EDUCATION

Coming up: Schools at Panjab University
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 6
Panjab University will introduce the system of schools to bring departments working in similar fields together for sharing resources. The university is likely to bring all science departments under one roof of the science school while others will be schools of social sciences, languages and laws, besides others.

Vice-chancellor R.C. Sobti has constituted a committee for the purpose.

“The system of schools exists in universities in the country and we intend to introduce it here. The aim is to make optimum utilisation of resources, both intellectual and infrastructural”, he said.

A committee chaired by dean university instructions Veer Singh was expected to submit its report in the coming weeks, following which committee members would visit the Jawaharlal Nehru University to study the system of schools there.

Committee members might go to the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, said Prof Veer Singh.

The school system entailed grouping together of university departments doing related work.

“Departments engaged in biotechnology and biomedical technology can be grouped together. This will increase coordination of efforts and sharing of resources. The university has enough infrastructure for science and technology, which if used optimally, can render better results both in terms of research and teaching”, said Professor Sobti.

In a school system, the faculty was shared among different departments, in which teachers taught students of related departments.

A school system would also allow students to do their research using facilities of departments other than the parent department.

Students of a school would have access to the library of other departments within the school.

“Days of isolation and expertise are over. We have two departments for law and those can be brought under a common school. Various aspects of environment studies are shared. Only a school system can do justice to the study of a subject which has multidisciplinary facets”, added Dr Veer Singh.

Duties of Grievances Redressal Officer extended
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 6
The Panjab University Vice-Chancellor has extended the duties of the Students’ Grievances Redressal Officer to include the grievances of the university’s non-teaching employees, as well.

The Students Grievance Redressal Officer, Mr Dinesh Sharma, will now be the Students and Employees Grievance Redressal Officer of the university, said VC Prof R.C. Sobti, here yesterday.

The officer will be assisted by two additional staff members: Mr Aneesh Pathania and Mr Navtej Singh. Mr Pathania will be looking into the complaints of students from affiliated colleges and those of non-teaching employees of the administration branch of the university whereas Mr Navtej Singh will be looking into the grievances of the students on the campus and non-teaching employees of various departments.

‘Deranged’ man takes schoolkids for a ride

Chandigarh, January 6
A flutter was caused in Dadu Majra Colony today when an alleged deranged person took hold of a rickshaw carrying schoolchildren and drove it away. The man, however, did not cause any harm to kids and instead took them to their school.

The incident took place early this morning, when Paras, a rickshaw-puller, went to relieve himself by parking his rickshaw along a road. The alleged deranged man paddled away the rickshaw carrying the schoolchildren. The kids did not raise the alarm, rather they guided the man to their school.

Realising his fault, Paras ran after the rickshaw. He reached the school and heaved a sigh of relief when he found the kids safe and sound. The matter was reported to the police, which took the man in its custody. SHO of Sector 39 police station Nanha Ram Kadiyan said the man looked to be mentally unsound. He was taken to the Sector 16 General Hospital for medical examination from where the doctors sent him to the Sector 32 Government Medical College and Hospital. TNS

Free Urdu classes
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 6
The Chandigarh office of the Language Department, Punjab, has started free Urdu Classes with effect from January 1, 2007. The classes are being held on all working days at the GGDSD College, Sector 32 here, from 5.15 pm to 6.15 pm.

Those interested can contact the Assistant Director (Hindi/Punjabi cell), at the Mini Secretariat, Basement, Sector 9, Chandigarh, from 9 am to 5 pm. The Urdu teacher will available at the college during study hours on all working days. 

COURTS

Brig Jaswal gets interim bail
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 6
Brig J.S. Jaswal (retd), Director, Sainik Welfare, Punjab, was today granted interim bail by the Additional District and Session Judge (ADSJ), Mr B.K. Mehta. While granting him interim relief till January 11, the court directed him to appear before the investigating officer of the Chandigarh police. It may be mentioned that the local police had registered a case of criminal intimidation and outraging the modesty of a woman on a complaint lodged by Raj Kaur, who was working as a clerk in the Sainik Welfare office.

While pleading the case of the Director before the ADSJ, the defence counsel stated that the allegations were baseless. He maintained that the complainant was facing an inquiry for levelling caste-based accusations against Surinder Kaur, a personal assistant of the Director and hence she had levelled allegations of sexual harassment to cover up for that.

Motherhood vindicated in court
Aditi Tandon
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 6
For over a year, Santosh Gupta battled the trauma of being called the kidnapper of her own son. Her woe was compounded by the fact that she was charged with the crime by her former husband - man she once loved.

But after their marriage in 1995, things started to turn sour, so much so that one day when Santosh took her son away on a leisure trip, her former husband Dilshad Ali registered a case of kidnapping against her.

The case was registered at Faridkot on April 22, 2005.

But reprieve from the blemish came only a year later when on December 15 last, the Punjab and Haryana High Court ruled in favour of Santosh and quashed the criminal complaint filed against her.

In his judgement in the case, which brought the role of the district police under the scanner, Mr Justice Ranjit Singh Randhawa observed: “Strangely, a mother, one of the natural guardians, is an accused of the offence of kidnapping her own child with further allegation that this was with the intent to secretly and wrongfully confine the child.”

After listening to both sides, the Judge said he had considered the rival contentions but they had not appealed to his senses.

He observed: “Can a divorce granted to the couple lead to severance of relation of mother and child? Even if at some weak moment, the petitioner (read the mother) happened to take the child along with her, this would be more out of love and affection rather than with any intention to kidnap the child.”

Santosh Gupta , a Hindu, had married Dilshad Ali on October 10, 1995 and a male child, Jashan Ashish, was born out of the wedlock.

Differences between the couple led to divorce between them in January, 2002.

Santosh said the differences surfaced when she found out that Dilshad had married someone earlier.

Santosh’s differences with Dilshad apart, she moved the High Court stating that being the natural guardian of her child (even under the Muslim Law as per which she got married), she could not be held responsible for kidnapping him.

The High Court in its judgment, a copy of which was received by Santosh a few days ago, vindicated the mother’s stand and cited an instance of 1987 where a mother took her minor child against the wishes of her husband and the allegation of abduction was made against the mother’s parents, as she was staying with them.

In this case, it was held that the mother of a minor was equally competent as a legal guardian.

Mr Justice Randhawa in his decision said the FIR against Santosh Gupta and subsequent proceedings were nothing but abuse of process of court and they needed to be quashed.

While part of Santosh’s struggle is over, a larger struggle remains. She is fighting for the custody of her son, whom she was charged with kidnapping.

The case of custody is pending in the district courts here, with the Guardian Judge under the Minority and Guardianship Act.The Punjab and Haryana High Court has exonerated Santosh Gupta of the charge of kidnapping her child that was levelled by her ex-husband.

CULTURE

First carnival of 2007 leaves audience spellbound
S.D. Sharma

Chandigarh, January 6
The rising young stars of the Punjabi folk music from Moga graced the first carnival of the New Year with a captivating spell of dazzling dances and melodious songs from their maiden album ‘Dhadkan’ at the Plaza here today. The weekly musical bonanza was organised by the Centre for Carnival Arts with the Tribune group of newspapers as the media sponsor.

After carnival president Manki Deep welcomed the audience, who braving the chilly weather made to the venue in a large number. The prodigious artists led by Kulwinder Gill spelt the warmth of rich and virile Punjabi hits to keep them submerged in the musical waves. Opening up with a thrilling presentation of his hit song ‘Nachan Jadon Punjabi dhadkan dil mutiyaran de’, Kulwinder, an MBA but a devout musician, doled out more numbers, which are close to his heart like ‘Koke de chamkaare, Hass Ho gya, Jind vaar ke , Nachna Pavu’.

Vivacious Rohina Chawla teamed up with Aman Bhoupuri for the duets, ‘Ikk teri Takni and Ja Ja Ve Mundiya’, which won applause from the crowd.

The audience clapped as Balwinder Mahal sang ‘Kudiyan nu lag ja ve na nazar buri..’ before Lucky Bhinder doled out a sober song ‘Saathon Reha vina jaave..’.

The dancers of ‘Taur Punjab di’ group embellished the musical performance accompanying the singers and also with solo dance recitals. At the artists corner, sketching and painting activities by Sikander and talented students of the Government College of Art drew its own art lovers.

HEALTH

Prof post in PGI’s Cardiology Dept a bone of contention
Bipin Bhardwaj
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 6
The post of Professor in the Cardiology Department of the PGI has been a bone of contention for the past many years. The ongoing tug-of-war between the two senior most cardiologists of the department has not only been impeding the way of junior doctors in sharpening their skills but also inconveniencing patients.

As per the past record of the department, the post of Professor (No.1) has been lying vacant as the PGI authorities has been unable to fill it due to tremendous pressure from groups behind the candidates.

Dr A.S. Anand and Dr R.P. Sapru had been competing and mounting pressure for the top post in the department. Both cardiologists retired as Additional Professors.

Similar was the case of Dr Jagmohan Verma and Dr G.S. Kalra, as both of them staked claim to the post. Dr H.K. Bali also made claim to the post through court orders. The interviews were cancelled thus leaving the post vacant.

The tussle between Dr Anil Grover and Dr Bali for the post has again brought the PGI’s Cardiology Department into limelight. Currently, Dr Grover is on deputation to Nepal under leave while Dr Bali has recently returned from Sri Lanka almost after a year. He was there on deputation.

Though none of the cardiologists was ready to come on record, they, however, claimed that the upcoming brilliant doctors had been at the receiving end of the ongoing infighting between the senior cardiologists. This had deteriorated the atmosphere of the department.

Moreover, the research work had also suffered a major setback in the past. The department had been running with a skeleton staff.

At present, the department has a faculty of seven cardiologists, including Prof K.K. Talwar, Director and Head of Cardiology Department.

Six cardiologists, including Dr Anil Grover, Dr Yashpal Sharma, Dr Rohit Manoj, Dr Rajesh Vijay Vergia, Dr Ajay Behl and Dr Rajiv Mahajan (on ad hoc) have been running the department. 

SPORTS

Local lad loses final at CLTA courts
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 6
The defeat of local hero Vijayant Malik in the final match was a setback for the home crowd, which turned up to see him play. It was Russian Alexey Tikhonov, who lifted the men’s singles trophy beating Vijayant 6-3, 6-1 in the final match of the Sunny Enclave ITF Junior World Ranking (Grade 3) Tennis Tournament at the CLTA courts, Sector 10, here today.

Uzbekistan’s Aleksandra Kolesnichenk finished girls’ singles champion as she defeated Jessy Rompies of Indonesia in straight sets 6-0, 6-4.

Earlier, Tikhonov, a trainee of the Sdytushor Tarpiseev Tennis Academy, put up a marvelous performance with his fast pace services. He served five aces during the match.

On the other hand, Vijayant, who was suffering from arm pain, tried his best but could not save the match. In the first set, the Russian broke the under-16 national champion Vijayant in the seventh and ninth games to win at 6-3.

After winning the first set, the high spirited Tikhonov broke Vijayant in the second, fourth and sixth games to clinch the second set 6-1.

“Tikhonov played very well. I also performed reasonably well but his (Tikhonov’s) fine game did not give me any chance to overpower him. My arm pain and some mistakes cost me the match,” said Vijayant, a product of CLTA Rural Academy, after the match.

The Chief Guest, Lt Col Daljeet Singh, GOC-in-Chief, Western Command Heaquarters, Chandimandir, gave away the prizes. CLTA chairman Rajan Kashyap announced a cash scholarship of Rs 10,000 to Vijayant Malik. Lt Col Daljeet Singh also gave a diet allowance of Rs 10,000 to Malik. Former CLTA trainee, Akash Sharma, also announced another scholarship of Rs 10,000 for Malik.

The singles winners were awarded 60 ITF points and runners-up 45 each. In doubles winners obtain 50 points and runners-up 30 points.

The results

Boys singles: Alexey Tikhonov (Russia) b Vijayant Malik (India) 6-3, 6-1.

Boys doubles: Alexey Tikhonov (Rus) and Rifat Biktyakov (Uzb) b Jeong Han Seo and Jai Beom Kim (Korea) 6-0, 6-0.

Girls singles: Aleksandra Kolesnichenk (Uzbekistan) b Jessy Rompies (Indonesia) 6-0, 6-4.

Girls doubles: Poline Dzyuba (Rus) and Beatrice Gumulya (Indonesia) b Olga Makhova and Nanuli Pipiya (Russia) 6-3, 3-6, 6-3. 

St John's to take on Victoria Park in final

Chandigarh, January 6
The hosts St John's Cricket Academy will take on Victoria Park (VP), Meerut, in the final of the second St John's Trophy (U-14), at the school premises tomorrow. In the semifinal matches, St John's Academy beat Chandigarh Cricket Association-19 (CCA) by 9 wickets while VP defeated Guru Nanak Public Cricket Academy-36, by 53 runs.

In the first match, CCA-19 which batted first gave an easy target of 98 runs losing five wickets in the allotted 25 overs. Hitesh and Rubinder, who scored 27 runs each, were the notable contributors for the team. Jayant took 2 wickets for 13 runs.

In reply, St John's achieved the target in 16 overs by loosing just one wicket. Manan Vohra remained unbeaten with 56 runs.

In the second semifinal, the Meerut team scored 105 runs for 7 wickets. Varun top scored with 53 runs. GNPS could not chase the target and were bundled out for 52 runs. Shikhar took 3 wickets for 11 runs while Madhur and Udyan took 2 wickets each. The final match will start at 9.30 a m. TNS

L.B. Thokal wins gold in scull championship
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 6
L.B. Thokal won a gold medal in the boys’ single scull event with a timing of 8:15.72. In the doubles, pairing with Rajbir, the duo grabbed another gold medal in the double scull (7:18.63) during the Chandigarh State Senior and Sprint Rowing Championships for Men and Women. The event was held at the Lake Club (Sukhna Lake), here today.

The races were conducted on a 2000 M, 1000 M and 500M long water course, as per the FISA/RFI rules.

The results

Men’s single scull (1 x 2000M): L.B. Thokal (8:15.72) 1; Surender Singh (8:32.19) 2

Double Scull (2 x 2000M): L.B. Thokal and Rajbir Singh (7:18.63) 1; Lal Chand and Dinesh Kumar (7:28.72) 2.

Coxless Pairs (2 - ) (2000M): Nitin Gandhe and Jadhav G.T. (7:59.67) 1; Babar Suresh and Abhijit Gogai 
(8:26.88) 2.

Coxless Fours (4 -) (2000M): Manjeet Singh, Manjit Singh, Mangal Singh and Tarsem Singh (6:50.02) 1; Suresh Babar, Abhijit Gogai, Khanker J.V. and Major Singh (6:57.35) 2.

Coxless Pairs (2 -) (500M): Manjeet Singh and Mangal Singh (1:53.02) 1; Nitin Gandhe and Jadhav G.T. (2.01.23) 2

Coxless Fours (4 -) (2000M): Manjeet Singh, Manjit Singh, Mangal Singh and Tarsem Singh (1:38.79) 1; Suresh Babar, Abhijit Gogai, Khanker J.V. and Major Singh (1:42.57) 2.

Women: Single Scull (1 x 1000M): Munshedi Khatoon (4:37.90) 1; Bimal (5:16.80) 2.

Double Scull (2 x) (500M): Munshedi Khatun and Renuka Sarkar (2:14.06) 1, 
Priya Darsini and Mandeep Kaur (2:25.47) 2.

Coxless Pairs (2 -) (500M): Renuka Sarkar and Bimal (2:32.03). 

Sumit wins snooker championship
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 6
Sumit Talwar, the defending champion, won the senior snooker title at the 23rd Chaudhary Vishnu Pal Singh Memorial Chandigarh State Snooker Championship, being held at the Sector 22 Chandigarh Billiards and Snooker Centre, here.

Sumit played consistently throughout the tournament and showed good composure to win the tournament. In the last of the league matches of the semifinals, Sumeet defeated second seed, Sandeep Duggal.

Sumit made a small break of 30 points to take an early lead and won the frame easily 66-21. His opponent Sandeep bounced back to capture the second frame with ease 61-10 and level the score at 1-1. But he was out of the game in the later frames as Sumit made a break of 62 points in the third frame 77-23.

Maintaining this winning spree, Sumit clinched the last two frames in a well contested fight 60-50, 60-45.

Earlier, Rajat Khaneja defeated Parveen Duggal with a comfortable score of 4-0. In this one-sided affair match, the score stood 68-28, 56-13, 62-16, 66-19 in favour of Rajat. Rajat secured the runners-up position.

Both Sumit Talwar and Rajat Khaneja have been selected to represent Chandigarh in the forthcoming National Senior Snooker Event, scheduled to be held at Bangalore later this month. 

Vinay fashions AirTel win
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 6
A fine knock of unbeaten 61 runs studded with 10 fours by Vinay enabled AirTel to beat Dell by six wickets in the inaugural InterMedia/Government/Corporate/Institutions Twenty-20 Cricket tournament held at the DAV College Ground in Sector 10, here today.

AirTel won the toss and elected to field first. Dell piled up 131 for 9 in the stipulated 20 overs. Paritosh Dobhal top scored with 42 runs. Balwinder bagged three wickets for 22 runs. Imran Khan captured 2 for 28 runs.

In reply, AirTel made 132 for 4. Vinay remained not out with 61 which included 10 fours. Imran Khan (23), Shailender Singh (12) and Balwinder (13) were the other main scorers for the winners. Amit Guleria captured 2 wickets for 13 runs.

Mr S. K. Sandhir, Assistant General Manager, Canara Bank, inaugurated the tournament.

In another match, the Dainik Bhaskar team routed Canara Bank by eight wickets in a Pool A match.

Brief scores:

Dell: 131 for 9 in 20 overs (Paritosh Dobhal 42, Brijesh Sanghi 16,

Balwinder 3 for 2, Imran Khan 2 for 28, Umesh Bhatnagar 1 for 8, Hartaj 1 for 23).

AirTel: 132 for 4 (Imran Khan 23, Shailender Singh 12, Vinay 61 n.o, Balwinder 13, Kanav Verma 9, extras 14, Amit Guleria 2 for 13, Ankush Anand 1 for 29, Abhishek 1 for 35).

Canara Bank: 43 in 10.4 overs: (Amit Rathi 10, Sanjeev Sekri 7, extras 13,

Sanjeev 3 for 5, Ajay 2 for 9, Pawan 2 for 6, Sonu 2 for 21).

Dainik Bhaskar: 44 for 2 in 5.2 overs: (Aman 8, Ajay 18. extras 14,

Reetinder 1 for 16, Charandass 1 for 9). 

Guru Nanak Girls College emerge champion
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 6
Guru Nanak Girls College, Ludhiana, emerged champion beating GGS College for Women 3-2 in the Panjab University Softball (women) Championship 2006-07 at the PU Campus, here today.

The second position was secured by the MCM DAV College for Women, Sector 36, which beat Ramgarhia Girls College, Ludhiana 11-1.

The other Ludhiana colleges, Ramgharia Girls College and Guru Nanak Girls College secured third and fourth positions, respectively.

Ramgharia college beat Chandigarh’s GGS College for Women 9-8 while Guru Nanak college got the better of MCM DAV college 8-1.

Netball: Local MCM DAV College for Women, Sector 36 beat GCG, Sector 11, 14-10 in the semifinal match of the Panjab University Inter Netball (Women) Tournament at the PU grounds, here today.

In other matches, Dev Samaj College for Women, (DSCW), Sector 36, defeated another local GGDSD College, Sector 32 8-3 whereas the hosts PU Campus thrashed DSCW 20-4. 

Veterans’ TT at Patiala
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 6
The Mall Road branch of the State Bank of Patiala will sponsor the sixth Patiala District Veterans’ Table Tennis Championships to be held on January 14 at DAV Public School, Patiala.

Entries for the 40, 50 and 60 years events may be sent to Dr Vinay Jain, Modi College, Patiala.

According to Dr V.K.Gupta, president of the Patiala District Veterans’ Table Tennis Association, the association will also honour some veteran players.