 |
|
|
|
|
||||
Board reverses decision on shifting of students
Mohali, January 10 In another decision taken at a meeting of the board held here, Mr Vinod Kumar Bhalla, a PCS officer, was appointed secretary of the board. The post had been lying vacant after the term of Mr Mohinderbir Singh expired on August 31 last year. Mr Bhalla was selected from the panel of names sent by the government. In December last year the board had planned strict measures to check copying in examinations. Students were to be shifted to other schools for examinations, instead of allowing them to do so in the institutions in which they were studying. Students appearing privately and under the open school system were to sit in examinations only in government-aided schools and not in private or affiliated ones. On January 6 the Recognised and Affiliated Schools Association, Punjab, and the Association of PSEB Affiliated Schools, Punjab, had said centres earmarked for the conduct of examinations by the board were changed at the last minute on the directions of the Education Minister. They said the decision to make students appear in examination centres in other schools amounted to discrimination against schools in urban areas because schools in rural areas and small towns were exempted under the policy. They said most of the cases of copying were reported from rural areas. Besides, the two organisations added that the decision on examination centres should have been intimated to them at least a year in advance. The board at its meeting also cleared the implementation of the provisions of the Right to Information Act and appointed Mr Joginder Singh, Public Information Officer, for one year. Mrs Hardyal Kaur, vice-chairman of the board, was made the appeallat authority. It was also decided to give 25 per cent discount to the Department of Social Welfare on the purchase of books from the board. The services of 16 employees working as restorers were also regularised. Besides, handicapped students would be given 20 minutes extra while appearing in examinations.
|
|
Students spread AIDS awareness
Chandigarh, January 10 Students, carrying playcards, walked in the streets of the Sector to spread the message of AIDS awareness. As many as 105 students of different classes participated in the rally. School Principal H.K. Bhatia said AIDS awareness activities like poster making, slogan writing, on-the-spot painting and banner-making competitions were being conducted by the school science club. The in charge of the club, Om Parkash, stressed that educational institutions could play an important role for the eradication of AIDS.
|
|
Essay contest on AIDS awareness
Chandigarh, January 10 The students presented a cultural programme.
The winners were Anujot Kaur, Suman, Anchal Verma, Bhawna, Sonia, Pawan,
Rinshu, Anuradha, Amandeep, Sukhdeep and Rupinderpal.
Earlier, the college principal, Dr Beantjit Kaur, welcomed the guests.
A vote of thanks was proposed by Mr Harjinder Singh, Programme officer of the NSS at the college.
|
|
|
Computer programme for denizens
Chandigarh, January 10 Col D.S. Cheema (Retd), coordinator, senior citizens programme, said four batches of 70 students each had passed out ever since the programme began a year ago. Brig Ramesh Chander, AVSM, President, Greater Chandigarh Senior Citizen Association, was the chief guest.
|
Supreme Court directs CAT not to take final decision on filling post
Chandigarh, January 10 After the Union Government filed an SLP in the apex court, the next date of hearing has been fixed for January 20. The information was disclosed today during the hearing of the case in the CAT here. Earlier, the tribunal had directed the Union Government not to fill the post of a member in the Central Board of Excise and Customs. Using the privilege under the Right to Information Act, the applicant has sought details of the minutes of the Special Committee which had been constituted for filling the post in the CBDT. Reply to the application under the Right to Information Act, the Union Government said it was a privileged document and it would file a separate application in this regard. The Chief Commissioner had pleaded that despite being at the first position in the departmental seniority list, his name was not considered for any of the three posts which were filled at a meeting of the Special Committee of Secretaries, Government of India, held on June 22, 2005. He had stated that despite having an unblemished service record, he had been denied promotion by unjustifiable reasons to the post of member, Central Board of Excise and Customs. Though the applicant was within the zone of consideration, he name was not considered for the post. The Central Board of Excise and Customs consists of a Chairman and five members. All these ex-cadre posts are filled from amongst the Chief Commissioner's of Customs and Central Excise, subject to a clause that the officer must have a balance service of one year as on date of vacancy. After the transfer or promotion of certain member from the Central Board, a proposal to fill these vacancies was formulated by the Department of Revenue.
|
|
Forum asks Rly Ministry to file reply
Chandigarh, January 10 The complainant, Pankaj, had alleged that a plaque-like foreign substance was found suspending in the water, meant for making tea/coffee, served to him in a flask on board the train. Similar contamination was found by other passengers also. When the complainant pointed it out to the serving waiter, he tried to take back the flask. However, the complainant insisted on making a complaint in writing. The head of the catering staff came about 20 minutes later, accompanied by a ticket checker and a train superintendent. They tried to prevent the complainant from lodging a formal complaint, as according to them it would have adversely affected the catering agency’s business. However, the complainant registered a complaint in the complaint book (serial No. 20204) on September 19, 2005, saying that it was a premium train of the Northern Railway and service of contaminated water aboard it was a matter of grave concern.
|
|
Company told to pay Rs 75,000 to lawyer
Tribune news Service
Chandigarh, January 10 The complainant, Mr Hardesh Goyal, had alleged that he purchased the package of law library from the company by paying a sum of Rs 12,480, under which 16 CDs were supplied to him till December, 2001. The CDs should have contained full judgments of all major courts on various subjects from 1950 till December, 2001. However, a number of important judgments of the Supreme Court were not available therein. The working of the CDs had major faults and ultimately these became totally blank in December, 2002. The company, in reply, stated that the CDs became inoperative because the complainant failed to pay Rs 6,000 as renewal charges to continue the service. The state commission, after hearing the parties, concluded that the complainant had paid the initial cost of the CDs containing judgments up to December, 2001, and these should continue to work even if the renewal charges of Rs 6,000 were not paid. The renewal charges would be applicable only to the upgradation of the contents of the CDs after December, 2001. The commission observed that “the company had not brought to the notice of the complainant that it had given only CDs on lease to appellant for one year and after one year the CDs would become blank if he did not get it renewed by making a payment of Rs 6,000. The CDs were worth Rs 400 or Rs 500 and a person would not pay a consolidated amount of more than Rs 12,000 just as a licence fee to use the CDs for one year and not for his entire life”, the commission has observed. Orders quashed: The State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Chandigarh, while reversing the decision of the District Forum-I, has quashed the demand of Rs 1,18,040 made by the PWD, Punjab, from Ms Gayatri Jain, a retired PCS officer. The money had been demanded as penal rent for official accommodation.Ms Jain had earlier filed a complaint alleging that she had vacated the official residence allotted to her on January 31, 2002. She was issued a “no-dues certificate” by the Electricity Department but the SDO (Water Supplies) did not issue the required certificate, even though the dues were cleared. However, the water meter was disconnected on January 30, 2002. However, on September 24, 2004, she was surprised to receive a notice from the PWD for a payment of a rent of Rs 1,18,040, as arrears of rent at the market rate of Rs 15,600 per month for the period from February 1, 2002, to September 17,2002, as the NOC was not provided from the Water Department. During the pendency of the case , Ms Jain deposited Rs 2,306 on account of final water charges and consequently a “no-dues certificate” regarding water charges was issued by the respondent on December 16, 2005. Ms Jain contended that she wrote a letter dated January 31, 2002, to the officer concerned of the PWD that she had vacated the house but the clerk concerned refused to give any receipt. Justice K.C. Gupta, president of the commission, observed that “if she had not cleared the water charges, then separate steps could have been taken to deduct that amount from her pensionary benefits but taking possession should not have been delayed. Thus, there is no manner of doubt that the appellant is not liable to pay any penal rent. On the other hand, she is entitled to an “NOC” from the PWD as it will be deemed that the appellant had vacated the house on January 31, 2002, and as such is not liable to pay any amount as rent beyond January 31, 2002.” Costs of Rs 1,000 have also been imposed on the department.
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Mailbag | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
