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The Chief Justice of India, Mr Justice Y.K. Sabharwal, today called upon university students to dedicate themselves to the best traditions of discipline, character building and national integration.
Mr Kapil Sibal, Union Minister for Science and Technology and Ocean Development, and Mr Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, congratulate each other at the annual convocation of Panjab University in Chandigarh on Saturday. The Chief Justice of India, Mr Justice Y.K. Sabharwal, is also seen in the picture. — Tribune photo by Vinay Malik

PGI given Rs 20 crore for stem cell research
Chandigarh, February 4
Even as New Delhi witnesses the country’s largest demolition drive, the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, is all set to come to the aid of regulatory authorities, monitoring unauthorised constructions.

Chandigarh, February 4 The 55th annual convocation of Panjab University brought with it a touch of the university’s glorious history when Mr Chandra Mohan, a 1953 batch student of Punjab Engineering College (PEC), received his engineering degree and a gold medal on the occasion today. Mr Chandra Mohan, Chairman of the Board of Governors of Punjab Engineering College, with his wife at the convocation of Panjab University in Chandigarh on Saturday. — A Tribune photograph

Information denied despite RTI Act Chandigarh, February 4 Twenty-seven-year-old Ritu Karol is a harassed person today. Even after three months of running from pillar to post to seek details about certain selections made against the post of Junior Draughtsman in the UT Engineering Department, she has failed to get a satisfactory reply from the officers concerned. Ms Ritu Karol shows the letters written to seek information from the UT Engineering Department under the Right to Information Act. — A Tribune photograph

UT starts licensing for liquor shops
Chandigarh, February 4
In a major development, the Chandigarh Administration today introduced the licensing system for liquor shops in the city against the existing practice of auction from the forthcoming financial year (2006-07). Liquor prices are likely to fall with the implementation of the new policy. It will also lead to more liquor shops in the city.

Airport staff call off strike
Chandigarh, February 4
The strike by the Airport Authority of India (AAI) employees union was called off at the city airport here today. The strike was called off after Mr M.K. Ghosal, convener of the AAI employee’s joint forum, issued a statement at the Delhi airport to call off the strike. TNS

COMMUNITY

New initiatives planned for the differently abled
Chandigarh, February 4
In a scenario where social attitudes are limited and resources scarce, to reach out to more than two crores of persons with disability, the Rehabilitation Council of India has now turned to developing a national framework of action for promotion, facilitation, recognition and networking of inclusive volunteering in the country.

Bird spotting by students

Chandigarh, February 4 To popularise the concept of bird watching among students, the Environment Society of India today organised bird spotting at the Sukhna Lake. Birds get ready to take flight at the Sukhna Lake in Chandigarh. — Tribune photo by Pradeep Tewari

Kalgidhar society residents rue poor civic amenities
Zirakpur, February 4
Members of the Kalgidhar Enclave Welfare Society here today rued the lack of proper civic amenities in their locality. Despite a number of repeated visits to the office of the Executive Officer, Notified Area Committee, the NAC failed to take any action with regard to the development and provision of basic amenities like water, sewerage and electricity etc., the members alleged.

Road divider causing anxiety
Chandigarh, February 4
The divider under construction on the road separating Sectors 24 and 25 is a cause of anxiety to commuters, particularly during the night.

CM mulls dist status for Mohali
Mohali, February 4
The Punjab Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, is considering the demand of residents of giving district status to Mohali and also to reduce water and sewerage rates.

Team on a visit to MC
Chandigarh, February 4
A 25-member team of elected councillors along with the Mayor of Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation, Mr Hunumantappa Y. Betagen Karnataka visited the Municipal Corporation Chandigarh yesterday.

CRIME

Three charged with stealing motor cycles, held
Zirakpur, February 4
The local police today arrested three persons charged with stealing three motor cycles from the Saini Automobiles on the Zirakpur-Ambala road.

3 held on theft charge
Panchkula, February 4
The special staff of the Panchkula police nabbed three alleged notorious thieves in their teens. On a tip-off, the police party laid a trap and arrested Raj Kumar (19), Arvind Kumar (18), both residents of Dudrih village and Giri Raj (18) of Ramraj village, in Muzaffarnagar district of Uttar Pradesh.

BUSINESS

Seminar organised
Panchkula, February 4
A seminar was organised by the State Bank of Patiala for discussing problems faced by their officers.

Shops beckon lovers with attractions as Valentine's Day fever catches on
Chandigarh, February 4
With Valentine’s Day round the corner, most of the companies have come up with special Valentine’s offers. From jewellers to cell phone operators, bakers to florists — everyone is readying to serve the “love birds”.

Treasure trove of handicrafts, textiles
Chandigarh, February 4
A treasure trove of a fascinating range of art forms and traditional crafts, each unique in style, theme and expression, the LEPAKSHI Heritage Collection, an exhibition-cum-sale of artistic handicrafts and textiles from Andhra Pradesh, was on Thursday inaugurated at Panchayat Bhavan, Sector 18.

Efforts on for unanimity on beopar mandal chief’s election
Chandigarh, February 4
After years of bitter contest, the election to the prestigious post of the president of the Chandigarh Beopar Mandal, the apex body of the city traders, is likely to be unanimous.

EDUCATION

School holds competitions
Panchkula, February 4
Hansraj Public School today organised a series of competitions during “Sparkles”, a function held at the school, which included both indoor and outdoor activities.

A day of contests at Lakshya 2006

Chandigarh, February 4 The two-day annual technical-cum- cultural extravaganza- Lakshya 2006 — organised by the DAV College, Sector 10, here, wended with a big bang. A battle of bands, a dance competition and street play competitions along with the painting competitions, all were held today. Students of DAV College, Sector 10, perform giddha at Lakshya 2006 at the college complex in Chandigarh on Saturday. — Tribune photo by Vinay Malik

Workshop on personality development
Chandigarh, February 4
The SD College, Sector 32, Chandigarh, will hold its fifth annual week-long workshop on “Personality and Soft Skill Development” for final-year students of various streams of the college.

Workshop on puppet-making
Chandigarh, February 4
Chandigarh-based Puppetry group PUTUL NACHER ASHOR (PNA) today conducted its fourth workshop at the Government College, Sector 46, for students of fine arts.

Seminar on problems of youth on Feb 7
Chandigarh, February 4
A one-day state-level seminar on “Problems of 21st century youth: Amelioration and Empowerment Through Awareness of Rights and Duties” is being organised by the Guru Gobind Singh College for Women, Sector 26, in collaboration with the Dean, Panjab University, Chandigarh on February 7.

Inter-college competition
Chandigarh, February 4
Top Careers and You today organised the final round of its inter-college competition, ‘Student Entrepreneur of the Year’ at MCM DAV College, Sector 36. It had been conducted over three months in various stages across various colleges in the region.

COURTS

Notice on Panchkula MC chief’s plea
Chandigarh, February 4
The High Court on Thursday issued notice of motion for February 14 on the petition filed by Mr Tarun Bhandari, President of Municipal Council, Panchkula, challenging the legality of holding a meeting by the Members on February 15 to decide a no-confidence motion against him.

High drama in Beant case trial
Chandigarh, February 4
High drama was witnessed at the high-security Burail Jail here today during the Beant Singh assassination case trial when the CBI counsel and the counsel for Jagtar Singh Hawara entered into a heated argument during cross examination.

CULTURE

Artistes can help restore peace with Pak: Reshma
Chandigarh, February 4
My music is not only a matter of the stage, films or audience but a nourishment for soul. And its link with the divine, maintains Reshma, the living legend of Punjabi folklore from Pakistan. An epitome of simplicity and sublime, the celebrity was in her usual self, while talking to Chandigarh Tribune, in her amusing yet authoritarian style (at the residence of art promoter host Dr S.K. Punia).

Musical evening at Sector 17 piazza

Chandigarh, February 4 The centre for Carnival Arts and Chandigarh Tourism today presented an entertainment programme at the Plaza Carnival, Sector 17. The cultural extravaganza included qawalis and sufiana kalam by Javed Irshad Rehmat Qawal and group from Malerkotla. Some of the qawalis were ‘Je Tu Rab nu Manana’, ‘Akhian Udik Dian’, ‘Tujhe Kaun Janta’ and many others.
Javed Irshad Rehmat Qawal performs at the Plaza Carnival in Sector 17, Chandigarh, on Saturday. — A Tribune photograph

Art and craft exhibition
Chandigarh, February 4
An art and craft exhibition was today organised at Mount Carmel School, Sector 47. Creative work done by students of Classes I to X was displayed.

HEALTH

Andropause comes quietly in men: experts
Chandigarh, February 4
Pause a moment, give it a thought — women and menopause are oft-discussed, but the same is not true for men and andropause. The subject is still a taboo in Indian homes and families and is not often discussed. They may keep it strictly under wraps, but certainly can not wish it away.

Centre plans early kidney failure detection programme
Chandigarh, February 4
With nearly two lakh new patients of advanced kidney failure being added every year and about 10 times this number suffering from mild kidney failure——the kidney problem in India is nothing short of an epidemic.

Dr Lal Path Labs opens centre in city
Chandigarh, February 4
Dr Lal Path Labs, India’s largest pathology chain, opened a state-of-the-art diagnostic centre in Sector 11, here today. The Director, Health Services, Punjab, Dr GL Goel, inaugurated the lab.

SPORTS

Annual sports meet at school Chandigarh, February 4 Nirmal and Divyanshu Bhasin of Class 2-A and 2-B, respectively, were declared best athletes at the annual sports meet of the junior classes of St John’s High School, Sector 26, here today. Boys of the St John’s Riding Club ride horses before the beginning of the annual sports meet at St John’s High School, Sector 26, Chandigarh, on Saturday.

Dr Sidhu’s role appreciated
Chandigarh, February 4
Dr Datuk M. Jagethesan, vice-chairman of the Olympic Council of Malaysia, has praised the role of Dr J.P.S. Sidhu, Assistant Director, Sports, Chandigarh Administration, during the IOC Solidarity Course for south-east Asian countries on sports medicine held in Malaysia from January 16 to 24.

Sports meet organised
Chandigarh, February 4
DAV Public School, Phase X, Mohali, organised the annual sports meet of the senior wing on the school premises today.

CLTA meet
Chandigarh, February 4
Ajay Yadav thrashed Kritarth 6-3 in the pre-quarterfinals in boys singles under -10 category during the monthly tennis tournament conducted by the Chandigarh Lawn Tennis Association at CLTA complex here today.

NTT students hold sports meet
Chandigarh, February 4
The Nursery Teacher Training students of DAV Model School, Sector 15, today organised ‘An Enchanting Rendezvous’, a sports meet at Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 21. The function was inaugurated by the school Principal, Mrs Indira Dhingra. A balloon drill and pom pom drill was presented by the tiny tots of pre-nursery and nursery. Tips on healthy living were given by students of Class I. The cultural activities included a scintillating bhangra performance. A fancy dress competition was also organised on the occasion.

St. Xavier’s cagers win
Chandigarh, February 4
St. Xavier’s School, Sector 44, Chandigarh won the HT Pace Inter-School Basketball Tournament (men category) held on the premises here, today.

Badminton meet from Feb 7
Panchkula, February 4
The Haryana Postal Circle, under the auspices of the Haryana Postal Sports Board, will organise the All-India Postal Badminton Tournament at Tau Devi Lal Sports Complex, Sector 3, here from February 7 to 11.

Trials for HP team
Mohali, February 4
Trials for the selection of the Himachal Pradesh team were conducted at the PCA Stadium here today.

ADMINISTRATION

Admn to follow Singapore pattern
Development of infrastructural projects in city
Chandigarh, February 4
Chandigarh Administration has decided to adopt many of the practices followed by the Government of Singapore in its developmental procedures for various infrastructural projects in the city.