Row over extension to principal
Deepkamal Kaur

Ludhiana, November 22
The controversy over extension of the services of Principal Kuldip Singh of Gujranwala Guru Nanak Khalsa College seems to be taking a serious turn with the college teachers threatening protest to and blaming the management of promoting nepotism in the college.

Although the principal was to retire on October 31, yet the college management headed by Dr S.P. Singh, Vice-Chancellor, Guru Nanak Dev University, has asked him to continue on the post till the end of the current academic session. The college has not advertised the post and has reportedly written to the Panjab University authorities seeking permission for continuation of his services.

The situation has resulted in growing resentment in the college with a section of the staff demanding that the charge be handed over to the senior-most teacher, Prof Gurdeep Singh, Head of the physics department. The staff is also worried about the drawing and disbursement of salaries, the power of which can no more be vested with Principal Kuldip Singh. Besides, students are worried that there may be a problem in sending forms for the PU examination, which have to be signed by a regular principal.

Meanwhile, repeated assurances of arranging meetings and deciding the fate of the post have infuriated the college teachers. They allege a strong nexus among members of the management. The kith and kin of four families of the management have been granted administrative and other posts for lecturers they alleged. The last two principals of the college were also close relatives of the families and there has always been a difference of opinion between the management and the staff during their appointment. The staff members are one while voting their opinion, “The management seems to be interested in appointing one of their relatives who, however, stands on rank eighth among the staff members, seniority-wise.”

Commenting upon the situation, Prof K.B.S. Sodhi, president, Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers’ Union, said that the members had repeatedly asked the management to withdraw extension and instead appoint the senior-most teacher as the officiating principal. But no step in the direction was being taken.

Prof Sodhi further said that in case the principal got extension, all college teachers retiring during the coming five months should also be given extension till the end of this academic session.

Dr S.P. Singh, president of the college management, was not available for his comments as he had gone to Chandigarh. Principal Kuldip Singh, however, said that he did not want to continue on the post and would quit as soon as a new principal was appointed by the management.

Ph.D, M.Phil teachers seek 10 pc quota
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, November 22
Demanding 10 per cent reservation for Ph.D and M.Phil qualified teachers while appointing government school teachers, the Ph.D and M.Phil School Teachers’ Association held a meeting with the Education Minister, the Education Secretary and the DPI (schools) yesterday.

Stating this in a press note, Dr Kanwaljit Kaur Bal, president, said the members demanded a new promotion policy for the Ph.D and the M.Phil qualified staff.

She said while promoting master to headmaster, headmaster to principal and lecturer to principal, a Ph.D qualified candidate should be considered eligible after three years and an M.Phil qualified candidate should be considered eligible after five year’s service for that post.

The association further demanded that only Ph.D and M.Phil qualified staff in the Science Department should be considered eligible for the post of District Science Supervisor. The members demanded that a channel to promote the school staff to government colleges should also be devised.

Considering them highly qualified, the members demanded that they should be deployed as leaders in the flying squads, as subject experts, revising and editing books for the Punjab School Education Board and the appointment of new teachers.

Dr Bal said the minister, the secretary and the DPI assured them their demands would be given due consideration and the needful would be done. 

Prize distribution at GGN Public School
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, November 22
Over 400 students from Gujranwala Guru Nanak (GGN) Public School, Civil Lines, received prizes for academic, sports and cultural performance at a function held here today.

On the occasion, a cultural programme was organised in which Class II students presented a welcoming song.

An English play, “The Broadcast,” depicting a classroom scene, was presented by students of the middle section. LKG kids formed a train, “GGN Express” and hopped around on the stage.

Tiny tots from UKG danced on the English number, “Coco Jumbo.” Senior section girls danced on the song, “Rangeelo maro dholna.”

“Snow White and Seven Dwarfs,” an English play, was staged by students of the middle and primary sections. Besides, the students presented a Rajasthani folk dance. The programme concluded with “jindwa”, a Punjabi folk dance by senior section students.

The programme was coordinated by the school teachers Ms Salpreet Kaur and Ms Jagjeet Kaur, while Ms Updesh Kaur and Ms Jaskiran Poonam compered the event. Mr Charanjit Singh Atwal, Speaker, Punjab Vidhan Sabha, was the chief guest. Mr R.S. Grewal, Principal, read out a report highlighting the activities of the students.

Declamation contest
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, November 22
Ajaypal Singh and Charanjit Singh, students of the Gujranwala Guru Nanak Institute of Management and Technology, won the overall best team trophy at an inter-college declamation contest held at the Bhai Gurdas Institute of Management and Technology, Sangrur, yesterday.

Charanjit Singh spoke on the topic “Terrorism” and won the first individual prize with a cash award of Rs 500. Ajaypal Singh spoke on “Bhai Gurdas — An apostle of education.” Prof G.S. Dua, in charge, congratulated the team on its success.

Old students’ meet
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, November 22
To strengthen the bonds with their alumni, the Old Students’ Association of Guru Hargobind Khalsa College, Gurusar Sadhar, held its first meeting at its auditorium here today.

Over 100 alumni, including a few NRIs, attended the function to revive their old memories. Mr Manjit Singh Khattra, Principal and alumni of the college, highlighted the achievements of the college under various schemes.

The old students organised a kavi darbar. Later, they danced on various Punjabi numbers. Dr Rajinder Singh, lecturer, coordinated the programme.

PSEB asked to clear stand
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, November 22
Commenting on the allegation regarding the existence of 10,000 bogus PSEB employees levelled by the chairman of the Chamber of Industrial Commercial Undertakings (CICU), the Public Opinion Forum, Punjab, has urged the Chairman, PSEB, and the Government to make their stand clear on the issue.

In a joint press release, Ms Baljinder Singh Toor, Gurdip Singh Jawaddi, S.S. Hundal, Karnail Singh Tattla, D.L. Gautam and Harmohan Singh Guddu expressed surprise over the silence by the authorities though a week had passed since the publication of the news item. They said no clarification or contradiction had been issued by the PSEB.

English band to perform in city
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, November 22
A nine-piece band, Maroon Town, will perform in the city on November 25 at Sutlej Club, according to Mr Sunil Kant, president of the Ludhiana Sanskritik Samagam.

It is an Afro-Caribbean band from the UK combining breakbeat, ska, rap, reggae and dub in a high energy musical fusion. The name Maroon Town is taken from a community in Jamaica, originally formed by runway slaves. The multiracial band came into existence in Brixton 11 years ago. It has four world acclaimed albums to its credit.

Maroon Town made history when they were sponsored to the tune of 1,00,000 pounds by Dr Martens. This was Britain’s biggest ever deal between an unsigned act and a major corporate sponsor. The band has played at various prisons and done a lot for rehabilitation centres across the world. The band was invited to tour Venezuela with an MTV nominated group, Molotov, in 1998. The band won accolades wherever its shows were held.

Mr Munjal said the band was making its first appearance in India courtesy the British Council. The venue had been shifted to the Sutlej Club to accommodate more persons, he said.