It is examination time in colleges
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 20
After the longest-ever break in aided and unaided colleges of Punjab, it is examination time now for students.

While principals of most of the colleges today declared that the examinations will begin tomorrow, the students resented that the datesheet was given at a short notice.

The students said they were earlier told that the examinations would begin in January.

They also said there was no break in two tests and that they would have to prepare for them overnight.

The students said they had doubts about several parts of the syllabus which they wanted to discuss with their teachers before the examinations, but there was hardly any time now and they would have to overlook all those parts. The students said during the month-long break earlier due to National Games and later due to the teachers’ stir, they had not been regular in studies. They said that they were now much worried as to how they would cope with the stress.

Paramjit, a student of Master Tara Singh College for Women, said it was shocking when she came to the college today and learnt that the examinations would begin tomorrow. She said in the morning the students were taking it lightly as they said that earlier too the datesheets had been announced twice and the examinations were postponed. But later when the teachers asked them to pursue studies seriously, they got worried, she said.

However, the principals and teachers said the students had enough time to study during the break. Dr Madanjit Sahota, Principal of the college, said that the students had been told to keep in touch and the examinations would begin as soon as the strike was over. She said the gap between the tests had been reduced and examinations would be over in 10 days.

Dr Sahota said a provision had been made to compensate for the loss of teaching days. She said examinations would also be held on Sunday and later holidays would be utilised for taking extra classes of the students.

On the demand of the students to give them some time, some colleges have given the students a day or two to prepare themselves for the examinations. Examinations at Guru Nanak Girls’ College, Guru Nanak Khalsa College for Women and GGN Khalsa College will begin on December 22 and at Arya College, from December 24.

Prof K.B.S. Sodhi, president of the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers’ Union, said even though the demands of the teachers, principals, the non-teaching staff and members of the management had not been fulfilled, it was decided that in the interest of the students the strike be called off. He urged the teachers to make up for the loss and devote extra time for the students.

GCTA condemns PU decision
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 20
The Government College Teachers’ Association has condemned the Panjab University decision of not promoting principals of various government colleges of the state as they were without PhD qualifications. Stating this in a press note, Prof Jaipal Singh, president of the association, said this rule was applicable only on the direct appointment of principals and not for those appointed on promotion basis.

The principals whose appointments have been disapproved include Mr Mohinder Singh from Lala Lajpat Rai Government College, Dhudike, Mr Tirath Singh from Government College, Hoshiarpur, Mr Sohan Lal from Government College, Talwara, Mr Gurdev Singh from Government College, Karamsar, Mr Jeet Singh from Government College, Sidhsar, and Mr Harcharan Singh Punia from Government College, Zira.

Prof Jaipal said even the UGC had not specified PhD must for appointment on promotion basis. He said it had left such cases as a prerogative of the state government and Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, and Punjabi University, Patiala, were approving appointment of principals without PhD on promotion basis, but the PU was imposing much harsher terms on the teachers.

Prof Jaipal has urged the Punjab Government officials and ministers who are a part of the decision making bodies of the PU to take up the matter at the meetings and resolve the issue.

Besides, he said the association would hold a dharna in front of the office of the DPI at Chandigarh on January 9 demanding counting of previous service, grant of feeder cadre benefit, giving relaxation in the mandatory conditions of two refresher courses upto December, 2002, for placement in the senior and selection grade, raising of retirement age from 58 to 62 years as per the UGC recommendations and grant of left out categories of MPhil or PhD qualified lecturers. Prof Jaipal said that the members also resolved to condemn the mid-session transfer of lecturers violating the declared transfer policy of the state government. 

Tiny tots celebrate Xmas
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 20
Tiny tots of Sparkle Nursery School celebrated Christmas at a function held here today.

The school was decorated with variously bells, toys, moon and stars. The scene of the birth of Jesus Christ was also depicted in a corner. Snow sprays, polywool and cotton was sprayed from the rooftop to create the winter scene. “Jingle bells” and other rhymes were sung by the kids. They also recited a prayer, “Go and tell the mountains that Jesus Christ is born”.

A teacher dressed as Santa Claus distributed sweets and gifts among the students. Ms Vandita Raj, Principal, said the purpose of the celebration was to educate the children in a playway method about the Christmas festival, the winter season and various ways adopted to combat the cold weather.

COURTS

H.R. Dhanda is Bar Association president
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 20
Mr Harish Rai Dhanda has been elected president of the District Bar Association for the sixth time. He defeated Mr M.C. Seghal by a margin of 477 votes, here today. He got the support of 822 lawyers while his only opponent got 345 votes.

The Dhanda group dominated this year’s election by winning all the posts. Other elected members included Mr Rana Surat Singh, vice-president, Mr Parupkar Singh Ghuman, secretary, Mr Jagdeep Singh, joint secretary, and Mr Manpreet Singh Boparai, finance secretary.

Mr Rana Surat Singh defeated Mr Rajesh Bali by a margin of 137 votes. He got 648 vote while his only opponent got 511 votes. For the post of secretary, it was an easy victory for Mr Parupkar Singh Ghuman. He got 621 votes and his opponents Mr Harinder Pal Singh Narang and Satish Sharma, got 250 and 293 votes, respectively.

Mr Jagdeep Singh won the post of joint secretary by getting 419 votes while his rivals Mr Amandeep Singh, Mr Paramjit Singh Dev and Mr Vinod Sharma got 352, 115 and 265 votes, respectively. For the post of the finance secretary, Mr Manpreet Singh Bopa Rai defeated Mr Bakshi Dwarka Nath by a margin of 379 votes. He got 783 votes while his opponent could muster the support of only 384 members of the association.

Verma is Bar president
Our Correspondent

Khanna, December 20
Mr J.K. Verma was elected president of the local Bar Association today. He defeated his rival Mr Munish Khanna by a margin of eight votes. Out of 92 votes polled, 50 votes were polled in favour of Mr Verma and Mr Khanna got 42 votes. Third candidate, Mr Teja Singh, withdrew his name just before the polling.

HDFC Bank penalised
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 20
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed HDFC Bank, The Mall, Ludhiana, to pay Rs 1,000 as compensation for delay in collecting the amount of a cheque deposited by Mr Ram Tirath, proprietor of New Cloth House, Fountain Chowk.

According to the complaint, the consumer had an account in the said bank and he had deposited a cheque of Rs 62,000 (dated July 18, 2000) on August 3, 2000. He alleged that despite receiving the cheque on September 11, 2000 by the bank, the same was credited in the consumer’s account on October 10, 2001.

The respondent also admitted the fact that the cheque was deposited by the consumer on August 3, 2000, and credited in his account on October 10, 2000.

The forum observed the bank took a long time in the collection of the said cheque. The forum held that there was clear deficiency on the part of the bank and Rs 1,000 appeared to be a reasonable compensation for the deficient services.

SPORTS

Sports festival from Jan 4
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, December 20
The three-day 29th annual sports festival to be organised by the Amarjit Grewal Club will be held from January 4 to 6 at the Shree Guru Hargobind Sahib Stadium of Gujjarwal village near here, according to a press note issued by Mr Jaswinder Singh Jassa and Mr Pawitter Singh Grewal, president and chairman of the club, respectively.

Competitions in kabaddi, basketball, football, bullock-cart races, dog races, horse races and tug of war would be organised during the festival. Mr S.K Sandhu, Deputy Commissioner of Ludhiana would inaugurate the festival and Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal, Member, Rajya Sabha, would be the chief guest on the concluding day, the note said.