Chandigarh, December 3
Panjab University syndicate in its meeting held here today decided to introduce a new course of master’s in disaster management with effect from the next academic session.

The syndics also approved establishment of a new department for disadvantaged sections in collaboration with the Rehabilitation Council of India with effect from the same session.

It was decided that a warning be issued to Vijay Chopra, reader in the department of evening studies, who had been abstaining from the classes at different intervals and was found guilty. It was also decided that a red entry be made in his service book.

Syndics have also accepted the enquiry report in the embezzlement of funds case involving Dr Ajmer Singh, former director sports department.

He has been exonerated of all charges framed against him in view of the letter he wrote to the VC, saying that anything balance found in his name might be deducted from the payments to be made by the university.

The matter pertaining to Dr Devi Zarabi, whose appointment was made just a few days before relinquishing the charge by the then VC, K.N. Pathak, was deferred and legal opinion was sought.

Also members of the faculty, who were granted permission to work beyond 62 years, will remain so and can exercise their voting right in the administrative and academic committees.

However, the issue concerning reduction of the number of papers required to be passed by the candidates of the five-year integrated course in BA LLB (hons) for promotion to the next semester has been deferred.

The syndicate also accepted the recommendations of the committee constituted by the VC to examine the cases on compassionate grounds for the year 2007.

The grant of travel subsidy for attending international conferences outside India out of ‘unassigned grants’ for the financial year 2007-08 was also approved. The rate of interest of provident fund has been increased to 8.5 per cent.

Chandigarh, December 3
The Chandigarh education department has issued a 15-day show-cause notice to DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 8, to explain why the managing committee of the school should not be dissolved and instead a manager and official receiver by the education department should not be appointed to look after the school affairs.

Confirming this, DPI (S) S.K. Setia said the notice had been issued to the school on November 28 on account of not providing information under the RTI Act, misusing the PTA funds, charging extra money from boarders of Hari Ram Hostel and flouting the rules and regulations of the education department.

This notice also had the reference to an earlier notice issued to the school on November 25, which stated that the CIC, New Delhi, had directed to designate the principal of the school, Dr Vibha Ray, as the CPIO of the institution. But instead of supplying information to the complainants under the RTI Act, the principal had stated that the Act was not applicable to government-aided private schools.

“This is a serious violation of the Act. Not only this, the school authorities also did not supply the names and justification of staff members who were not sharing the load within the stipulated time. Till date, there is no hearing from their side,” said Setia.

Earlier also, the school had violated the Act by denying information about its sports center to city resident Satpal Kherwal. Satpal had submitted an application to the school, seeking details of the school hostel and cricket-coaching center being run by the school.

Not only this, the school had also engaged the staff out of PTA funds without seeking approval of the Parents Teachers Association, which is a total violation of the Education Code.

Chandigarh, December 3
Panjab University is on a mission. After the ongoing student-exchange programme in the department of laws with Stockholm University, Sweden, the university is now contemplating on signing more MoUs.

A high-powered group of 20 educationists, who are a part of the delegation of British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell, visited the university today.

The group, led by Dr Randall Martin, executive director, British Columbia Centre for International Education, represented various Canadian universities, including University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, University of Victoria, Thompson Rivers University, Kwantlen University College, Malaspina University College and University College of Fraser Valley.

The PU vice-chancellor, Prof R.C. Sobti, while welcoming the delegation, said Panjab University (PU) was opening up in a big way. The university had signed a couple of MoUs, out of which three are with Canadian universities, including University College of Fraser Valley, Simon Fraser University and Manitoba State University, he added emphasising that PU was keen not only on signing MoUs but was equally concerned to ensure their sustained working. The vice chancellor cited an example of an MoU between Panjab University and University College of Fraser Valley (UCFV), British Columbia, which was working very successfully.

He honoured Prof Skip Bassford, president of UCFV, Dr Randall Martin, executive director, British Columbia Centre for International Education, and Don Avison, president of the University President’s Council of British Columbia.

Earlier, while speaking on ‘Education Forum on India and British Columbia - Partners in Learning’ at Taj Hotel, Professor Sobti emphasised that for becoming a knowledge economy, India needed to increase the access to higher education from the present level of less than 11 per cent to at least 23 per cent.

He also suggested that education be made equitable and inclusive by removing regional and social disparities besides focusing on removing inter-institutional variations in quality. He strongly recommended for investing liberally in higher education to make it an engine of growth.

He honoured British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell by presenting a phulkari, Punjabi turban and a memento. He also presented a memento to Dr Moura Quayle, deputy minister, ministry of advanced education, British Columbia. Prof S.K. Kulkarni, dean, university instructions, PU, also participated in the deliberations and emphasised that before signing an MoU, both institutions should identify the key areas of specialisation and key individuals for the steering the MoUs.

Chandigarh, December 3
Subhash of Government Senior Secondary School, Sector 45, won the first place in the 6 to 4 years category while Shivam Gupta of Government High School, Sector 47, emerged winner in the drawing competitions held at Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 10, here today.

The event was organised under the Sarv Shiksha Abhiyaan, Chandigarh chapter, as part of the ability search cultural competitions for ‘special children’ on the occasion of World Disability Day. DPI(s) S.K. Setia gave away the special childen.

Results: 11 to 14 years: Shivam Gupta, GHS-47, Garima, Vatika-19, Dinkar, GMHS-38; consolation prizes: Rohit Kumar, Vatika School-19.

6 to 4 years: Subhash GSSS-45, Kartik GMHS-Mani Majra, Vijay Rashmi GMSSS-8-B; consolation prize Shivani GHS-40-B.

15 years and above: 1 Kamal Vatika School-19, 2 Suman Rani Vatika School -19, Ravinder Kumar Vatika School-19, 4 Neelam Yadav. consolation prize Vatika School, Sector 19.

Chandigarh, December 3
A four-week long orientation course sponsored by the UGC for newly inducted college and university teachers was inaugurated by Prof R.C. Sobti here today.

Sobti underlined the importance of such courses which aimed at giving professional orientation to the teachers. He said within a short span of time the teacher-student relationship had changed.

Students now are more aware of their rights and of the resources of knowledge around. Unless both teachers and students understand each other, quality education would remain a dream.

Prof S.K. Sharma, director, Academic Staff College, briefed the participants about the rules and regulations of the course. As many as 38 participants from far off places like Assam, Solapur and tribal areas of Bharmour and Lahaul Spiti are attending this course.

Presentation

Anil Raina, chairperson of the department of English, PU, presented a paper on ‘Jane Austen: The Punjab Response’ at the Jane Austen and Comedy Conference held at La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia, from November 28-30. More than 500 delegates from India, Italy, Switzerland, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Canada, US and Australia participated in the conference.

Awarded

Prof Raj Pal Sharma from the department of chemistry was awarded the ISCAS medal for his contributions in solid state chemistry at the fifth national symposium and conference on solid state chemistry and allied areas (ISCAS-2007) held at Nagpur from November 28-30. He also delivered a lecture on ‘Structural Diversity in Cationic Cobaltammines: Search for Efficient Cobaltammine Based Anion Receptors’.

Seminar

The department of Guru Nanak Sikh Studies, PU, will organise a one-day national seminar on ‘Guru Nank Bani: Ideological and Cultural Perspective’ in collaboration with the Haryana Punjabi Sahitya Akademi and ICSSR on December 6 in the Golden Jubilee Hall. Dr Upinderjit Kaur, minister of education, civil aviation, vigilance and justice, Punjab, will be the chief guest. Dr Deepak Manmohan Singh, dean of languages, will preside over the function.

Chandigarh, December 3
The first woman advocate to be elevated to the Bench from the Bar, Daya Chaudhary, and four other advocates are expected to be administered oath as the Punjab and Haryana High Court Judges on Wednesday.

Their warrants of appointment were reportedly signed by the President today. The other advocates to be sworn in are K.S. Ahluwalia, R.K. Jain, Rakesh Kumar Garg and Jaswant Singh.

Chaudhary is also the first woman president of the High Court Bar Association. Pursuant to the elevation of the new judges, the roaster of benches is also expected to change.

Even after their elevation , the shortage of judges will continue in the High Court. As of now, the High Court has 37 judges against the sanctioned strength of 68. It was only recently increased by 15 from 53.

With Chaudhary's elevation , the High Court will now have two women judges. It may be mentioned that the union ministry of law has categorically stated that it was in favour of increasing the representation of women in the judiciary.

While eight women judges had been sworn in at the Delhi High Court, the ministry was in favour of administering oath of office to at least three or four more women judges from here.

Sources in the High Court add that the names of more advocates will soon be considered for elevation, as judges as the Union Government is now appointing double the number of judges annually, compared to the previous years.

Quoting figures, sources say 125 judges are on an average being appointed annually, against just 55 until recently.