Chandigarh, June 14
Members of the Punjab University Students’ Union (PUSU) submitted a questionnaire to the PU vice-chancellor regarding what they felt was the “callous attitude” of the authorities over the issue of impersonation case involving Panjab University Campus Students’ chief Dalvir Singh Goldy.

At the time of admission in the department of laws in 2006, Dalvir Singh Goldy, then a member of the Student Organisation of Panjab University (SOPU), had allegedly made someone else appear in the entrance test on his behalf.

Following a written complaint, the case was sent to the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) for investigation. The CFSL had asked for some material connected with the case from the university. However, the university authorities failed to provide the requisite material and the CFSL, presuming that the university had no interest in getting the case investigated, sent the rest of the material back.

Trying to gain political mileage out of the case, president of PUSU Abhishek Puri alleged that the university authorities were biased. Raising objections regarding the authorities’ response to the CFSL, he alleged, “The university is trying to delay the case to favour Goldy. The committee members enquiring into the case are under some pressure and one of them has even resigned from the committee. The authorities seem to be saving the culprit,” he lamented.

PUSU president also asked why enquiry committees had been formed again and again. “Were earlier members of the committee not competent?” asked Abhishek.

The union members also demanded to release the video CD that contained video footage of the LLB entrance examination 2006.

SELECTION: ICI India Ltd, Mohali, a subsidiary of Imperial Chemical Industries, PLC of London, England, has selected six students of Shaheed Udham Singh Polytechnic College, Tangori, through campus placement. These students will work as apprentice production associates for one year at a stipend of Rs 4,000 per month and shall be absorbed by the company at around Rs 9,500 per month. Three other students have been placed in the waiting list. These students will join the company in the second week of June.

Bajaj Sons, Ludhiana, has also selected nine students from the college for their Ludhiana plant through campus placement after written test and interviews. — TNS

Chandigarh, June 14
To acquire a foreign professional degree, one doesn’t need to go to foreign shores as more and more foreign universities are opening up their campuses here and facilitating education abroad. Western International University based in Phoenix, USA, in collaboration with Modi Apollo International Group, is offering management courses on its campus in New Delhi for students of the region. This was announced at a press conference here today.

Anukul Agrawal, COO, Modi Group, said, “The idea is to bring quality management education to students in India at a fraction of the cost.” Students could choose from combination of subjects and class schedules according to their convenience, he added. 

Chandigarh, June 14
The local police is yet to make any headway in the arrest of a group of men involved in the clash that left a student seriously injured at Panjab University yesterday.

The police had registered a case of attempt to murder and rioting against a group of at least 12 students, including Harpreet Singh Multani, president of the Student Organisation of Panjab University (SOPU). Besides Multani, the names of Amanbir Singh of Sector 33-A, Varinder Dhillon, Nimar Sidhu and Gurpartap Singh Mann had figured in the case.

The case was registered after Ajay Pal Singh Gill of Sector 16, a BA final-year student of Sri Guru Gobind Singh College, Sector 26, was thrashed by a group of at least 12 youngsters armed with swords, rods and hockey sticks. He suffered a fracture on his leg and has been undergoing treatment at the PGI.

SHO of the Sector 11 police station Puran Chand said efforts were on to trace the accused. Police teams were conducting raids at suspected hideouts of the accused.

Earlier during the day, activists of SOPU, led by Dalbir Singh Goldy, president of the Panjab University Campus Students’ Council, went to meet the UT inspector-general of police (IGP) at the police headquarters in Sector 9, demanding a fair investigation into the case.

As the IGP was away on leave, they went to meet the DIG Vivek Gogia, but his staff asked them to come at 3 pm. When the delegation went at the given time, the DIG was not available and they had to return by handing over their representation.

Goldy told TNS that the personal assistant to the DIG asked them to come tomorrow at 11 am. He added that the role of the police was biased in this case as it had slapped a case of attempt to murder though the injuries were not that “grave”.

Multani, in his representation, maintained that he, along with Gurpartap Mann and Nimar Sidhu, was falsely implicated in the case by the other party to gain political mileage in the upcoming elections.

He said he had verbally apprised the SHO of his innocence and had shown keen interest in helping the police in the investigation.

The SHO, however, denied that he had spoken to Multani and said he had registered the case as per the law. 

ORIENTATION COURSE: Several college and university lecturers from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat are attending the 74th Orientation Course, organised by the Academic Staff College, Panjab University. On the occasion, A.J. Philip, senior associate editor, The Tribune, delivered a talk on Thursday on the role of the media in the society in the wake of globalisation. Philip’s talk was interspersed with anecdotes from his experience as a journalist. He also highlighted the issues of the trivialisation and localisation of news. The participants raised queries regarding media and state control, advertisements, local supplements, impact of politicians, policy decisions etc., which were responded to in a professional manner, making the interaction highly effective.

AWARDS: Dr Tankeshwar Kumar, director, Computer Centre, department of computer science and applications, Panjab University; professor M.P. Bansal, department of biophysics, PU; professor Atulvir Arora, department of evening studies, PU and Dr Vikram Kumar, professor in Sanskrit and chairperson, Dayanand Chair for Vedic Studies, PU, will be conferred with the Shiksha Rattan Puraskar at a conference on “Role of Education in Modern India” to be organised by the India International Friendship Society. The awards are given to honour educationists who have excelled in the teaching profession.

ADMISSIONS: One-year diploma in early childhood special education (mental retardation) has been introduced for the first time in North India by the Rehabilitation Council of India. The last date for submission of application forms is July 10, according to Dr Tehal Kohli, Professor Emeritus, department of education, PU, and president, INPA Further details can be sought at the INPA’s office at Karuna Sadan , Sector 11. — TNS

Chandigarh, June 14
In view of its diamond jubilee celebrations, Panjab University will give a special chance to all those who want to clear their re-appear/compartment cases and have not availed the chance in April, 2007. This will include those cases pending in the courts between April, 1989, and April, 2006, for B.A./BSc/ BCom/BBA/BCA/Prak Shastri/BSc (home science) and MA examinations between April, 1992, and April, 2006.

These students can now avail the special chance in September, 2007. The last date of submission of forms with the requisite fee of Rs10,000 is June 30.

The candidates shall also be allowed a special chance for improvement in April, 2008, in case they have not appeared for improvement of examination in April, 2007. These candidates are required to submit their applications on plain paper to the office of the joint controller of examinations, Panjab University, by June 30.

However, they will be required to fill up the examinations forms and pay the requisite examination fee of Rs 10,000 with the regular students appearing for April, 2008 examinations.

It has been further decided that in case of incomplete applications without requisite information, the request would not be considered and the fee will be forfeited.

Chandigarh, June 14
The Sandli Pairan Kala Kendra staged a play, 'Hayavadan', in collaboration with the department of public relations and culture affairs, at the Tagore theatre, here today. A classic creation of celebrated Kannad playwright and film personality Girish Karnad, the complex play was adapted in Hindustani by the legendary B.V. Karanth. The play staged before a packed hall kept the receptive audience engaged. The playwright had borrowed mythological concepts to illustrate that the subconscious mind, which is more powerful, controls physical actions.

Etymologically, 'Hayavadan' means a human with a horse's head. The story revolves around variegated perceptions, manipulations, acceptances, rejections, sacrifices and compromises. Maintaining his directorial elegance, Umesh Kant brought alive the poignancy of the situation with dialectic analysis of the 'Internal Conflicts of the Mind', as comprehended by the playwright.

Stunning performances by lead actors Anmol Bharat and Ranjan Sehgal made all the difference. The light effects by Parveen Jaggi deserve special mention.