Mohali, October 29
Jasbir Singh, principal lecturer from the University of Wolverhampton (UK), visited Doaba Institute of Engineering and Technology (DIET) near here and addressed the faculty, highlighting the importance of co-operation and participation in the field of technical education at regional, national and global level.

He pointed out that the upgradation of curriculum at undergraduate level would put the students at the same level as those studying in the European universities.

He stressed that the proposed relationship between DIET and the University of Wolverhampton would facilitate and expand academic co-operation. The process for formalisation of MoU is in progress and the initial stage has been completed.

Earlier, Dr S.S. Wadhwa, director, DIET, introduced Jasbir Singh. Jeet Singh, chief administrator, Doaba Group of Colleges, presented a brief profile of the institutes run by the group.

Manjit Singh, executive director, Doaba Group of Colleges, thanked the guest speaker. Dr V.J. Dhar, director, pharmacy, Dr H.S. Bhatti, principal, DIET, Dr Urmila Sharma, principal, Doaba College of Education, the faculty from all these institutes, listened to, and interacted with the guest speaker.

M.S. Batth, chairman and S.S. Sangha, managing director of Doaba Group of Colleges were the chief hosts.

Mohali, October 29
Swami Ram Tirtha Public High School, Mohali, celebrated their annual day ‘Sur Sandhya-07’, here yesterday. Dr Yadav, joint secretary, Regional Office CBSE, Panchkula, was chief guest and president Rakesh Sharma presided over the function. The event commenced with the lighting of the lamp followed by Ganesh Vandana. Scintillating performances were given by the budding artists who performed a welcome song, jazz mataz, ‘Haathi ki Barat’ and black magic which left the audience spell bound.

Learning is fun: Learning: Shivalik Public School, here, organised a programme titled, ‘Learning is Fun’, for Classes nursery, LKG and KG. Parents were invited to watch how their wards behave in the classroom and how they respond to different situations. The activities planned for this exercise were ‘recognition of alphabets’, ‘counting numbers’, ‘clay modeling’, ‘story-telling’, ‘comprehending shapes’ and ‘yogic exercises’.

KHARAR: Recruited: WIPRO Technologies yesterday selected 24 students from Chandigarh Engineering College, Landran, under its ‘earning while learning’ programme.

The selected students will complete their post-graduate degree from one of the top institutes of India - BITS, Pilani and also gain professional experience while working with WIPRO.

Freshers’ day: SAS Institute of Information Technology and Research celebrated freshers’ day. About 1,000 students and 40 faculty members attended the programme. Dr J.S. Dhaliwal, chairman, was the chief guest. Sukhbir Singh Shergill, general secretary was also present. The programme opened with shabad kirtan followed by other cultural items. Students presented a combination of folk and western items such as bhangra, giddha, fusion dance, western dance, skits and songs etc.

Chandigarh, October 29
Nine years after the firing incident that took place at the district courts complex here, charges were framed against 15 accused, including a DSP, in the case today.

UT additional and sessions judge Ravi Kumar Sondhi framed charges against accused “Akali leader” Manjit Singh Barkhandi, his son Kanwarjit Singh Barkhandi, along with Balkar Singh, Avtar Singh, Surjit Singh, Surat Singh, Amarjit Singh, Bagicha Singh, Lakhvir Singh, Gurmeet Singh, Kashmira Singh, Gurmeet Singh, Chhinder Singh, Harcharan Singh and DSP Jagjit Singh under Sections 148, 149, 333, 323 and 353 read with 149 of the IPC.

Kanwarjit Singh, who allegedly used the official carbine of a co-accused Punjab police constable, has also been charged for offence under Section 27 (2) of the Arms Act.

Kashmira Singh and Gurmeet Singh, who were at the courts with their service carbines, are among those who have been charged. They had allegedly given their weapons to Kanwarjit Singh and Balkar Singh that led to the firing in the courts complex.

The incident took place on July 6, 1998, when Harvinder Singh, alias Vicky, of Barkhandi village in Muktsar district, allegedly involved in the murder of Manjit Singh, was being taken to the court of Tejwinder Singh. The police had sought police remand for Harvinder.

As he arrived, some persons from the victim’s camp raised slogans against the Punjab police.

This led to an altercation between two groups. Thereafter, a gunman from the victim’s side fired a shot.

The accused have been charged with use of force and violence with intent to assault cops of the Chandigarh police.

An investigation was carried out by the then deputy inspector general (DIG) for which an order was passed on November 15, 2000.

The DIG conducted the investigation after which a challan was presented in the court.

Police inspector central SHO, Moti Ram was in charge of the maintaining law and order in connection with the appearance of Harvinder Singh.

Chandigarh, October 29
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum-I has directed a travel agency, SOTC, to pay a compensation of Rs 70,000 for providing inadequate services to a couple.

L.C. Sood and Anju Sood had booked a tour of Malaysia with the agency after going through an advertisement in a newspaper in 2005.

They deposited a sum of Rs 1,34,292 for the trip, which encompassed 12 days and 11 nights.

The couple alleged that on reaching the Bangkok Airport, the SOTC representative took five hours in arranging transport for them.

They added that the representative took them directly to a restaurant instead of a hotel.

Also, the couple could not eat their breakfast and take medicines as their luggage was not with them.

They also had to go without electricity and water the entire day in their hotel room.

The couple wrote a letter on January 31, 2006 to the travel agency for redressal of their grievances. In response, the agency admitted lapse on their part and offered a compensation of Rs 5,000.

Unsatisfied with the compensation, they sent a notice to the agency.

However, the manager of the agency contended that under the terms and conditions of the agreement with their clients, only courts in Mumbai had jurisdiction over any dispute.

The agency further argued that the couple did not inform them about their health status and that they required medicines.

Handing down the verdict, the forum president said: “We are of the opinion that instead of rectifying their mistake and compensating the couple for the inconvenience suffered by them, the defendant is downplaying the incident.”

Mohali, October 29
The three-day Punjabi University Youth Festival of the Fatehgarh Sahib zone began at the Desh Bhagat Institute of Management and Computer Sciences, Mandi Gobindgarh. It was inaugurated by Sunita Dheer, director, Youth Welfare, Punjabi University, Patiala, and vice-chairman of the Desh Bhagat Group Tajinder Kaur.

Today’s activities included group shabad gayan, classical vocal and instrumental solo, semi-classical vocal and instrumental solo, non-percussion, clay modelling, rangoli and on-the-spot painting competitions in the morning session. Whereas in the afternoon session, classical dances, giddha, western solo and group songs were performed. Around 220 students from 22 colleges affiliated to Punjabi University participated in the festival.

S.K. Ahluwalia, commissioner, Patiala division, gave away prizes to the winners.