Chandigarh, August 30
The department of education at Panjab University seems to have got itself caught in a vicious circle of confusion with regard to the on-going counselling for its MEd programme which began yesterday. The uncertainty that marked day 1 yesterday continued today as well.

While students assembled at the English Auditorium today, for counselling under the reserved category did not face the harassment of discrepancies in the merit list, put up for admission yesterday. Yet there were several students who had the requisite marks and rank that could not get admission despite assurances to the contrary by authorities within the department.

According to one student, applying under the SC category, a misplaced internal assessment result by the University meant that she could not submit her application form on the due date of August 24. “By the time I got a duplicate copy issued it was too late. I called the department who told me that I could come on August 30 and they would consider my application. However, I was not allowed to go in,” she lamented.

These included 10 to 15 students from Punjabi University, Patiala whose results were not declared on time and were unable to submit their forms too. They were assured by the concerned authorities that they could come on August 29 for counselling with all the necessary papers.

Professor S.C. Gakhar from the department, present during counselling, said while they would have liked to consider all these cases, they were unable to do so because they had instructions from vice-chancellor Professor R.C. Sobti not to accept any forms submitted after August 24. The VC currently is out of the country.

However, contradictions seem to have arisen earlier this month. On August 17, the University issued instructions sent from the department that “the last date for receipt of applications for MEd course has been extended up to August 31. Those who have qualified the entrance test are advised to send their applications accordingly.”

Interestingly, just four days later on August 21, another set of instructions were sent which read, “The last date for receipt of applications for MEd course is August 24. Those who have qualified the entrance test conducted by the University for MEd should send their applications by August 24.”

This means that practically no time was given to students to send their application forms with all the necessary paper-work needed with it and with August 31 the last date for admissions to the University, according to its calendar, there does not seem any time to resolve the issue.

The DUI, professor S.K. Kulkarni, when contacted today said the whole matter would be looked into.

Chandigarh, August 30
A counselling session for parents was organised by expert dieticians to create awareness regarding health and eating habits of their children at Kendriya Vidyalaya No 2, 3 BRD, AFS, here on Friday. A team of 15 doctors from Government Multi-speciality Hospital, Sector 16, conducted the session. A free medical check-up of all the students was conducted.

Competition: Students from different schools dressed up like national leaders and answered questions put up before them at a Hindi press conference, “Hamare Rastriya Neta”, here on Friday. The students were participating in “Rhapsody India @60", held at Carmel Convent School, Sector 9. Other competitions included a multimedia presentation, graffiti competition and a quiz competition.

Panchkula
PROGRAMME: Koshish Education Network, with support from INTEL, organised a Technology-Aided Learning (TAL) programme from July 25 to August 10. For this, Koshish invited several schools to participate in competitions based on computer-aided learning. Nine schools participated in the programme. The awards’ ceremony concluded at Holy Child School, here on Friday. The awards were given away by Anurag Rastogi, director general, School Education Board, Haryana.

FESTIVAL: Apurva Kadian of Hans Raj Public School came first in a greeting card competition at the All-India Mahatma Hansraj Aryan Pre-zonal Youth Festival 2007 at Chaman Lal DAV Senior Public School, Sector 11, here on Friday. The topic of the competition was ‘Birthday/New Year’. 

Chandigarh, August 30
Many students’ organisations in city colleges have started flouting recommendations of the Lyngdoh committee report regarding sticking of poll posters in colleges.

The Students Organisation of India (SOI) members of the DAV College, Sector 10, were seen sticking posters inside the campus of the college today.

The Lyngdoh committee report, accepted by the Supreme Court, clearly mentions that no printed handbills or posters can be used for canvassing in the student elections.

When contacted, the principal of the college, S.Marriya, said he would take strict action against the guilty and ensure that all posters were removed immediately. 

Chandigarh, August 30
When the CBI cited shortage of manpower as one of the reasons for delay in the probe into Dera-related cases, not everyone believed them.

It was widely perceived as just another alibi by the agency to ward off a barrage of criticism from the high court.

In this backdrop, a senior CBI officer’s assertion that staff crunch was indeed gnawing at the vitals of the agency carries weight.

Incidentally, the officer was present in the high court yesterday in connection with the hearing of pre-arrest bail plea of the dera chief.

He told The Tribune that staff shortage problem was really chronic and worsening day-by-day.

“While the sanctioned strength is 5,959, the number of vacant posts is 1,341.” And the figures are not his hyperbole but based on authentic data compiled by the ministry of personnel, public grievances and pensions.

Making another startling disclosure, he said the approved strength of the prosecuting staff was far below the minimum requirements. Even in the case of the posts duly approved, almost 30 per cent generally remained vacant.

In an obvious reference to the dera-related cases, the officer asserted that in high-profile cases, where the accused generally engaged topnotch lawyers, the CBI was often not able to hire such lawyers because of the abysmal rate of fees fixed by the Centre.

He emphasised that strengthening the cadre of prosecuting officers both in number and in quality would help a great deal in expeditious disposal of the cases.

But despite his optimistic outlook, the CBI’s cup of woes is really brimming over. Of the multiple problems plaguing the agency, its inability in getting adequate number of senior police officers on deputation from the state governments is really serious.

Another Achilles’ heel of the CBI is its limited jurisdiction. The agency’s bosses feel that it is imperative now to enlarge its jurisdiction, invest it with the necessary resources and grant it the autonomy.

“Crimes, which can and should be handled by the agency, are still outside its jurisdiction. Serious crimes like those related to drugs, human trafficking, gun running, cyber crimes, money laundering, terrorism, espionage and crimes regarding internal and economic security do not fall within its jurisdiction,” the officer revealed.

Also, the agency has been bogged down by the absence of a comprehensive legislation with a clear definition of its duties and of the extent of autonomy it shall have while dealing with various ministries involved in its functioning.

The matter assumes significance as the CBI drew flak from the high court repeatedly, especially the Division Bench comprising Mr Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel and Mr Justice H.S. Bhalla, showed no mercy and castigated the CBI for its laxity in the dera probe.

Chandigarh, August 30
The Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana today drew flak from a Division Bench, comprising Mr Justice Uma Nath Singh and Mr Justice Rajive Bhalla, for not being particularly serious about the future of the legal profession.

“You seem to be more busy in holding sundry seminars, elections and organising parties than the well-being of the profession,” Mr Justice Bhalla observed. The observations came in the wake of a petition challenging the Bar norms whereby anyone aged above 45 should not be given the licence to practice.

Ostensibly, the norm has been framed to uplift the standards of the Bar and to reduce the glut of retired employees rushing to get enrolled as advocates after getting law degree.

Interestingly, such norms framed by Bar councils of other states had been quashed by their respective high courts. Mr Justice Bhalla even asked those lawyers to come forward who believed that the Bar was worried about the standards of the profession.

Petitioners’ counsel, while challenging the said norm framed by the council, averred that no steps had been taken by the council to implement the apex court guidelines for the past 14 years.

The Bench quipped that how many senior advocates were ready to participate in the case and observed that none seemed to be willing. 

Chandigarh, August 30
A division Bench, comprising Justice J.S. Khehar and Justice M.M.S. Bedi, today issued notice to secretary, department of housing and urban development, and Chaudhary Ram Singh Sahoke Memorial Welfare Charitable Trust, Chandigarh, over a plea by GMADA.

The Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) had sought directions to the aforesaid respondents to quash an order, dated February 23,2005, passed by the housing and urban development minister, Punjab, while excercising the powers of revisionary authority. The next date of hearing is December 5.

The facts of the case (according to GMADA plea) are that the PUDA had invited applications for allotment of school plots in 2001. On December 18,2001, the said trust was issued a letter of intent (LoI) for a school site in SAS Nagar (Mohali).

According to the LoI, the tentative price of the plot was Rs 1,69,37,338. The trust was directed to deposit 15 per cent of the price within 90 days in order to be elegible for the allotment. The due date was March 17,2003.

The trust did not deposit the required 15 per cent of the price by the due date nor did it apply for extension of period within the due period.

On April 15,2002, the trust made a request seeking extension of time for paying the due amount by August 31,2002. However, no payment was deposited even this time. PUDA subsequently issued a show cause notice for the cancellation of LoI.

The trust representative was given a hearing and yet another extension till January 6,2003, was given to pay the due amount. The trust did not pay this time also. On April 4,2004, the chief administrator, PUDA, cancelled the LoI after waiting for more than two years for the due amount.

The trust filed an appeal against the said order to the secretary, housing and urban development. The secretary refused to hear the appeal, which he dubbed as “revision petition”, on the grounds that initially he had recommended the allotment of plot to the trust.

The matter went on to the minister who ordered the restoration of the plot, vide order dated February 23,2005, allegedly in violation of the PUDA policy as also of statutory provisions. He also directed the chief administrator to consider the case of the trust for allowing non-commercial rates on the basis of precedents given by the trust. — TNS

Chandigarh, August 30
The play was an ode from a student to his teacher. ‘45 minutes’, staged at the department of Indian theatre by Ashu Sharma, an alumnus of this department, was the student’s way of showcasing all that he had learnt in his two years at the university. He called it a “gift” to his tutor Neelam Mansingh Chowdhry.

Also named for the duration of the performance, ‘45 minutes’ is the story of a young man’s musings on his grandfather. Inspired by Vijay Giri’s ‘Khamka’, Ashu, however, added his own dimensions and understanding to design a script close to his heart.

“It is an image play. When we see paintings in a gallery, they are silent. But paintings in theatre have to speak,” Ashu stated.

The aim was simple. “Every aspect of our syllabus brings us in contact with theatre stalwarts from all over the world. I wanted to bring alive all that I have learnt from them,” he smiled.

The play is experimental in nature. While music is integral to the play and runs through the duration drawing from Western, Italian and even Sufi strains, the lighting, too, has been designed for maximum impact. Props have been taken from everyday life - ropes, a wooden ladder and bricks.

What makes this endeavour interesting is that the young artiste draws heavily from the theatre style of V.E. Meyerhold; a man considered being one of 20th century’s greatest theatrical innovators. “I wanted to give the audience something different. I want to take theatre to everyone who is interested, not just the so-called intellectuals,” averred Ashu.

While this effort took 25 days to put together, Ashu is certain he will go beyond the limit. “I want to discover all I can within theatre and make it my life,” he says with the conviction of faith and passion.