Scooterist succumbs to injuries
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 21 — An unidentified scooterist who was injured after being hit by a truck (HP-07-4220) succumbed to his injuries at the PGI last night.

The scooterist was hit near Dhillon Cinema located on the Chandigarh-Shimla road yesterday.

He was rushed to the PGI while the truck driver fled from the spot. A case under Sections 279 and 304-A of the IPC has been registered.

One hospitalised: A resident of Sector 55, Manzar Hussain, reportedly consumed a poisonous substance and was hospitalised.

Six arrested: Six persons have been arrested in two separate incidents of drinking at a public place and gambling. Sunder Singh, Hans Raj and Santosh Kumar were arrested for gambling while Bansi, Sham Lal and Bala were arrested for drinking at a public place in Mauli Jagran.

PANCHKULA

Motorcyclist killed: A motorcyclist, Ranjit Singh, died after his vehicle was hit by a speeding truck near Kalka on Sunday. His two children who were also on the vehicle were injured in the accident. The Kalka police has registered a case under Sections 279 and 304-A of the IPC against the truck driver.

Stiff competition for PU seats
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 21 — The entrance tests for admission to most courses run by Panjab University for the new academic session concluded here today with the tests for subjects of M.Sc. (Hons school) and the two-year courses of M.Sc.

The examinations began with the tests of Ll.B, Ll.M and Master of Computer Application on June 17. During the period, tests were conducted for over 25 such courses.

The Controller of Examination, Dr Sodhi Ram, disclosed that the results for the examinations conducted during the five days would be declared after a fortnight. The computer centre of the university, entrusted with the task of preparing the result, will take about 10 days to prepare it, he said.

Meanwhile, at the examination centre, the applicants were petrified with the large number of students who had come to take the test. "There are very few seats in the departments, resulting in cut-throat competition. One mark here or there will make a difference between getting a seat or losing it,'' contends Sonia Kumar, taking her M.Sc. examination.

A parent who had come pick up his daughter after the test, Mr R.C. Sharma, said, "The result of the MCA test will either make her the computer professional she always dreamt of being and could well be her passport to the USA or it could force her to join one of the run-of-the mill post-graduate courses which she detests. We are all keeping our fingers crossed since hard work alone cannot make a difference at such times.''

The seats in various departments are limited. While the course of master of mass communication has a total of 25 seats out of which five are reserved for NRIs and NRI-sponsored students, the course of master of arts (education) has 25 seats in all. The Ll.B course has 150 seats along with 15 more for the NRI candidates for classes in the morning session while 150 seats are available in the evening session of the course.

In the department of the university, seats in M.Ed, M.Ed (educational technology), M Ed (Guidance and Counselling) vary from 10 to 25 for the three courses. However, in the eight colleges affiliated to Panjab University, there are over 100 additional seats for the M.Ed course. For the bachelor of physical education course, there are 15 seats, while the post-graduate course in the same subject has about 20 seats. Five seats in each course were to be approved by the Syndicate for which no decision has yet been received by the Examination branch, sources add.

For M.Sc (Hons school), comprising the subjects of anthropology, biochemistry, botany, chemistry, microbiology, physics, biophysics and zoology, the number of seats available will be decided on the number of students who are promoted to the next class, sources point out. In the two-year M.Sc. course, too, the seats for subjects of biotechnology and statistics run by the department, mathematics in a department and an affiliated college of the university along with botany and chemistry in another college, are not fixed.

However, there are about 50 seats for the B.Lib. course while M.Lib. has about 20 seats.

BBA, BCA admit cards

The admit cards for the BBA and BCA entrance tests to be conducted by Panjab University on June 27 have been dispatched to the candidates. Anyone not receiving the card by June 23 is advised to contact the CET cell of the university for a duplicate copy, a press note issued by the Joint Controller of Examination, Mr A.R. Bhandari, said here today.

In case a student cannot come to Chandigarh, he may contact the officers of the university at RSD College, Ferozepore, Government College, Hoshiarpur, and Panjab University Extension Library, Civil Lines, Ludhiana, on June 26. For issuance of duplicate admit cards, the candidate should make a written request along with an attested passport size photograph and deposit Rs 20 for the purpose.

Happy days are here again
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 21 — Yes, that seems to be true when you see kids having a gala time at the Pracheen Kala Kendra's summer workshop this year. Nearly 100 children from Chandigarh, Panchkula and Mohali are utilising their summer vacations to learn theatre and allied arts.

The workshop is organised by Pracheen kala Kendra and is being conducted by Rajesh Rajpal and Munisha Mahajan from Mumbai.

"These workshops create awareness in the children" says the couple, "and working with kids gives us immense pleasure".

"Children, as you know, are very honest and very energetic, so working with them needs more patience, more energy, more liveliness. If there is something the kids don't like have the guts to tell you so", they said.

On the other hand, parents are also relaxed to see their progeny involved in imbibing theatrical skills and making the best of their holidays.

The children are learning to improvise, to make and tell stories, to make masks and to create their own kind of music through unconventional instruments. They are playing theatre games, learning make-up and improving on their observation and concentration.

The one-month-long programme stressed upon an all-round personality development of the child. The workshop does not promise to produce actors or classical singers or dancers but certainly promises to produce good audiences for theatre and performing arts.

"The enthusiasm with which they they participate in the workshop , is more than appreciable", adds Munisha.

Release gas sans hot plate
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 21 — The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum-I has directed Sunshine Gas Agency, Sector 44 B, to release the gas connection of a complainant within 30 days without forcing him to purchase the hot plate from them and also pay costs of Rs 2,000 as compensation.

Earlier, Mr Surjit Singh, a resident of Burail village, Sector 45, had filed a complaint alleging that the gas agency was forcing him to buy a hot plate as a condition precedent to the release of the gas connection. The complainant told Indian Oil Corporation officials that he already possessed a hot plate, and therefore the connection should be released without condition. They in turn instructed the agency to release the gas connection without insisting upon the hot plate. He also deposited Rs 10 with the agency to inspect the hot plate already in possession of the complainant.

He further alleged that no one turned up for inspection and despite repeated efforts, he failed to get the connection released.

The gas agency did not appear before the forum nor filed any reply.

In ex-parte proceedings, the forum Bench comprising its President, Mr H.C. Modi and members Dr R.K. Behl and Ms Shashi Kanta accepted the contention of the complainant and observed, "It is highly unfair and improper on the part of the opposite party (gas agency) to refuse to release the gas connection to the complainant on this ground. When the complainant possesses a hot plate, he cannot be forced to purchase another one. Domestic gas connection is a necessity for every home and arbitrary non-release of the connection when maturing after a long wait for a number of years will certainly cause harassment to the consumer."

It awarded the consumer a compensation of Rs 2,000 and a cost of Rs 500.

Pertech to refund

The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum-I has directed Pertech Computer Limited to refund Rs 18,895 along with interest at the rate of 12 per cent per annum for failure to deliver a computer within the stipulated time.

In his complaint, Mr Ashok Aggarwal, a self-employed computer operator, contended that he availed himself of a loan facility from Punjab National Bank, Kalka, to purchase a computer along with printer and CVT. He has further stated that once the loan was sanctioned, he deposited a demand draft for Rs 18,895 on February 2, 1997, and the local office of the computer company assured delivery of the item within eight weeks.

He filed the complaint with a grievance that despite his depositing the entire price, the computer was not supplied to him.

Since the company failed to appear before the forum, it was proceeded against ex parte. The forum Bench comprising its President, Mr H.C. Modi and members Dr R.K. Behl and Ms Shashi Kanta held the company guilty of deficiency in service and directed the company to refund Rs 18,895 with interest at the rate of 12 per cent per annum from the date of deposit to the date of actual payment. A sum of Rs 1500 was also imposed as costs and compensation on account of harassment and inconvenience.

Prices of fruits stable
By A Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, June 21 — Prices of most fruits did not witness any fluctuation in the past 24 hours as the retail market remained stable.

After a survey of the market, it was found that a kg of litchi was priced at Rs 30 whereas its wholesale price was Rs 20 per kg. The price of one kg of cherry at Rs 65 had seen reduction of Rs 15.

According to retailers, the price of the fruit has started crashing as it now comes from different parts of north India. Till now, the fruit was coming from parts of Himachal Pradesh and arrivals were not enough to fulfill requirements of consumers.

The price of watermelon also registered a downward trend in the market. A kg of the fruit, priced at between Rs 8 and Rs 10 just two days back, could be purchased today at Rs 6. Its price has come down as due to fears of rain and its adverse effect on the crop, farmers have rushed their produce to the market. A retailer said that the fruit had lost its aroma and sweetness due to rain resulting in a decline in the number of its buyers.

Other fruits remained stable in this period. A kg of mango priced at between Rs 20 and Rs 25. A dozen bananas could be bought at Rs 18, whereas the price of l kg of Plums was stable at Rs 30.

Chiku and grapes were priced at Rs 30 per kg, whereas a kg of papaya was available at Rs 50. A dozen mausamis could be bought at Rs 50 and a kg of pomegranates was priced at Rs 30.