Haryana High Court today ruled that compassionate appointment cannot be cancelled once it has been given to an employee and he has worked for certain period unless he is guilty of committing a fraud or of mis-representation.

The orders were issued on a petition filed by an employee, Mr Ankur Gupta, working with Haryana’s Vocational and Technical Department. In his petition, Mr Gupta had challenging the orders of his termination issued on the ground that his initial appointment was against the policy of compassionate appointment “since the spouse of the deceased, that is the petitioner’s mother, was already in service”.

Counsel for the petitioner, on the other hand, had contended that the orders were liable to be quashed as appointment could not be cancelled after the “petitioner had rendered four years of service”.

After hearing the arguments, a Division Bench of the High Court, comprising Mr Justice S.S. Sudhalkar and Mr Justice A.K. Goel, observed: “We find that once compassionate appointment was given and the person has worked for four years, the same could not be cancelled unless the petitioner was guilty of any fraud or mis-representation”.

Quashing the orders terminating the petitioner, the Judges, however, clarified: “We do not lay down any inflexible rule in this regard, but having regard to the facts of the present case, we are of the view that the impugned order is not justified.... The writ petition is allowed”.

Notice issued to CBI

Mr Justice S.S. Sudhalkar and Mr Justice A.K. Goel of the High Court on Monday issued notice to Punjab Advocate General and counsel for the Central Bureau of Investigation, Mr R.K. Handa, for October 18 on an application for interim bail filed by Punjab Additional Director General of Police Daljit Singh Bhullar, convicted by the trial court in a triple murder case.

Seeking three months’ interim bail, counsel for Bhullar stated that the applicant had been advised to go in for bypass surgery at the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences at New Delhi, counsel had added that the angiography report, as well as the discharge certificate, warranted that the petitioner should be operated upon without further loss of time. Even the smallest delay could spell disaster and doom, he had concluded.

Bail cancelled

Allowing a petition filed by Ms Rima Jain — wife of Ludhiana based businessman Sunil Jain who was allegedly murdered — Mr Justice K.S. Garewal of the High Court on Monday cancelled the bail granted to his brother Anil Jain, prime accused in the case.

Seeking the cancellation of bail, counsel for the complainant had earlier contended that Anil Jain was trying to win over the prosecution witnesses. Giving details, he had stated that Anil Jain was granted bail on November 16, last year. The High Court had, subsequently, directed that in case an attempt was made by the accused to threaten or win over the prosecution witnesses, the complainant could approach the court again. Counsel had added that three prosecution witnesses in the case had later turned hostile.

Decision on octroi

The case against Punjab government’s decision to abolish octroi in the state moved ahead with Punjab’s Deputy Advocate General undertaking to produce the relevant record before the court. The record will be produced on October 19 — the date fixed by a Division Bench of the High Court, comprising Mr Justice Jawahar Lal Gupta and Mr Justice Ashutosh Mohunta.

Meanwhile, the state of Punjab, in its reply submitted before the Court, stated that the matter pertaining to the abolition of octroi was under active consideration and the Punjab Chief Minister, along with the Minister of Local Bodies, had publically announced that octroi would be abolished. He added that the matter was to come up for consideration during a Cabinet meeting fixed for September 27 and the agenda was duly circulated a day before. The High Court, however, restrained the respondents from taking any steps to abolish octroi on September 26 itself.

Notice to Punjab Finance Minister

Taking up a petition filed by Akali leader Kiran Bir Singh Kang, Mr Justice R.C. Kathuria of the High Court on Monday issued notice to the Punjab Finance Minister, Captain Kanwaljit Singh, the state of Punjab and other respondents.

Claiming himself to be the owner of land in Bir Dandrala village in Dera Bassi, Mr Kang, in his petition, had alleged that the minister, inimical towards him as he was a candidate for the Akali ticket, used his undue influence on Dera Bassi Sub Divisional Magistrate. His counsel added on his behalf that the SDM, on his behest, passed illegal orders and dispossessed the petitioner.

Bail granted in intimidation case
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, October 15
A local politician, Sweety Bajaj, was granted bail today by a local court in a case of criminal intimidation. The accused was granted bail after furnishing a bail bond of Rs 20, 000 by the UT Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mr C.L. Mohal.

The case against the accused has been registered on the complaint of a reporter of a Hindi daily. He has alleged that the accused threatened him when he was arrested by the police in another case of rape.

The accused along with others were arrested on October 9 on charges of raping and abduction of a girl.

Illicit liquor case

A local court on Monday dismissed a bail plea filed by an accused, Azad Singh, in a illicit liquor manufacturing case. Azad Singh has been caught by the police for allegedly running an illegal manufacturing liquor factory along with his partner, Harjinder Pal Singla, a liquor contractor.

It was reported that on July 24 a fire that broke out in a factory in Industrial Area, Phase I, revealed that the factory owned by Harjinder Singh was actually an illicit liquor manufacturing and bottling plant.

The police has seized around 3,500 litres of illicit liquor in the form of pouches, while thousands of litres of rectified spirit (ethyl alcohol used for making liquor), artificial flavours and labels of famous brands were also recovered the factory.

Robbery cases

A local court on Monday dismissed a bail plea moved by an accused, Rang Lal, in a case of robbery. The complaint against the accused was registered on the complaint of Ms Jasbir Kaur.

In another case of robbery, a court on Monday dismissed the bail plea moved by Rajinder Singh and Mansha. They were booked under Sections 392 and 34 of the IPC on September 29.

In third case, a court on Monday granted a bail to Bimal in a case of robbery. The accused was granted bail by the UT Chief Judicial Magistrate. A case against the accused was registered under Sections 392, 506 and 34 of the IPC and 25, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act.

Bar, Admn lock horns over canteen issue
Kiran Deep

Chandigarh, October 15
A controversy has arisen over the functioning of kiosk canteens at the District Courts complex as the UT Administration and District Bar Association have been making claims and counter-claims to support their rights to run the canteen. The Administration had removed the kiosk canteen on Friday claiming that it was unauthorised.

Members of the District Bar Association met the UT District and Sessions Judge, Mr H.S. Bhalla, this evening in this regard. The Bar had also submitted an application to the judge for getting permission to run the canteen on the court premises.

The District Bar Association claimed that the Administration had no right to remove the canteen as the Bar had been maintaining it as per the High Court pattern. Whereas officials of the UT Estate Office claimed the Bar had no right to run an illegal kiosk canteen and charge rent from the contractor. The official said the functioning of canteens in the District Courts building came under their jurisdiction.

The UT Estate office had removed the kiosk canteen in November last year also following the Punjab and Haryana High Court directions. The court had directed the Administration to remove kiosk following a public interest litigation filed by some local advocate. But the canteen became operational after some time.

The president of the District Bar Association, Mr H.S. Hundal, said for the past many years the Bar had been maintaining the canteen and the rent collected from the canteen contractor was being utilised for the welfare of advocates. He said the High Court Bar Association was also maintaining the canteen on the Punjab and Haryana High Court premises.

When Chandigarh Tribune contacted, the UT Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Mr Prithi Chand, he said as the Administration had been running two canteens in the courts complex there was no need of additional canteens there. He added the Bar had no right to maintain a kiosk canteen on the court premises.

Interestingly the contractor of the canteen, Mr Shankar Lal Yadav, has been running from pillar to post to plead his case. He shows the receipts of the rent he had paid to the District Bar Association. According to him, he was taken into police custody on Friday and later the canteen was removed by the Administration.

CULTURE

Melodies pure in form, nostalgic in effect
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 15
The sound of music is always special to the senses. As it grows from day to day, it becomes more special. Thanks to the Society for Promotion of Indian Classical Music and Culture Among Youth (SPIC MACAY), the city is getting a chance to witness Indian musical traditions in its various hues. As the harbingers of Dr Kiran Seth’s dream of elevating Indian tradition to its due level, it is more than achieving its objective.

One can see its members working hard for the success of Virasat series, being sponsored by The Tribune and supported by the UT Administration. The volunteers are busy coordinating with school principals, generating interest and offering hospitality to the artists who are performing under the Virasat series.

The past week was laced with musical events. This week also began on a rhythmic note, with nostalgic Punjabi melodies being doled out by Gurmeet Bawa, a folk artiste of the region, who gave a lecture demonstration at Shivalik Public School in Sector 41 this morning. Her music came across as pure in form and technique.

As she herself claims, “I sing only on pure Punjabi folk instruments like mattian (algoza), ik tara, dholak, matha, chimta, dhol and the harmonium.” Being a part of the folk tradition of Punjab for over 33 years, communicating through music naturally comes handy to the singer. She has been an A-grade artiste on radio and television and has a long history of stage performances.

With music as a tool, Gurmeet has been spreading the message of peace in many foreign countries as well. “Then journey began way back when I represented India in the Festivals of India held in the USSR (1987) and Japan (1988). Then I represented India in Bosra festivals of Syria at Damascus in 1989. I also participated in the Jashn-e-Azadi Festival of Libya in 1989,” she says.

Gurmeet was also a part of the Festival of India held in Thailand (1995), apart from representing her country in the Commonwealth Games Cultural Festival held in Kaula Lumpur in 1998.

Today Gurmeet sang the melodies she is best known for. The atmosphere was surcharged with nostalgia as she rendered jindua, malki kima, suhaag and then the celebrated ghodi of the Punjab. The students related absolutely with her music, as was clear from the frequent applause. Accompanying artistes were Balwinder Mast on chorus, Ved, Chiman Lal, Lekh Raj and Makhan Lal.

Talking about her recent activities, Gurmeet Bawa said she had been touring Canada frequently. “Such was the impact of our songs that many elders in the gathering actually wept on reminiscing the fragrant fields of Punjab. For Punjabis living abroad, Punjab lives in music. So they love the artist who brings Punjabi melodies to them,” she added. Dedicated to folk tradition, Gurmeet denounced the popular song culture. “This is meaningless and does not serve any purpose,” she said.

When West inclined towards East
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 15
For members of the visiting dance troupe from France, this day will surely last long in memory. After showcasing the technical finesse of contemporary dance in yesterday’s Generator NR Van dance show staged at Tagore Theatre, the troupe members today gathered at Pracheen Kala Kendra, Sector 35, to try their hand here at kathak, the most vivacious and vibrant dance form of North India.

The team, comprising 10 members associated with the Castafoire troupe, could be seen struggling to pick up its technique and form. Demonstrating the form was Shobha Koser, a reputed kathak dancer of the Jaipur gharana. Translating the language was Anjana from Alliance Francaise, which had co-hosted yesterday’s dance show in collaboration with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations.

Among the sequences which featured during the workshop conducted for the troupe members by Shobhaji, invocation to the Lord was the first. As the demonstration progressed, she enacted a thumri “Kahna rokat dagaria hamar”, describing the natwar Krishna in rasleela with Radha.

So inspired were the delegates with the dance form, that they joined the danseuse in her presentation, trying to synchronise their movements with the thaap of the tabla. Later, they toured some departments trying to pick instant lessons in harmonium and tabla.