Bad Friday It was a bad Friday for the Chandigarh Administration in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. In one of the courts,right from the UT Home Secretary to the babus of Chandigarh to the UT Traffic Police officials,all came in the line of fire. Affidavits filed by various departments,including Engineering department,were disapproved as evasive by the court,with a direction to file better ones. The wisdom of those who perceive themselves as kings of Chandigarh,according to the court,was derided. In another court,the much-awaited revision petition filed by the Administration challenging the jurisdiction and powers of Police Complaints Authority (PCA) was dismissed. By hook or by crook That the Chandigarh Police had been stoutly opposing directions passed by the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) is well known. But the appointment of former UT Adviser and UT DGP as new members to the authority,which is chiefly tasked with passing orders against errant police officials,does not inspire much confidence. While the Administration chose to appoint a retired bureaucrat as chairman of the authority,which according to the Supreme Court has to be headed by a retired High Court or Supreme Court Judge,on the other hand,the recently retired head of the police family has been appointed as member of the authority. With the High Court insisting that PCA cannot be reduced to a toothless recommendatory body,the Administration seems to have found out a smart remedy to its problems by the new appointments. More trouble ahead After leveling sensational allegations against wannabe Bollywood star Sub-Inspector Harinder Singh Sekhon,his front man Vikram has gone missing. Although Vikrams son has got an FIR registered that his father has been abducted,the Panchkula Police claims that Vikram is planning to fly abroad. Be that as it may,Vikrams disappearance may land the wannabe and a senior police officer or Chandigarh Police in hot water when a petition filed by Vikram comes for resumed hearing in the High Court. In his petition Vikram had clearly raised the apprehension that he may be harmed or implicated in a false case at the behest of the sub-inspector. Before he went missing,Vikram was summoned by a senior cop of Chandigarh Police on November 1 for questioning. At your service Nothing is above the law - a senior official with the Registration and Licensing Authority (RLA) seems to have taken this literally. The official was seen personally attending to the car of a My Lord which had come for the installation of a high security registration number plate. Controversial MC No event seems to take place in the municipal corporation without controversies setting in. The latest being the celebration of Childrens Day that was for the past few years being held at Nehru Park in Sector 22,that was given its name after the first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru addressed a gathering here. A decision was taken to shift the function to Dadumajra,leading to criticism from some quarters. Not only the venue,but selection of the chief guest has also become a bone of contention. While the Congress councillors want local MP Pawan Kumar Bansal to be the chief guest,the BJP wants someone from the Administration to be present. What an idea! After the president of Indian Institute of Science (IISc),Bangalore,Dr Deepankar Chatterjii could not reach in time for the press conference at Panjab University (PU) on Thursday,PU Vice-Chancellor (V-C) Arun Kumar Grover did not give up. Determined,the V-C chose to hold a telephonic press conference. So enthusiastic was the V-C that he called up Dr Chatterjii,who was on his way to Chandigarh from Delhi in his car. The V-C rang up Dr Chatterjii from the venue of the press conference,turned on the speaker phone of his mobile and made mediapersons have an interaction with Dr Chatterjii telephonically. What an idea,Sir ji! The basic concern While discussions on various issues of science,ranging from Mars Mission to nanoscience,were being held during tea time among all scientists who had come to attend the 73rd meeting of the Indian Academy of Sciences (IASc) at Panjab University (PU),a group of senior women scientists were still found to be discussing the rising tomato and onion prices. So engrossed were the ladies that they continued to discuss the issue even as their fellows left for the next lecture. Well,it seems no matter how engrossed scientists tend to remain in their research,issues which affect a common man affect them as well. Arm-twisting It seems as if the college students have discovered a new way to get their demands fulfilled hunger strikes. On the other hand,teachers opine that students find reasons and excuses to bunk classes,especially at a time when the first semester exams are drawing near and they are required to attend classes. Recently,the Arts College students went on a hunger strike,protesting against a teacher. Then the student council of SD College announced their hunger strike and decided to continue till the time their demands were met. Unsatisfied bunch Keeping in view the larger public interest,this year the common admission schedule for the pre-primary classes was released. However,a few school heads are unsatisfied and trying to find out a solution to generate revenue as they will no more be able to sell the school prospectus at a price of Rs 300-600. To add to their woes,the Education department has also reduced the rates of the registration fees. Diwali holiday A day after Diwali,police stations in Panchkula wore a deserted look. At the Sector 5 station,a complainant failed to find anyone inside the station for quite some time,before he eventually discovered a munshi. Similarly,at the Sector 14 police station,nobody could be seen inside the station except a munshi sitting in the corner of a room. The only other person inside the station was apparently an inmate in a lock-up. Computer Troubles Addressing a gathering of Congress workers at a conference to propagate social media,Mayor Subhash Chawla exhorted them not to be shy of learning. Recalling an incident when he became mayor for the first time in the year 2003,he talked about how he did not know how to use the mouse when a software firm invited him for an inauguration. I was very embarrassed when I did not know how to use the mouse. I spend three hours everyday to learn using the computer. Instead of going out for a movie or to a club as I used to,I spent time time becoming proficient. You are youngsters and can learn faster, he said. (JAipal Singh)
