Geology student’s case may unearth nexus
Sanjeev Singh Bariana
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 21
Panjab University is planning to file a case against a student for the alleged replacement of the title covers of his answer-books in the annual undergraduate honours-school geology examinations of April 2000. The action had changed the nature of the result.

This and a few other cases of proposed university action against students for using fraudulent aids in examinations come up for discussion at the coming meeting of the PU Syndicate.

It was discovered that the title covers of the answer-sheets of two papers of geology had been changed at the time of revaluation. The marks in the crystallography paper had been increased from 6 to 65 and the marks in the physics paper had been increased from 7 to 33. The candidate had failed in both tests, but the revaluation results showed him as having passed. The candidate did not appear before the inquiry officer in spite of several reminders.

It has been recommended that the case be referred to the Unfair Means Cases Standing Committee for suitable action under university regulations. It has also been recommended that “in order to uncover the possible nexus between candidates and university officials, a case of cheating and forgery be registered against the candidate”.

Another recommendation is that the marked answer-books storekeepers be told to be extra vigilant with daily-wagers in their office. Maintenance of proper records of copies withdrawn for revaluation has been advised and the revaluation branch has been told to ensure that answer-books tally with flaps pasted on these.

Another case refers to the admission of two students in third-year arts course of the Department of Correspondence Studies based on fake certificates of Guru Nanak Dev University of Amritsar. A university regulation says: “A candidate seeking to take an examination on the basis of a false representation made in the application will be barred from taking any university examination for three to five years.”

In another case, the Principal of RSD College has asked whether or not should a student who spent about two months in police lockup be allowed to take the university examination. This student spent some time in police lockup after he had clashed with fellow students in August 2001. He was acquitted by the court in December 2001, but the principal wants to know whether the period of detention of the student should be expunged or not while counting the number of lectures for eligibility to take the university examinations.

Architects celebrate Chapter Day
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 21
Nearly 15 members associated with the Punjab Chapter of Indian Institute of Architects were honoured for outstanding performance on the occasion of their Chapter Day celebrated at the Chandigarh College of Architecture, Sector 12, here today.

They were honoured with merit certificates and mementoes for enthusiastic participation in the activities of the institute and contribution to collection of funds in the last two years. The achievements of the Chandigarh-Punjab Chapter during 2000-2002 were also highlighted.

Over 250 architects from Punjab, Chandigarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir participated in the celebrations. The students and faculty of colleges of architecture from Chandigarh, Bathinda and Amritsar also joined in the celebrations.

The Chairman, Mr S.N. Kohli, said this was the first time that the Punjab-Chandigarh chapter had organised a number of activities during its term. He added that the Chapter Day was also being celebrated for the first time, he added.

Presenting the vote of thanks, he said the chapter had received cooperation from the office-bearers, members and administration who were ever-ready to help. He said the chapter would continue with its activities in the times to come.

Earlier, two technical sessions were organised for the members. While the programme began with a lecture on “Experiences built environment (Context-Saudi Arabia )” by Prof J. J. Khurana, a lecture on “Future trends in concrete and conservation of concrete structures” by UT Chief Engineer, Mr Puranjit Singh, concluded the technical session. 

Varsity-NIFD pact on degree courses
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 21
Rajasthan Vidyapeeth University (Udaipur) has entered into a technical arrangement with the local National Institute of Fashion Designing (NIFD) to offer degree courses from the new session, said Prof B.P. Bhatnagar, Vice-Chancellor, here today.

Ms Ritu Kocchar, Director of the NIFD, said out of 130 centres of the institute, the degree courses were proposed to be offered at 20 centres in the first phase. The courses included B.Sc. (Fashion Designing), B.Sc. (Textile Designing) and B.Sc. (Interior Designing). The institute proposed to have 60 seats in the Fashion Designing course, 20 in Interior Designing and 20 in Textile Designing at each centre.

She said the NIFD would look after the technical and administrative aspects while the university would keep a check on the quality control and implementation of rules laid down by the University Grants Commission. Ms Kocchar said the courses were specially designed to meet the demand of the industry. Professor Bhatnagar said the programme was not in the form of a franchise policy which had been turned down by the UGC.

Annual day
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, April 21
A cultural programme and prize distribution ceremony marked the annual function of the Kendriya Vidyalaya, Air Force Station High Grounds, near here, yesterday.

Students of the school presented folk dances, songs and English plays. Wg Cdr R.K. Bhatacharya was the chief guest. Mr D.S Pilkhwal, Principal of the school, read out the annual report of the school. Mr Manjit Singh and Mr G. H. Yadav, education officers of the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangthan, Chandigarh region, were also present.

CONSUMER COURTS
PRTC directed to pay passenger
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, April 21
A consumer court has directed the Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) to pay a compensation of Rs 1310 to the complainants, the Punjab Civil and Consumer Welfare and Mr Harkirat Singh Walia, a resident of Banur, for deficiency in its bus services.

The complainant Harkirat Singh Walia stated that on March 18, 1998, he boarded PRTC bus at Rajpura for Chandigarh and purchased two tickets for Rs 14. He alleged that the bus was in extremely dilapidated condition and the engine was emitting smoke. The smoke of the engine also accumulated inside the bus giving passengers an unpleasant experience.

The complainant further complained that the bus then broke down at Banur and the driver and conductor of their bus asked the passengers to move out of the bus and made them board another bus of the PRTC, which was coming from Rajpura side. But the conductor of the second bus demanded from Harkirat Singh Walia an amount of Rs 10 for the remaining journey from Banur to Chandigarh. So, the complainant had to pay Rs 10 as bus fare to the conductor again.

Mr Harkirat Singh Walia and the Punjab Civil and Consumer Welfare Front through its president, Ms Jasjit Kaur, then filed complaint against the PRTC, Industrial Area, Phase-II through its Manager. The complainant alleged that due to the deficiency in the bus service and unfair trade practice of PRTC he had suffered loss and harassment, for which he was entitled to claim a compensation of Rs 50, 000 from the PRTC.

A consumer court allowed the complaint and directed the PRTC to pay Rs 10 as bus fare from Banur to Chandigarh which was illegally charged by it for the journey. The PRTC was also directed to pay Rs 1000 as compensation for mental and physical harassment to the complainants. The PRTC had also been directed to pay Rs 300 as expenses of litigation to the complainants.