The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

EDUCATION

DPI (Colleges) seeks reply on alleged misbehaviour
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, October 26
Acting on a written complaint filed against the alleged abusive behaviour by the Director Public Instructions (Schools), Mr D.S. Saroya, the Joint Secretary Finance-cum-Director Public Instructions (Colleges), Mr K.A.P. Sinha, has sent a copy of the complaint to Mr Saroya seeking a prompt reply.

Clarifying his part, Mr Saroya says the complaint is fabricated and has been lodged at the behest of some mischievous elements within the office who wanted to pre-empt any action that may have been taken against them for not moving an important file destined for the Government of India. Senior officers have been demanding the file for the past 12 days. Nothing has been done between October 12 and 24 with regard to the file and information.

The written complaint was submitted by the Registrar of Schools, Mr Swaran Singh, after several of the staff of the DPI (S) office lodged a formal complaint against the alleged abusive behaviour by Mr Saroya”, said Mr Sinha. “The other side of the story is still in dark as no reply has been received from Mr Saroya yet,” Mr Sinha added.

Mr Saroya said nothing of the sort had happened as claimed in the complaint. ‘‘I have not even spoken to anyone. What to speak of misbehaviour,’’ he added.

Yesterday, the agitated staff while interacting with the DPI (Colleges) also demanded the removal of Mr Saroya. The DPI office staff said it was a serious breach of office decorum and they would meet higher authorities in this regard.

Directions by DPI on use of crackers
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 26
The Director Public Instructions (Schools) has issued directions to all government, government-aided privately managed and recognised schools here yesterday, to sensitise students against the use of crackers on Dasehra and Divali.

In compliance with the interim directions of the Supreme Court of India to control noise pollution arising out of bursting of crackers, the DPI (S), Mr D.S. Saroya, has asked managements and principals of schools to educate students about the ill-effects of air and noise pollution.

Heads of all schools have been asked to spread the message of the ill-effects not only through morning assemblies but to hold at least one parent-teacher meeting before Divali.

“The idea of this meeting would be to discourage parents against giving in to the demands of their children. Instead, they could play a major role in bringing down noise levels by saying no to crackers,’’ said Mr Saroya.

The court orders state that use of crackers generating noise level beyond 125 DB at 4 metres distance would be prohibited. Also, the use of crackers would not be permitted between 10 pm and 6 am and allowed between 6 pm and 10 pm.

Further, the circular issued by the DPI goes on to add that any other steps taken by the schools to reducing noise levels to the minimum would be appreciated.

15 elected to PU Senate
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 26
Results of all 15 seats of the graduate constituency of Panjab University Senate were declared as the counting process concluded on the fifth day here early this morning.

In the last phase of counting yesterday, the university declared eight results. In the last leg, barring one candidate none of the rest of the elected lot was able to complete the minimum quota of 2936 fixed by the counting officers. Dr Rabinder Nath Sharma completed the quota. Election to the remaining seats was decided on the basis of elimination of candidates who were placed on the bottom of the vote securers.

After all rounds of elimination, Ranveer Pratap Asija with 2787 votes was the next to be elected. Others on the list include Pawan Valecha (2429 votes), Mr Ashok Kumar Sachdeva (2265 votes), Mr Paramjit Pammi (2180 votes), Mr Hardaljit Singh Gosal (2161 votes), Mr Dhirender Kumar Tayal (2057 votes) and Mr V.P.Sood( 2001 votes).

The first lot of the elected candidates included Mr Sanjiv Kumar Bandlish who secured 4800 votes. His election was followed by Principal R.C.Jeevan (3481) and Principal Subash Chander Marriya (3142 votes). Two candidates who could not complete minimum the quota were elected because they topped the list of total voters among candidates on two seats reserved for Panjab University area.

This was followed by a long gap of a day after which Mr Goyal and Dr Ajaib Singh could compete their quota of votes. A total of 55,554 votes were cast. The number of votes found valid was 46,969. Dr Mehar Singh, a candidate, pointed out that the number of invalid votes (8585) was nearly 10 per cent of the total which was very high. The university should agree to showing these papers to interested candidates.

A senior university official on duty at the counting process said the university should deliberate on a change in the counting process of the elections because it was largely felt that it was very long drawn. There were many alternate methods that could be worked out.

Senior sources point out that the BJP and the DAV lobbies have a stronger hold in the university house this time. The DAV block has nearly nine members, the BJP has at least five and the CPI at least one. The Congress has at least three faces. A couple of elected fellows are better known for their alliance with senior fellows. The election also saw debacle of at least two candidates known to have the backing of another powerful senator.

Putting memory on fast track
Shveta Pathak
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh
She helps students by improving their memory. Ms Asha Khurana’s “Safalta Sansthaan” has memory training courses devised by her after four years’ effort and today after 10 years in this field she has trained more than 10,000 students all over the country.

A magazine article on memory training roused her interest in this subject. “I started studying the concept and gathering material on it 1987. It took me four years to study and organise the material,” she says narrating the effort she put in before starting the project. After designing the course, she tried it on her own children and students in the neighbourhood. A good response gave birth to Safalta Sansthaan.

Her tips include revision within 24 hours of reading any topic and alertness while listening to anything or reading something. “Students may think they have studies hard when they put in four or five hours of work at a stretch, but they are deceiving themselves. It will not be of much use unless they take at least two minutes’ break after every half an hour and let their minds register what they have gathered in this period.” There is no such thing as bad memory. Memory is either trained or untrained, she says.

However, she has designed her courses only in Hindi. “Those who study English are mostly from well-off families. My idea is to reach students even from the rural areas of the country.” And she has succeeded in this as most of her students come from the villages of Rajasthan, Bihar, UP and other states.

Even today she spends at least three or four hours reading the latest material on memory training. At present she is working on a course for professionals which will focus on success in life.

And her busy schedule does not deter her from pursuing her passion — writing. She writes regular columns for some Hindi magazines. Family is the priority, she agrees, and feels that working not only develops one’s personality, but also broadens one’s outlook and contributes to family happiness. “Women must work, but a balance has to be maintained between family and professional life,” she asserts.

COURTS

HIGH COURT
ADJ pulled up for violating rules
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 26
Coming down heavily on Gurgaon’s Additional District Judge, Mr Justice V.K. Jhanji of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today observed that the ADJ should not have decided a civil revision as the matter involved his family land also.

Pronouncing the order, the Judge observed: “I am constrained to say that the ADJ should not have decided the matter involved in a civil revision because his own land, and that of his family, was also acquired and he was seeking the same relief which he himself adjudicated upon”.

Mr Justice Jhanji added: “Not only this, though the ADJ took notice of a judgement of his order, yet without giving any reason, overlooked the same deliberately and granted relief to the claimants while relying on judgements which stood dissented or overruled by the apex court. Such an attitude by a presiding officer is most undesirable. The officers of the subordinate judiciary are duty-bound to obey the law laid down by the High Court or the apex court and are not supposed to settle the matter by taking into consideration their own interest. Rather they should refrain from doing so”.

The Judge concluded: “I may hasten to add here that the law laid down by the Supreme Court is the law of the land and binding on all courts. Any judgement which holds the field rendered by the Supreme Court cannot be overlooked without going into its applicability to the facts of the case”.

Collector’s interest not binding

The High Court has held that interest in land acquisition cases has to be calculated only on the amount which the courts have enhanced, excluding the amount awarded by the Collector, if already paid”.

In a ruling, Mr Justice V.K. Jhanji of the High Court observed: “Interest shall be calculated only on the excess amount of compensation determined under Section 23 (1) (of the relevant Act) and not on the amount already determined by the Land Acquisition Officer under Section 11 and paid to the party, or deposited in court, or determined under Section 26 or 54, and deposited in court. The amount already paid, in no case, shall be adjusted towards the interest accrued on excess compensation”.

The Judge added: “The claimants shall not be allowed to appropriate the amount deposited by the Collector at their discretion and appropriation, and the payment, shall be made strictly in view of the law laid down by the Supreme Court”.

The directions are significant as, according to Haryana’s Advocate-General, the executing courts while ordering calculations on the basis of the enhanced compensation for interest were committing illegalities because the amount already paid on the account of compensation has to be deducted while making the calculations for the payment of the excess compensation ordered by the reference court or the High Court or apex court”.

Order to DGP in kidnap case

Mr Justice KS Grewal issued directions to Punjab’s Director-General of Police to depute a responsible officer from the Crime Branch or to transfer to CBI the investigation of an FIR registered under Section 364, IPC, at Model Town police station Hoshiarpur, regarding kidnapping of Naresh Kumar, a minor son of Davinder Singh, the petitioner.

It was contended on behalf of the petitioner that naresh (11) was kidnapped on September 4 from Railway Road, Hoshiarpur, and the matter reported to the SHO Model Town, Hoshiarpur. In the FIR, the names of the suspects were given, but the police official omitted those names and instead tried to protect them.

The petitioner contended that he had received a letter demanding Rs 2 lakh in which certain names were mentioned. The SHO and SSP, Hoshiarpur, were informed but they replied that an inquiry by the SSP, Batala, had been made and these persons are not involved.

The petitioner submitted that these named persons were found sitting with the SHO Manjit Singh. Till now neither had the son of the petitioner been recovered nor these persons interrogated. Hence the petitioner wanted a fresh inquiry to be done by the CBI.

Bar council to discuss complaints against advocates
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, October 26
The Punjab and Haryana Bar Council will discuss about 158 complaints filed by litigants against the advocates at their forthcoming meeting scheduled to be held on November 3 for their alleged professional misconduct. The secretary of the council, Mr C.L. Munjal, said that the council had received complaints moved by a number of aggrieved litigants against advocates from Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh.

He added that the council would take serious note against those found guilty of their professional misconduct. He informed that the council would also discuss 50 pending complaints before the council. He said that it’s very important to address the litigants’ problem in order to maintain the standard of our profession.

Meanwhile, the Bar Council of India has sent a letter to the Punjab and Haryana Bar Council for holding of examination for students who have obtained LL.B degree from university abroad.

The Secretary of the Punjab and Haryana Council, Mr C.M. Munjal, informed that the Bar Council said that it had forwarded the syllabus and other details regarding holding of examination for those candidates who have obtained LL.B degree from university abroad for the purpose of enrolment as advocate in India.