HEALTH

Tug-of-war for GMCH top post
MCI inspection unlikely today
Arun Sharma
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 1
A team of the Medical Council of India (MCI), which has arrived in the city, is unlikely to carry out its inspection of the Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, following the Chandigarh administration’s failure to hand over the responsibility of filling the post of director principal in the institution, which fell vacant after Dr H.M. Swami’s retired yesterday, to the UPSC.

The MCI is scheduled to carry out an inspection for three MDs - medicine, surgery and ENT - being taught at the institution tomorrow.

The administration had not issued any orders till late evening today. The administration is scheduled to hold interviews for selection on deputation basis tomorrow.

The administration had started the process of filling the post last year itself. However, nothing much was done except inviting applications in this regard.

The administration had to advertise the post twice - first in December last year and again in July - as only one application was received in the first attempt.

As the administration was keen on appointing a doctor on deputation instead of requesting the UPSC for direct selection, it decided to re-advertise the post and conduct interviews, even as just two applications were received by the authorities.

They are: Dr Raj Bahadur from PGI, Chandigarh, who until January, 2006 was working at GMCH, and Dr Surender Kashyap from the Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Shimla.

The filling of post on deputation basis has ruffled the faculty as there is a large cadre of professors lined up in Chandigarh administration.

In fact, seven head of departments from the GMCH had applied for the post, requesting to be considered as candidates on contract since they are not eligible to come on deputation being employees of the same institution.

The issue of selection for the post was mired in a similar controversy in 2003 too when the post fell vacant after repatriation of Prof S.B.S. Mann. The charge was then handed over to the seniormost professor and then subsequently the post was filled on regular basis through the UPSC.

OPD timings changed

Chandigarh, November 1
The Government Multi-Speciality Hospital (GMSH), Sector 16, and its allied dispensaries would be observing new OPD timings from Monday to Saturday.

The OPD timings from October 16 to April 15 would be from 9 am to 3 pm and from April 16 to October 15 from 8 am to 2 pm. There would be no lunch break.

The allied dispensaries include Ayush Dispensaries, civil hospital-cum-community health centre, Mani Majra, community health centre, Sector 22, and Poly Clinics, Sector 45. — TNS

SPORTS

Tennis
Natasha in finals
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 1
Aashman Goghari and Digvijay S Mehta will face each other in the finals of the main draw of boys Under-14 category in the Asian Ranking Tennis Tournament getting underway at the Chandigarh Lawn Tennis Association courts, Sector 10, here today.

Goghari beat Saiteja Paladugu 6-3, 6-4 in straight sets whereas Digvijay S. Mehta ousted Chakma Manab Kumar 6-1, 6-0. In girls U-14, Vaidehi Bhagwat ended the challenge of Anushka Bhargava 6-3, 6-3 while Natasha Palha beat Arzoo Malik 6-2, 6-2 to secure final berths.

Results:

Semifinal, Boys U-14: Aashman Goghari (Ind) b Saiteja Paladugu (Ind) 6-3, 6-4, Digvijay S. Mehta (Ind) b Chakma Manab Kumar (Ind) 6-1, 6-0.

Girls U-14: Vaidehi Bhagwat (Ind) b Anushka Bhargava (Ind) 6-3, 6-3, Natasha Palha (Ind) b Arzoo Malik (Ind) 6-2, 6-2.

Boys U-14 (doubles): Ronit Bisht (Ind) and Faizan Khurram (Pakl) b Digvijay S. Naruka (Ind) and Manoj Kumar (Ind) 6-2, 6-3, Saiteja Paladugu (Ind) and Tushal Thawani (Ind) b Vishal Passi (Ind) and Aashman Goghari (Ind) 6-0, 6-3.

Girls U-14 (doubles): Vaidehi Bhagwat (Ind) and Natasha Palha (Ind) b Likitha Shetty (Ind) and Arzoo Malik (Ind) 6-0, 6-0, Anushka Bhargava (Ind) and Zainab Ali Sajjad (Ind) b Harnoor K. Mann & Ikttesh Chahal (Ind) 6-4, 4-6, 10-6.

St Anne’s thrash Mount Carmel
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 1
The hosts St Anne's Convent School, Sector 32, thrashed Mount Carmel School, Sector 47, by 9 wickets in the IInd Sister Alberta Memorial Inter-School Cricket Tournament at the school grounds here today.

Batting first, Mount Carmel were bowled out for 57 in 16 overs. For St Anne’s, T.P. Singh took 3 wickets for 17 followed by Ripunjya, who finished 2 for 13.

In reply St. Anne's reached the target in just 7 overs with the fine unbeaten knock of 39 by Shivadeep. Vivan remained not out on 10 runs.

In the second match, St. John's Sector 26 team beat Shishu Niketan by 10 runs. St John’s scored 99 for 8 in 20 overs while Shishu Niketan was packed for 89 all out in 19 overs.

Brief score: Mount Carmel School: 58 all out in 16 overs (Lavish 20, T.P. Singh 3 for 17 Ripunjaya 2 for 13). St. Anne's: 58 for 1 in 7 overs (Shivadeep 39 n o).

St. John’s: 99 for 8 in 20 overs (Sahshar 26, Manav 17, Rohit Chechi 3 for 17) Shishu Niketan: 89 all out in 19 overs (Rohit 27 n o, Amit 15, Iknoor 3 for 16 Ankit 2 for 15).

AG Himachal, UP in final
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 1
Defending champion AG Himachal Pradesh and AG Uttar Pradesh set up title clash in the IA and AD North Zone Volleyball Tournament at Sports Complex, Sector 7, here today.

AG HP drubbed the hosts AG Punjab 3-0 (25-18, 25-18 and 25-19) in the first semi final, whereas in the other semi final AG UP got the better of AG Haryana 3-0 (25-15, 25-13, 25-15). The final match will be played tomorrow at 11 am.

T20 meet on Nov 24

Chandigarh, November 1
The Chandigarh Sports and Recreation Club will conduct the inaugural Inter-Corporate/Telecom/Media/Institution employees League-cum-knockout Twenty20 Cricket Tournament at the Sector 16 Cricket Stadium here from November 24.

Only employees of institutions would be eligible to take part and only eight teams will be selected in the tournament. Entries will be made on November 10. — TNS

Selection trials

Chandigarh, November 1
Trials to select probables for coaching camp will be held on November 3 at the DAV Senior Secondary School ground in Sector 8.

During the camp, the Chandigarh team will be selected to take part in the Sixth Girls Junior National Football Championship at Dingigul (Tamil Nadu) from November 21 to December 7. Players born on or after January 1, 1989, are eligible to appear in the trials being conducted by Chandigarh Football Association. — TNS