VC opens ‘Euphoria-99’ CHANDIGARH, Jan 7 — Prof MM Puri, Vice-Chancellor, Panjab University, today inaugurated "Euphoria--99", an inter-medical college cultural contest, at the Central Scientific Instruments Organisation Auditorium in Sector 30 here.

Three bodies found in city Obtaining a certificate may cost more

Road repair at slower than snail's pace
CHANDIGARH, Jan 7 — The approach road to Maloya village which has been under repairs is yet to be completed, thereby posing a lot of problems to the residents who are planning a series of agitations in the next few days to highlight their grievances. The road is at present nothing but a mud track.

Anaesthetists to meet in city
CHANDIGARH, Jan 7 — The Chandigarh branch of the Indian Society of Anaesthetists and the Department of Anaesthesia, PGI, will hold a two-day continuing medical education on January 9 and 10 at the PGI.

Conference on ayurveda

Snag hits phone services

Students boycott exam

Lekhak Sabha meeting

Permanent Lok Adalat in UT from Jan 11
by Prabhjot Singh
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 7 — A permanent Lok Adalat at the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the first of its kind in the country, will start functioning from January 11.

Justice D V Sehgal, a former Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, will be the Presiding Judge at the new permanent Lok Adalat.

A formal decision to start the new adalat at the high court was taken at a meeting of the High Court Legal Services Committee under the chairmanship of Mr Justice N K Sodhi on December 14.

Mr Justice Sodhi observed that complicated matters regarding matrimonials, landlord-tenant controversies, service matters, industrial disputes, pension cases and motor accident claim cases could be more effectively sorted out by the permanent and continuous Lok Adalat. It will not only reduce the backlog of the high court cases but also help in the disposal of other disputes at the prelitigative stage.

Mr K K Garg, Registrar General, Punjab and Haryana High Court, and Secretary, High Court Legal Services Committee, is entrusted with the establishment of this new adalat.

Mr S K Sardhana, Member-Secretary, Chandigarh Legal Services Authority , has already identified approximately 600 cases which will be placed before the new permanent Lok Adalat Judge. As it is going to be a permanent and continuous adalat, more and more cases will be identified for disposal by the Lok Adalat.

The idea of establishing lok adalats throughout the country was thrown up for deliberations by Mr Justice Dr AS Anand, Chief Justice of India, when he was the Executive Chairman of the National Legal Services Authority in December,1997.

The Chandigarh Legal Services Authority under the executive chairmanship of Mr Justice N K Sodhi was the first to establish a permanent Lok Adalat in the union territory.

Mr Justice SP Bharucha, a Judge of the Supreme Court, and at present Executive Chairman of the National Legal Services Authority, and Mr Justice Arun B. Saharya, Patron-in-Chief, Chandigarh Legal Services Authority, have been observing keenly the progress made by the authority in this regard so far.

The Chandigarh Authority has already held meetings with various departments dealing with the public to identify cases which could be disposed of expeditiously at the prelitigative stage by the permanent Lok Adalat. The police department has expressed its willingness to refer all such cases to the Permanent Lok Adalat in Sector 17 to clear the huge backlog of trivial cases for legal adjudication at the prelitigative stage.

Chinese legend comes alive
From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Jan 7 — Liang, with his magic paintbrush, made dragons come alive, birds fly and fish swim on stage at Tagore Theatre, here today. A spectacular performance, the Rafi Peer Theatre workshop from Lahore presented an ancient Chinese legend about the triumph of good over evil with puppets.

The 14-member troupe with six puppets in the lead role had the audience spellbound. Liang, the poor boy around whom the story revolved, carried the spectators with him to fantasy land.

The legend began with a melodious song of peace "Mujhe Udne Do", with birds chirping in the background, by Salman Haidery. Then the stage was set with a bamboo pagoda forming the backdrop for most of the action. Lights of different colours danced on the stage to capture the colours of the night, day and sea in its different moods.

Liang wants to be an artist and draws on the sand by the sea since he cannot afford art material. One night he is given a paint brush in his dream. It turns out that the brush is a magical one and whatever Liang paints comes to life.

The "Emperor" hears of it and asks Liang to fulfil his desires which the little boy refuses and is thrown into prison where he paints a dragon and escapes on it in the night. However, he is caught again by the guards. This time the king takes away the brush and begins to paint. The gold slabs he paints turn to monsters. Liang comes to his rescue and offers to paint whatever he desires. He paints the sea, a boat and the king is tempted to step into it. After a few joy rides, Liang paints a storm that takes the king's life.

The expressions of happiness and joy while painting, the awe on entering the palace and the sadness in prison were very well depicted.

Sheharyar Qureshi modulated his voice with ease to speak like little Liang, the princess who first spotted Liang and the pot-bellied king so fond of eating.

It took the troupe about 20 days to put up this experiment of puppet and dramatic exposition which was very well received by those present.

Dr Alka Pande was the compere for the show.

Transforming city’s sore spots
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 7 — How existing sore spots of a city can be transformed into marvellous pieces of architecture and more useful publicly was highlighted by Mr Bernard Huet, an eminent French architect, while delivering a lecture at Alliance Francaise here this evening.

Mr Huet, honoured with the Commander des Arts et des Lettres award, talked on various aspects of urban projects and public spaces. He mainly concentrated on his works in Paris transforming old architectural creations into beauty spots, tight traffic avenues into more spacious and visually attractive spots besides the development of parks.

He showed how he had retained the grandeur of the old architecture while developing new complexes loaded with totally modern architecture. He is in the city in connection with the international conference on "Chandigarh 50 years of the idea" to be organised at Panjab University.

Born in Vietnam, Mr Huet studied architecture in l' Ecole Supeieure des Beaux Arts in Pais and received his masters degree from Philadelphia, USA.

He has been an expert consultant to the UNESCO on several past occasions. He is also a former Chief Editor of the prestigious journal "Architecture d' Aujourd' hui".

The prominent projects of Mr Huet include Place Stalingrad, Bercy Parc, Camps-Elysees, Place des Fetes, Centre for Art and Culture.

He has received several awards, including Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres, Grand Prix of Architectural Critic, International Prize for Architecture in Stone, Verome and a gold medal for urbanism from the Academy of Architecture.

Mr Huet also talked on various aspects of post-modernism.

Ethiopia keen on scientific research
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 7 — Ethiopia will recruit Indian scientists and lecturers for its agricultural and research institutes, in a bid to boost research-related activities, Dr Seyfu Ketema, Director-General of the Ethiopian Agricultural Research Organisation, said here today.

Dr Ketema, who is heading a four-member high-level delegation to India for identifying the areas of scientific cooperation, told The Tribune that there was good scope for cooperation between the two countries as many of the problems in the fields of crops research, animal sciences, soils and water research and dryland agricultural research were common in both countries.

Expressing a high opinion about scientific research being carried out in India, he said that Ethiopia was keen on learning from India in the different fields of scientific research. He evinced keen interest in the integrated watershed management project at Sukho Majri in Punjab executed by the local centre of the Central Soil and Water Conservation Research Centre. He added that Ethiopia was planning to send its students for studies at the postgraduate and doctorate levels in Indian universities.

The other members of the delegation are Mr Ato Asrat Bulbula, Commissioner of the Science and Technology; Dr Desta Hamito, president of Alemaya Agricultural University, and Dr Beyene Kebede, department head of the Natural Resources and Agricultural, Science and Technology Commission. Mr Yifredew Getnet, First Secretary of the Ethiopian embassy in India, accompanied the delegation.

Earlier, Dr R.K. Aggarwal, Principal Scientist and head of the local centre, apprised the delegation of successful projects undertaken by the centre with community participation in the states of Punjab, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal.

Prof S.P. Mittal, Principal Scientist, gave an overview of the main projects executed by the centre in Sukho Majri and Rel Majra with the help of slides. He explained in detail how the areas, which were once denuded and without vegetation, had been turned into lush-green lands transforming the lives of the residents.

During an inaction with the members of the delegation, Mr Ramesh C. Bansal, Senior Scientist (Engineering and Hydrology), while emphasising the need for community partnership in the execution of the watershed management projects, said that the site for a micro-dam at Sukho Majri was in fact suggested by a local residents.

VC opens ‘Euphoria-99’
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 7 — Prof MM Puri, Vice-Chancellor, Panjab University, today inaugurated "Euphoria--99", an inter-medical college cultural contest, at the Central Scientific Instruments Organisation (CSIO) Auditorium in Sector 30 here.

Professor Puri said that Euphoria was a state of temporary elation. Doctors had to work hard and at times their efforts in saving lives of patients did not bear fruit which gave them a sense of disappointment. In order to keep themselves in a state of mental balance, it was desired that festivities like this contest should be a regular feature to attain permanent euphoria.

While inaugurating the fete-cum-medical exhibition, Mrs Anuradha Gupta, Home Secretary, UT, said that the medical profession was a profession of continuous hard work after preliminary education as compared to any other profession.

Prof VK Kak, Director-Principal of Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, which had organised "Euphoria-99", while declaring the contest open, claimed that the GMCH had played a model role for other institutions to follow.

Prof Raj Bahadur, chairman of the Euphoria organising committee, said that the exhibition reflected what was taught in the medical curriculum.

The exhibition is open to the public and the students.

Anaesthetists to meet in city
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 7 — The Chandigarh branch of the Indian Society of Anaesthetists and the Department of Anaesthesia, PGI, will hold a two-day continuing medical education (CME) on January 9 and 10 at the PGI.

Experts will discuss problems and safety of pregnant mothers seeking anaesthesia for any operation and development in field of painless delivery. The head of the Anaesthesia department, Prof Pramila Chari, informed that the department had been providing painless labour services to mothers who seek help.

The CME will be attended by around 200 delegates, she claimed.

Road repair at slower than snail's pace
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 7 — The approach road to Maloya village which has been under repairs is yet to be completed, thereby posing a lot of problems to the residents who are planning a series of agitations in the next few days to highlight their grievances. The road is at present nothing but a mud track.

Residents are vocal in condemning the administration for the delay and lack of supervision in getting the project through at the earliest. The indifferent attitude of the contractor, who is doing the repair work, which is going on in fits and starts, has come under fire from residents.

Mr B.S. Jandiala and Mr Shakeel Ahmad, residents of the village said they have talked to the contractor about speeding up the work and had represented to the authorities many times in the past one year but nothing has been done till date. Now that the rains are here, the project would get delayed further, they rued.

Carrying her shoes in one hand and holding up her salwar to walk in the slushy mud track, Ms Susheel Sharma, a teacher of a school in the village who goes to the village daily, expressed her anger at the delay and asked for strict action against those who profited from people's misery.

She said the attendance in the schools has gone down as the children cannot negotiate their way and have to be dropped.

The bus services have also been suspended to the village. Buses now stop near the Sector 39 police station, a 2 km walking distance from the village through the slush, Mr P.S. Garg, a resident said.

Similarly, others making their way on the mud track confronted TNS and said they were "sick and tired of the inefficiency of the authorities" where a simple matter of making a 1 km-long road is taking a year. Some shopkeepers along this stretch of road also reported low sales.

The problem gets aggravated in night as a lot of people meet with accidents due to non-existent streetlights on this stretch.

Villagers offer to undertake completion of the road by voluntary efforts in case the authorities would not be able to complete the repairs in time.

In a year if only the level of a portion of the road could be raised by land filling a fully metalled road would take how much time is any body's guess, commented villagers.

Conference on ayurveda
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 7 — The All India National Conference on Ayurveda will be organised in the city on January 9 by the Rashtriya Ayurved Parishad, a press note said here today.

The conference will be presided over by Mr Madan Lal Khurana, Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, and will be inaugurated by Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Punjab Chief Minister.

Eminent personalities of ayurveda, including Raj Vaidya Triguna, Dr S.K. Sharma, adviser in ayurveda to the union government, and Dr V.N. Pandey will participate, it added.

Snag hits phone services
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 7 — A breakdown in Telecom services in the Ram Darbar exchange led to problems for phone subscribers in Sectors 29, 30, 28, 27 and the Industrial Area.

All communication through leased telephone circuits to the Tribune was disrupted for the second day today.

Subscribers have complained of 'dead' telephones.

Students boycott exam
From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Jan 7 — Students of B.Sc. (Hons School) second year, Department of Mathematics, today boycotted their B.Sc. (Hons School) second year re-appear exam of Analysis (402-A) paper in protest against the question paper being out side the syllabus and the other half was not according to the set pattern.

Moreover, their re-evaluation results had not been declared.

The students demanded that the examination for the paper should be reconducted and their re-evaluation results declared at the earliest, a press note issued by Ajay Pal, press secretary of Students Organisation of Panjab University, said today.

Lekhak Sabha meeting
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 7 — The monthly meeting of the local Punjabi Lekhak Sabha will be held on January 10 at Kala Bhavan where Mr Mohan Bhandari, recipient of this year's Sahitya Academy award, shall answer questions. The anthology of poems by Dr Jasbir Kesar will also be released.

According to the General Secretary, Mr Dalbir Singh, the Executive Committee of the sabha will meet on January 9 at the same venue to discuss the annual programmes and other vital issues.

Obtaining a certificate may cost more
By Sanjeev Singh Bariana
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 7 —Panjab University has proposed a hike in fee related to providing various certificates and related services for its students.

The recommendations of a committee in this regard find place in the coming Syndicate meeting.

The fee for duplicate certificates and provisional certificates, including PhD courses, which is now Rs 35 is proposed at Rs 100. This also includes a fee for merit certificates and detailed marks.

The committee made a few changes in the recommendations of an earlier committee in September which were sent back by the subsequent Syndicate. The hike proposed by the committee which met in September has been sliced considerably in a number of cases by this committee, sources said.

The fee for verification of qualifications on the request of a person from within India is proposed at Rs 100 in addition to another Rs 100 as postal charges. The current rate was Rs 50. The charge for official attestation by the registrar of first photostat copy of certificates and degrees is proposed at Rs 100 in place of the existing Rs 25.

The charges for seeking confidential results will be Rs 75 instead of the existing rates of Rs 50. The change in the examination centre from one station to the other will cost Rs 400. The current charges are Rs 200. The change in centres outside the jurisdiction of the university which now costs Rs 300 will be Rs 1000.

No changes have been made in seeking duplicate roll numbers either telegraphically or by hand. However, changes or corrections in the examination form or a change of subject or option one month before the annual examination will cost Rs 50.

In a pleasant move, the committee has recommended that no fee should be charged for correction in the names of students in documents which are sent wrongly by principals. The current charges were Rs 30 per correction.

The fee for re-checking of answerbooks which is Rs 40 now has been proposed at Rs 100 per answer-book. The fee for identification of an answerbook after re-evaluation personally by the candidate has also been recommended to be enhanced from Rs 40 to Rs 100.

The university will allow a change in name on the payment of Rs 300. The current charges are Rs 50. The residence certificates will cost Rs 50 per copy. Cancellation of migration each time will cost Rs 100 instead of the existing amount of Rs 25.

The library fee, which was Rs 10 a month has been enhanced by Rs 5. The library development fee has also been enhanced by Rs 5 to be paid annually.

The creation of a centre abroad which currently cost $400 will now cost $1000 and the amount is non-refundable. The penalty for loss of answersheet will now be Rs 200.

The creation of a special examination centre in the main government hospital where the candidate is admitted has been enhanced from Rs 150 to Rs 1000. The amount is non-refundable and applies to students with serious ailments only.

The committee has also proposed an enhancement in rates of submission of PhD thesis, condonation of the delay in submission of thesis, an extension in submission of MPhil dissertation and certain other areas.

Three bodies found in city
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 7 — Two bodies were found from different places in the city this morning. Both were men, presumably the two had died of cold while sleeping in the open.

The body of Gurdial Singh, aged around 65 and a resident of Ludhiana, was found from the kerosene depot in the Bapu Dham colony located on the eastern side of the union territory in the morning. He was naked from his waist upwards.

According to police sources, he had come to Chandigarh to meet his friend Joga Singh. Both consumed some liquor. After a while Gurdial Singh took his warm clothes and shirt before going off to get more liquor. From there he went to sleep at the kerosene depot where he was found dead.

Meanwhile, an unidentified body has been found under mysterious circumstances from near the CII premises in Sector 31 on Thursday morning. The deceased was in his forties and wearing a red colour shirt.

The police has found a cycle parked near the body. Though the exact cause of his death could not be known, the police has sent the body for post-mortem to the General Hospital in Sector 16.

A resident of Mumbai, Mr Santosh Kumar, lost some cash, a mobile phone, a pager and some clothes he was carrying in a bag. The bag was stolen from the ISBT in Sector 17.

Meanwhile, in separate incident, a case of cheating has been registered against Rajeev Kapoor. Col R.L. Sharma (retd) had lodged a complaint against him.

A case under Sections 406 and 420 of the IPC has been registered.

Six injured: Six persons, including a woman, have been injured in separate road accidents in the city. Mrs Krishna Malhotra was in the car (CH-01-A-4780) driven by her husband when it was hit by a truck (HP-34-3308) driven by Neema Sherpa. The accident occurred on the road dividing Sectors 46 and 47.

The woman was admitted to the PGI. Jeet Singh of Sector 38 was injured when the tractor trolley he was travelling is overturned near the cricket stadium in Sector 16. Mr Surjeet Singh of Sector 43 was injured when his scooter collided with a car. In another accident Mohinder Lal of Sector 28 and Lucky of SAS Nagar were injured when the scooter they were riding was hit by a truck. A resident of Hallo Majra, Karam Singh was injured when the scooter he was riding was hit by an unidentified vehicle.

Scooter taken away: A resident of Sector 43, Mr Dharma Pal, has alleged that Lekh Raj, a resident of Mauli Jagran had taken away his scooter ( CH-01-T-5091) on loan but had not returned it.

The police has registered a case under Section 406, IPC.

Beaten up: A Manimajra woman, Ms Veena, was allegedly beaten up by another woman, Vandana, of the same locality. In her complaint Ms Veena has alleged that Vandana was accompanied by Subhash Chand.

PANCHKULA

Two dead: In separate accidents, two persons lost their lives in the city on Thursday.

According to police sources, Mr Baldev Singh died after his scooter skidded in Sector 17. In the other incident, a labourer, Sona Lal, was crushed to death after the shuttering of a house fell on him in the Mata Mansa Devi complex.