Fake certificate racket detected
By Sanjeev Singh Bariana
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 4 — A case of defrauding young students with fake certificates at the senior secondary level has come to light in the city with the arrest of the director of a coaching academy.

Police sources confirmed that Mr P.V. Gupta, Director of the local ACE Academy, has been booked under Sections 420, 467, 471 and 468 IPC. The information report was filed in the last week of September.

The academy organised special coaching classes for students seeking admission in professional colleges and also arranged for their admission in local schools, Sonia, one of the victims, said. Narrating her story, Sonia said she came from Hoshiarpur after completing her matriculation.The advertisements of the academy promising prospects in the medical and non-medical fields attracted her to join.

After having enrolled in the school, the girl students were assured of good results even if they skipped classes. Sonia said she failed in her plus one class. The school authorities, however, promised her that she would get her plus one pass result on the payment of Rs 25,000. She was shifted to another school in Sector 44.

Sonia, however, did not go to the class as she had not paid “the entire amount” to her tutorial head. “I went to attend only one class. I did not inform my parents as I was told not to”, she said.

The parents, however, suspected that their daughter was lying and made inquires at their own level. When they finally cornered the teacher concerned, they were presented with a fake certificate.

The certificate, which is a school leaving document, says Sonia had passed her examination from Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 20-D. The school denies that the girl was ever on their rolls.

Sonia said she had been taken for a ride by the school authorities. “I am not the only case. There are more. The students who fail in plus one are subsequently admitted to private schools where the candidate is expected to pay huge amounts before procuring a plus one pass certificate”, she said. For the huge amount demanded at the new school, she had borrowed money from her friends.

The academic condition at the institute should be verified to inform innocent students who get enrolled, she said. A majority of the victims came from small towns in Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana. These students besides availing hostel facilities expected help in getting admissions in professional colleges following training in the academies.

The list of the accused also includes a woman teacher of a local government school.

Mr Vijay Kumar, SHO of Sector 11, confirmed that a report had been lodged. Investigations would continue following presenting the accused in the court for the remand, he added.

BBA, BCA entrance test results out
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 4 — Panjab University has declared the results of the entrance examination for the bachelor of business administration (BBA) and bachelor of computer application (BCA) courses conducted on September 26, an official press release said here today.

As many as 93 out of 150 candidates who appeared in the BCA entrance examination have qualified for admissions.

A total of 34 out of 40 candidates qualified for the BBA course.

Copies of the gazette will be available at the enquiry counter in Panjab University, RSD College, Ferozepore, SD College, Hoshiarpur, Ramgarhia College, Millerganj (Ludhiana), and DM College, Moga.

The dates of counselling would be notified later, the release added.

No decision on water tariff
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 4 — The Finance and Contract Committee (F&CC) of the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh (MCC) failed to take up the issue of revision of water tariff today as the meeting was postponed at the last moment.

The meeting, in which certain important issues like auctioning of the parking lots in Sectors 7, 8, 9, 17 and 35 and handing over the public toilets to the private agencies were to be discussed, was put off as top officers of the civic body were busy with preparing for the counting process of the 13th Lok Sabha.

The Mayor, Mr Kewal Krishan Addiwal, informed that the meeting had to be postponed as the Commissioner, Mr M.P. Singh, was away to Tamil Nadu as an election observer. The Assistant Commissioner-I, Mr R.K. Rao, and the Secretary, Mr T.S. Dhaliwal, who had been appointed as the Assistant Returning Officers for the Chandigarh Lok Sabha seat, were busy in the counting process here.

Since the Assistant Commissioner-II, Mr Ashok Vashisht, was also on leave, it was virtually impossible to hold the meeting. The next meeting of the F&CC would be held either next Friday or the week after where these issues would be taken up, he assured.

Among other issues, addition of two more storeys to the New Deluxe Building, Sector 17, with a view to accommodating all offices of the civic body in one building, was also on the agenda of the meeting.

Burn victim fights for life at PGI
By Sonoo Singh
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 4 — It was in a state of acute shock and pain that Paramjeet, a 22-year old girl from Sohana village, was brought to the PGI today after she was allegedly burnt by her husband and in-laws at Abdulpur village for failing to meet their dowry demands.

Paramjeet presented a heart-rending sight with both her legs burnt to the extent that she is not able to move these at the joints. Her face, arms and hands also had some burn marks.

"I was first beaten by my husband, father-in-law and my brother-in-law on that day. Then they poured kerosene on me and the floor, and threw a lighted match on the floor, resulting in fire from my feet upwards. I started screaming and running outside, where I saw a bucket of water lying which I eventually poured on myself. Since I managed to survive my in-laws and my husband have been dumping me from one place to another", said Paramjeet while relating the incident.

Though the incident happened on the night of June 8, Paramjeet, daughter of Udai Singh, a daily-wager, was shown to doctors only when her parents chanced upon hearing about the same some time last month.

Married to Veera Singh in early November last year, Paramjeet was allegedly being harassed for dowry repeatedly, since her husband is unemployed who at times works at stills, where country liquor is made.

On that fateful night, after Paramjeet was able to save herself by pouring a bucket of water on herself, her husband put her into an auto-rickshaw and left her at his aunt's place in Dopalpur village. Paramjeet added that since no medical treatment was being given to her all this time, her legs started rotting and emitting a strange smell in the house. Thus in a matter of five days, the aunt called upon Veera Singh to take back his wife.

After this, the in-laws admitted her to the Rajpura Civil Hospital, from where she was taken to another private hospital at Rajpura, where she was admitted for about 25 days.

All this while Paramjeet's parents were unaware of their daughter's state. It was only after a chance visit of Udai Singh to Rajpura that the father came to know that the daughter had been admitted to a hospital there.

The hospital, meanwhile, referred her to the plastic surgery department of the PGI. "We are poor illiterate people, what do we know? First we were buying an injection as a pain-killer for Rs 75 daily. Now I think we will have to sell our buffalo, the only possession of the family for her treatment", said a teary-eyed Udai Singh.

Incidentally, for several days this burn victim was kept in the parents house where several lines of treatment, including 'desi' medicine were being given to her. Paramjeet's burns were being treated with turmeric and mustard oil.

When asked about making a police complaint, Paramjeet alleged that her in-laws threatened her, and that she was also afraid that the doctors had been told by her husband to kill her if she told the truth. Her father added that at Rajpura, his daughter had given a police statement, saying that she had got burnt while working on the gas-stove in the house.

As of today, this young girl is not so worried about justice being done as she is about how her poor parents would be able to provide for her treatment.

Jerath opposes Mitter’s plea
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 4 — Mr K.K. Jerath, former Chief Engineer of Chandigarh, today move an application in the court of the Sessions Judge, Mr B.S. Bedi, opposing the request of Mr Jagdish Mitter, Superintending Engineer (under suspension), to turn approver in FIR 3 dated October 26, 1998, and under the Prevention of Corruption Act read with sections 420 and 120-B, IPC.

In his application, Mr Jerath stated that the prosecution had suppressed the factual position. The reply filed by the Administration was “contrary to facts of the case, the rules governing the allotment of works and the instructions followed in the department.” For a just adjudication of the case, it is necessary to bring on record these facts, rules and procedures.

In the application Mr Jerath further stated that Mr Mitter had committed offences brought out in the charge sheet filed in the court. It was he who had approved the split up of the tenders so as to keep their value less than Rs 50,000 to avoid press publicity. Later on, he enhanced the value of work up to Rs 2.5 lakh and Rs 10 lakh. There was no estimate for all these works where the value was initially kept below Rs 50,000 and subsequently enhanced phenomenally.

“The order of enhancement in the value of works in each of the 25 cases are detailed at page 567 of the preliminary and supplementary challans. The enhancement has been approved by Mr Mitter. These written orders approving the enhancement have been withheld by him intentionally because he was entrusted with the task of supplying these documents to the investigating officer,” stated Mr Jerath.

In support of his contention, Mr Jerath quoted the Supreme Court ruling in P. Serajuddin case which inter alia said: “Where certain persons made self incriminating and confessional statements on being assured immunity from the evil effects thereof, the grant of amnesty to the said persons to be examined as prosecution witnesses was held to be highly irregular. The code does not recognise the immunity from prosecution under such circumstances.”

While Mr Jerath maintained that the office of the Chief Engineer had issued instructions conferring power to approve tenders up to Rs 2.50 lakh by the Executive Engineer, up to Rs 10 lakh by the Superintending Engineer, and above Rs 10 lakh by the Chief Engineer, Mr Mitter denied any such instructions.

The Sessions Judge adjourned the case till tomorrow with the directions to Mr Jerath to place on record the instructions issued by the office of the Chief Engineer for conferring powers.

From pillar to post for justice
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 4 — The aged father of a young bride battling for her life at the PGI is running from pillar to post to get justice for his daughter who he alleges was assaulted with a view to kill her for bringing inadequate dowry.

A tearful Lakshman Singh, a resident of Suratgarh, Rajasthan, told TNS that his daughter Balwinder Kaur, was married to Sirhind resident Darshan Singh in March. The marriage, according to him, was performed on a lavish scale and the girl was given an expensive trousseau, besides gold ornaments.

He said that after a few days, the in-laws of his daughter started harassing her and demanded a car, besides a large sum of cash. She was severely beaten up and not given food for days on end. The girl reportedly concealed that she was being ill treated for more than three months.

When she came home, she revealed that she was being ill treated and said she would not go back. Elders of both families intervened and the matter was resolved but Balwinder reluctantly went back to her in- laws with the remark that " this was the last time they would see her alive".

Lakshman Singh rues, " Why did we allow her to go. Had we known that her saying would become true, we would have arranged for a separation".

He alleged that the whole incident had been projected as if the girl had been injured in an accident on the Patiala -Sirhind road.

"She has suffered a serious injury on her head and is still in a coma at the PGI. Such is the clout of the accused that a case was registered by the police only after a lot of pleas", a distraught Prem Singh, a brother of Balwinder, who has come all the way from the USA remarked.

No cell phones, pagers in counting centres
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 4 — To ensure that the counting process for the Chandigarh Lok Sabha seat is conducted smoothly on Wednesday, the Chandigarh police has initiated strict security measures, while the local election authorities have banned the use of cellular phones, pagers, cigarettes and match-boxes inside the five counting centres. Arrangements have also been made to display trends outside the counting centres at Government College for Girls, Sector 42, Government College, Sector 46, Government College, Sector 11, Government College of Education, Sector 20, and Central Polytechnic, Sector 26.

Anybody allowed inside the counting centres will have to leave behind his electronic communication gadgets, Mr M. Ramsekhar, Returning Officer, said. All centres will have 14 tables each. Each candidate will be allowed to have one polling agent at each of the 14 tables in one centre. Counting will start simultaneously at 8 a.m. under the supervision of five central observers. In all, 160 officials will be on duty.

The result-obtaining button of an electronic voting machine will be pressed in the presence of the counting agents and the counting officer of the election department. The machine will then flash the votes polled by each of the candidates. The process of obtaining the result will be repeated on each machine to cross-check the numbers and remove errors, if any.

The machines are in the strong rooms of the counting centres. The seal will be broken by the Assistant Returning Officer concerned. At one time, 14 machines will be brought out from the strong room. The counting will be in rounds as done previously. It will take 10 to 15 minutes for each round. The process of bringing the machines, breaking of seals and repeating of the result-obtaining process will take 20 to 30 minutes.

It is expected that the result will be out by afternoon. Chandigarh is one of the 46 Lok Sabha constituencies where electronic voting machines were used.

Meanwhile, the police has made elaborate arrangements for the counting of votes. The counting centres have been placed under the charge of a DSP, who will head a force comprising two Inspectors and 75 officials, including home guards.

The force will be deployed inside and at the parameter of the compound. No person, except counting agents, who have prior permission from the authorities, will be allowed inside the building. Double-barricading will be done and all entrants will be frisked.

Police sources have said motorcycles and gypsies of the Police Control Room will be stationed at counting centres. Traffic policemen will be deployed as per requirements.

Reserve teams, comprising 150 men, will be at the disposal of the SSP and the SP. The team in case of the latter will be headed by a DSP, while the force in the case of the latter will be headed by an Inspector. Their brief will be to prevent any untoward incident and to deploy men where it is felt that the force provided is inadequate.

Besides this, a 150-strong reserve team, headed by a DSP and two Inspectors, will be stationed at the Deputy Commissioner's office. Similarly, all Sub-Divisional Police Officers will be provided with men for deployment in their area and to maintain law and order.

A team of 40 men, headed by an Inspector, will be at standby, to be posted at the residence of the winning candidate immediately after the result is announced. A team will also escort the victory procession.

Course in telecom equipment repair
Tribune News Service

SAS NAGAR, Oct 4 — A three-month course in repair and maintenance of telecom terminal equipment, computers and peripherals started at the Centre for Electronics Design and Technology of India (CEDTI) here today. As many as 20 participants from developing countries are participating in the course sponsored by the Union Ministry of External Affairs.

Inaugurating the course, Mr R.S. Khandpur, Director-General, CEDTI, New Delhi, said the developing countries were in the process of upgrading the telecommunication and computer infrastructure and the demand for technical manpower in the field of repair and maintenance in the developing countries was high.

In order to gain the maximum utility of the hardware infrastructure and keep the systems efficient, the role of maintenance, functional and operational knowledge could not be overlooked, he said.

The participants from Haiti, Mauritius, Panama, Uzbekistan, Mongolia, Peru, Nigeria, Vientiane, Laos, Cambodia, Mynamar, Sri Lanka, Mongolia and Zimbabwe, who are attending the course, are engaged in their respective countries in diverse areas dealing in electronics.

The local centre of the CEDTI would organise an international level course in medical equipment, technology management, networking and multi-media.

Protest against government decision
Tribune News Service

SAS NAGAR, Oct 4 — The Diploma Engineers Association of the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA) yesterday protested against the decision of the state government to disallow house rent, conveyance and daily allowances and medical reimbursement higher than that admissible to the Punjab Government employees.

The issue was raised at a meeting of the association held here today to elect its new office-bearers. Mr A.S. Randhawa, President of the association, said the employees of PUDA were not getting government houses and other benefits enjoyed by the state government employees. He demanded restoration of the old scheme of 2 per cent quota of government houses for PUDA employees.

Starting of a pension scheme for PUDA employees and fixing of 55 per cent promotional quota in the department were also demanded.

The following were elected office-bearers of the association: President — Mr A.S. Randhawa; Senior Vice-President — Mr Vijay Pal Sharma; General Secretary — Mr Balwant Singh; Vice-Presidents — Mr V.K. Sayal and Mr Gurjant Singh; Joint Secretary — Mr Narinderjit Singh; Press Secretary — Mr Ranbir Singh; Office Secretary — Mr J.S. Sandhu; Finance Secretary — Mr Swaranjit Singh; Auditor — Mr Sukhbir; and Adviser — Mr Mewa Singh.

Facilities planned for senior citizens
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 4 — The need for initiating measures to make senior citizens economically and psychologically secure, besides taking steps to provide them due respect and care were stressed by the Administrator of Chandigarh, Lieut-Gen B.K.N. Chhibber (retd), at a seminar-cum-open discussion organised by the Senior Citizens Federation here today.

General Chhibber said with the break up of joint family system, senior citizens were getting increasingly isolated. With pressures of modern life, globalisation, invasion of alien culture through media, the value systems of families had undergone a change, putting enormous pressure on senior citizens. Old age home was alien to our ethos but day-care centres with facilities like reading room, library and medical facilities should be opened for them, he added.

He announced that some of the demands submitted by the federation earlier had been accepted by the Administration. The Community Centre of Sector 18 would be at the disposal of the senior citizens from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Special OPD counter would be opened for senior citizens at the Sector 22 Polyclinic and at the Mani Majra dispensary which would operate from 10.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. every Thursday.

The Director, Health Services, would make arrangements so that the senior citizens could get their clinical tests done at any dispensary convenient to them. Special information kiosks were being opened at the Sector 16 General Hospital and the Sector 17 Treasury Office to assist senior citizens. CITCO would organise a picnic for senior citizens once every quarter. The Administrator said that special instructions were being issued to all heads of departments to open one special counter each for senior citizens and to attend to their problems on a priority basis.

He said Chandigarh was perhaps the first union territory in the country to introduce identity cards for senior citizens and allow them facility of free travel in local buses.

General Chhibber also felicitated several senior citizens on the occasion. Those honoured included Mrs Kamla Sharma, Dr W.D. Kain, Mr AK Nijhawan, Dr Brig ML Kataria, Col JC Kapur, Mrs Oshima Reikhy, Dr Amolak Singh Chopra, Mr Amar Nath Sharma, Mr Amrik Singh Bhatti and Mr Albel Singh.

Maj-Gen J.S. Bhullar, Mr PH Vaishnav and Mr H.L. Dhami were among the other main speakers at the seminar-cum-workshop. Dr S.K. Sharma presented a key note address on "Old, But Not Out".

Healthcare needs more funds
Tribune News Service

SAS NAGAR, Oct 4 — There was need to increase the availability of drugs and regularly monitor their quality stressed Prof B.K.Sharma, Director, PGI, Chandigarh, while delivering the inaugural session of a four-week training programme on "Assessment of quality of drugs and pharmaceutical" organised at the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) here today.

Prof Sharma said the drug regulatory bodies of different countries and people in the pharmaceutical industry should interact with each other continuously to update themselves. An increase in the budget for the healthcare sector in the developing countries was also required.

He said the packaging, storing and availability of drugs was another area which required more attention. An important factor to assess the quality of drugs was feedback from the patients.

Dr C.L.Kaul, Director of NIPER, said the objective of organising the four-week training programme was to increase awareness of the people working in the pharmaceutical industry and those working with the drug regulatory agencies. Of the total 25 delegates participating in the seminar, 17 were from Mauritius, Tanzania, Sudan, Cuba, Vietnam, Nigeria, Uganda, Zambia, Namibia and Indonesia.

Dr Kaul said the pharmaceutical sector was growing at a rate of 15 to 20 per cent in India as compared to its 5 to 6 per cent growth in the developed world. With the economic liberalisation and India joining the World Trade Organisation and the R and D components in the area of drug discovery and technology development was of critical importance. The process of quality building continues even after drug was marketed and in the competitive world the quality had become a key tool.

He said the training programme had been divided into three modules covering all important aspects of assessment of quality of drugs and pharmaceutical. Dr Harkrishan Singh from Chandigarh was also among the speakers.

Later, Dr H.P.S. Chawala, the head of the Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, NIPER, proposed a vote of thanks.

During the training programme issues like drug import and export, registration, regulation, essential of international marketing, history of drugs and pharmacy statutes, harmonisation of regulatory requirements, patent systems and its implications for pharmaceutical industry and health will be discussed.

Stray dogs vaccinated
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 4 — As part of the ongoing World Habitat Day, the World Day for Animals was celebrated by the local chapter of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) here today.

According to Mr Jasbir Ralhan, president of the SPCA, anti-rabies vaccination camps were organised in Sectors 40 and 41. A large number of stray dogs were caught and vaccinated. The dogs were also given doses for deworming.

The activities of the society were highlighted on the occasion.

Meanwhile, an on-the-spot painting competition camp was held at the Sukhna Lake cafeteria by the World Wildlife Foundation in association with a local vernacular newspaper. The following are the results of the competition:

Category 1: Taranpreet, YPS, SAS Nagar (1), Sarina Thakur, GNPS, Sector 36 (2), Meghna Dewan, Carmel Convent, Sector 9 (3) and Astha Sharma, SPS, Sector 41, and Swarita Bhardwaj, Carmel Convent, got consolation prizes

Category II: Rasleen Ahluwalia, Manasavi Bhardwaj, Ananaya Sabharwal, all of Carmel Convent, bagged the top three positions, while Palak Jain of Carmel Convent and Sumiti of Shivalik Public School, Sector 41, were given consolation prizes.

Category III: Gurpreet Singh and Manpal Singh, both of Shivalik Pubic School, Sector 41, were declared first and second, while Sushil Kornama of the GMSSS, Sector 16, came third. Consolation prizes were given to Amarinder Singh, GMSSS, Sector 35, and Tanushree, SPS, Sector 41.

Special prizes were given to Aarzoo Ahuja, Jugad Singh, Eknoor and Anuvrat Brar.

The winners of the rally-cum-race held yesterday are Navpreet Singh (1), Maninder Singh (2) and Sandeep Malik (3). Consolation prizes were given to Ajay Kalra and Swarit Sharma.

Besides, as many as 100 children participated in a pollution awareness rally which started from Kendriya Vidyalaya, Sector 31. A free pollution check camp for vehicles was organised at the Sector 31 filling station.

Powermen protest against deputation
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 4 — On a call of the UT Powermen Union, employees of the electricity wing of the engineering department today held a protest rally before the office of electricity subdivision no 5 in the Industrial Area, Phase I.

The employees were protesting against calling lower divisional clerks, upper divisional clerks, draftsmen, linemen, meter readers, meter mechanics and junior engineers on deputation to Chandigarh from the state electricity board of Punjab and Haryana.

While addressing the rally, Mr Kasturi Lal, president of the union, said that the Additional Superintending Engineer, the Executive Engineer and the Superintending Engineer of the electricity operation circle be sent back to the PSEB as they were charge-sheeted by the Chandigarh Administration for their alleged involvement in a cable laying case in 1998.

The protesters also demanded the release of bonus. They wanted that the employees transferred to the Municipal Corporation from the administration should be treated on deputation.

They also demanded that the employees and the workers on muster roll, who have completed 10 years of service or more, should be regularised soon.

SNIPPETS

Notice issued to CBI in Beant case
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 4 — The Sessions Judge, Mr B.S. Bedi, who held court at Burail Jail today issued notice to the CBI on an application moved by Navjot Singh, one of the accused in the Beant Singh assassination case, seeking closure of the prosecution evidence in the light of the Supreme Court ruling.

The apex court has ruled that prosecution evidence should be closed after three years of framing of charges.

The notice is returnable on October 11. The notice was accepted by the Special Prosecution of the CBI, Mr R.K. Handa.

The CBI had listed 425 witnesses in this case. It has until now examined 95 witnesses. It intended to examine 125 more witnesses.

Naib Singh and Shamsher Singh, also suspects in the case, preferred applications before the Sessions Judge, alleging that members of their families were being harassed by the Punjab Police after they met them in the jail.

Mr Bedi asked Mr Handa to get this matter enquired into from the Punjab Director-General of Police and submit his report to the court by November 1.

Directory of NGOs
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 4 — The Chandigarh Social Welfare Advisory Board has undertaken the compilation of a directory of voluntary organisations in the union territory of Chandigarh.

Stating this here today, the chairperson of the board, Mrs Kamla Sharma , said efforts were being made by the board to highlight the good work being done by the NGOs for the welfare of women, children and down-trodden and to involve them more effectively with the activities of the board.

Mrs Sharma has appealed to all NGOs and Mahila Mandals to give details to the board for inclusion in the directory.

Hundal given state funeral
Tribune News Service

SAS NAGAR, Oct 4 — The Assistant Inspector-General (Welfare), Punjab, Mr A.S.Hundal, who died at the PGI, Chandigarh, yesterday was given a state funeral at the cremation ground in Industrial Area, Phase 1, here today. Mr Hundal was admitted to the PGI yesterday after he had complained of chest pain.

As the bugles sounded the last post a contingent of Punjab Armed Police (PAP) reversed their arms as a mark of respect to the departed officer. The Union Food, Chemical and Fertiliser Minister, Mr S.S. Barnala, and the State Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, along with some of his ministerial colleagues were present on the occasion.

The wreath on behalf of the Governor of Punjab was laid by his ADC, Mr G.S.Gill. The State Education Minister, Mr Tota Singh, the Home Secretary, Mr Surjit Singh, the State Welfare Minister, Mr Gobind Singh, the Director-General of Police, Punjab, Mr Sarabjit Singh, besides senior bureaucrats and police officers were present on the occasion.

Annual exhibition in November
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 4 — The annual art exhibition of the Punjab Lalit Kala Akademi will be held from November 14 to 30.

According to a press note, there will be two categories of entries — below 30 years and above 30 years. Five awards of Rs 5,000 will be given in each category at the exhibition. The last date for sending entries for the exhibition is October 15.

The akademi is also planning an all-India drawing exhibition, ''Millennium Drawings", in February next year. The last date for sending the entries is December 31, the press note adds.

Sachdeva replaces Katyal
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 4 — Mr Yog Raj Sachdeva has assumed the charge of Regional Officer of the CBSE in place of Mr Y.P. Katyal, an official press release said here today.

Mr Sachdeva, also a Deputy Director of the board, is a post-graduate in political science. He joined the CBSE in 1967. He has worked in the CBSE headquarters in various branches, including administration, examination and confidential information.

Mr Katyal, the Joint Secretary of the regional office, has been transferred to the CBSE headquarters in Delhi. He has been working in the local regional office since July, 1991.