EDUCATION

PU ignores UGC norms for appointment
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 22 — Panjab University is all ready to make a fresh appointment to the post of the Assistant Registrar, but has decided to continue with the qualifications laid down previously for the post, which are nowhere near those laid down by the UGC.

The qualifications laid down by the UGC, in its notification of December 24 1998, are simple. These state,” Good academic record plus masters degree with at least 55 pre cent marks or its equivalent grade of B in the UGC seven point scale.” The UGC’s seven point scale refers to B as having a grade of 3.5 to 4.49, which is the equivalent to a percentage of 55 to 64.

Compare this with the lengthy options of qualifications available for the post laid down by the university. The essential ones include a masters degree or an LLB from a recognised university or its equivalent qualification. For superintendents/PAs or persons holding equivalent post in the administrative staff of the Panjab University with the following qualifications/experience: 10 years’ service in the existing post (irrespective of the qualifications prescribed); 3 years service in the existing post with BA being the minimum qualifications, provided the total service as assistant stenographer or equivalent or higher post is not less than 15 years; 5 years service in the existing post in the case of matriculates, provided the total service as assistant stenographer or equivalent and higher post is not less than 17 years.

These qualifications not just allow candidates who have less than 55 per cent in masters to get in, but there is no mention of a good academic record, which means that the candidate ought to have a minimum second class at graduation level. Then the university mentions an LLB degree as being equivalent to a masters degree.

The last interview for the post was held with these set of qualifications in the university on March 3, 2000, and the person selected was ineligible, according to the UGC set of rules. Even with the university’s set of rules, he bypassed both the posts of superintendent/PA and senior assistant. While the applicants wait for the date of interview, the endless wait for the university to streamline its set of qualifications in accordance with the UGC and make its procedure of selections more transparent continues.

PU adds 2 new courses to honours schools
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 22 — Panjab University has formally decided to add two fresh courses to the list of honours schools on the campus. These are Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and honours in Bio-Technology. These will commence from the forthcoming session. With this the total number of honours schools will now be 12 in the next session.

More changes are proposed in the existing entrance examination exercise in which over 20,000 aspirants take part annually. A high-level committee chaired by the Vice-Chancellor Prof K.N. Pathak met recently to clear the norms related to the whole examination process.

The Common Entrance Tests (CET) are scheduled for May 19. The areas include medical science, engineering, honours schools, BMS, BHMS and architecture.

The examination mode has been changed this time. Earlier there were two papers — one subjective and another objective. This time there will only be one objective-type question paper. There will be one “running” question paper with no “subdivision”.

Confirming the change in examination mode, Mr Ashok Raj Bhandari, Joint Controller of Examination, said the physics, chemistry, mathematics and biology papers will have be questions with a grand total of 120 marks. A limit of 70 minutes will be allowed. The paper in architecture will be of 100- minute duration for 100 questions. Each answer will carry 2.4 marks.

This time the prospectus will be available at specified counters of the State Bank of India at Panjab University, Ludhiana, Hoshiarpur and Muktsar. Forms will not be available at the university fees counters. Bank drafts can also be used for procuring forms.

The CET form this time will cost Rs 1,000 for general category candidates and Rs 500 for the reserved categories. For the examination in mathematics alone, students in general category will have to pay Rs 500 while the reserved categories’ candidates Rs 250, Mr Bhandari said.

The sale of forms will commence from February 26 and will continue till April 10. Mr Bhandari said examination centres will be at Chandigarh, Ludhiana and Delhi. The aspirants will be looking for place for admissions at the local Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh College of Architecture, Department of Chemical Engineering, PU, Department of Pharmacy,

Government Medical College, Sector 32, honours schools on campus besides the local ayurvedic and homoeopathic institutes.

Mr Bhandari said great care was being taken to ensure quick results of the examination and the expected time for declaration of results is first week of June. 

Fun time at Cyanide
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 22 — It was fun time on campus lawns at the ongoing ‘Cyanide’, a techno-festival of the Department of Chemical Engineering, at Panjab University here today.

Events in the informal category witnessed participation from local institutes in sizeable numbers. Performance of a local rock band, Street Toddlers, saw a packed venue. It was accompanied with a mock rock show, which had teams from large number of local institutes.

The technical paper presentation began today and was scheduled to end tomorrow. This event saw participation from leading technical institutions, including IIT Kanpur, the local PEC, IIT Delhi, Sant Longowal Institute, RECs and others. The participants avoided featuring in the other events.

Bridge the lady contest in the informal section was won by Naman and Bhanwareen Bains. Nishit and Deepti from the Bio-Physics Department won the made for each other contest. Pankaj from the local Bhavan Vidyalaya won the solo (Hindi) music contest. The prize in the women’s section was bagged by Mili from the Psychology Department.

The team led by Pankaj bagged the crown in the medley section. Varun from the Correspondence Studies won in the instrumental section. Just a minute contest prize went to Gaurav from the local DAV College.

Archana from the host department won the debate in the Hindi section. The team of Sumit, Suman, Satyendra and Varun from the host department won the tug of war.

COURTS

Bar association felicitates Mattewal
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 22 — The Bar Association of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today felicitated the Advocate-General of Punjab, Mr H.S. Mattewal, on his being given the status of Cabinet Minister.

Mr G.K. Chatrath, a former Advocate-General of Punjab and president of the association, said it was a great honour for the legal fraternity.

While expressing his gratitude to the association, Mr Mattewal said that he was indebted to the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, for bestowing this honour on him which had also enhanced the reputation and prestige of the office of Advocate-General. He said Punjab was the second state after West Bengal which had accorded the status of Cabinet Minister to the Advocate-General.

Mr Suraj Parkash Gupta, chairman, Bar Association Committee, presented a cheque for Rs 75,000 to Mr Chatrath for the welfare of the association members.

Justice Pritpal’s death mourned
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 22 — A full court reference was held at the Punjab and Haryana High Court premises today to mourn the demise of Justice Pritpal Singh, a judge of the Court.

Mr Justice Arun B. Saharya, Chief Justice, on behalf of other judges of the court, conveyed condolences to the bereaved family.

Mr H.S. Mattewal and Mr Surya Kant Sharma, Advocate-Generals of Punjab and Haryana, respectively, also conveyed their condolences.