Amity University to set up 10 new campuses

NEW DELHI, Feb 24: Amity University is planning to set up 10 new campuses, including three in overseas, by next year, with an aim for catering to the growing number of students.

"We will establish seven campuses in the country by August. Another three campuses will be set up overseas by 2009," Amity University Chancellor Atul Chauhan said.

The university plans to spend about Rs 300-400 crore for each campus.

According to Atul Chauhan, each campus has an outlay of about Rs 25 crore in the first phase.

The new campuses in India would come up in Ahmedabad, Bombay, Chennai, Chandigarh, Hyderabad, Indore and Kolkata.

Further, the university would set up another three campuses abroad-in Dubai, Singapore and the US.

"The three campuses are expected to be complete by next year and our operations there will begin by August 2009," he said.

In addition, Amity is exploring opportunities for collaborating with more foreign universities.

"We have arrangements with US-based Perdue University. Through this tie-up, the students from Amity can go for training programmes in Perdue University," he said.

Without disclosing further details, Atul Chauhan pointed out that the university has been getting good response from foreign institutes for possible collaborations.

Presently, the business school has 22 campuses across the country with over 50,000 students studying in 130 programmes. (PTI)

Kareena, SRK win Best actor awards
in 53^{rd Filmfare awards}

^{MUMBAI, Feb 24: Kareena Kapoor won the Best Actress award for "Jab We Met" and Shah Rukh Khan the Best actor award for his role as coach Kabir Khan in "Chak De India" at the 53rd Filmfare Awards here last night.}

^{Aamir Khan won the Best Director award for "Taare Zameen Par", the film was also declared the best film, while Amol Gupte won the trophy for Best story in the same film.}

^{Bollywood star Rishi Kapoor was conferred with the Lifetime achievement award while music director Monty Sharma bagged with the R D Burman award for his track in the Sanjay Leela Bhansali film "Saawariya".}

^{The Best screenplay award was given to Anurag Basu for the film "Life in a metro". Imtiaz Ali won award for the Best Dialogue in the film "Jab We Met", while "Chak De" won nation’s for best Cinematography.}

^{The other winners of the Filmfare award include newcomer Deepika Padukone, who won the Best Fresh Face award for her film "Om Shanti Om", while Ranbir Kapoor was given the Best New Comer award for "Saawariya". Irfan Khan and Konkona Sen Sharma won the Best supporting actor and Best Supporting actress respectively, for the film "Life in a metro".}

^{Child actor Darsheel Safary won the Best actor (critics) award for his brilliant portrayal of Ishaan Awasthi a dyslexic child in "Taare Zameen Par", while Tabu won the best actress (critics) award for the film "Cheeni Kum", "’Chak De India" won the best film critics award.}

^{Musical maestro A R Rahman won the award for Best music in the Mani Rathnam’s "Guru", Prasoon Joshi won it for Best Lyrics in the film "Taare Zameen Par". Among the playback singers Shreya Ghoshal won the Best female playback singer award, while Shaan won the Best male playback singer award for his song "Jab Se Tere Naina" in "Saawariya".}

^{Saroj Khan won for Best choreography for the song "Barso Re" from "Guru". (UNI)}

CAT denies pay parity to P&T official
choosing different cadre

NEW DELHI, Feb 24: The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has rejected the claim of an audit officer with the Posts and Telegraph Department seeking parity in pay with Accounts officers of the same department, on the ground that the petitioner himself had chosen to be in different cadre.

A bench of Members Justice Shankar Raju and Neena Ranjan observed: "The petitioner fails to convince us that he is in a similar position as both the named officers."

The Tribunal agreed with the contention of the P&T Department that since the petitioner Mange Ram Mittal, 30 years back had opted for a different cadre than the persons he claims have been given the financial benefits, the petition was untenable.

The bench held, "It would appear that prior to 1968 the accounts work of the main Department of the Posts and Telegraph was done by officials designated as Senior Accountants who were governed by the Post and Telegraph Accountants (Recruitment Rules) 1958."

However, the accounts work relating to Telecommunication Branch of the Posts and Telegraph was done by the personnel of the Audit Department called the SAS Accountants in the office of the Accountant General of Posts and Telegraphs, the bench observed.

The Tribunal noted that sometime in 1968, the Government of India decided to make separate departments for both the two organisations and options were called for from the combined cadres.

The two officers A P Jain and Shri JC Dawra, with whom petitioner sought parity, had opted for the work of accounts for the main Department of Posts and Telegraphs while Mittal opted for the Telecommunication Branch of the P&T which had been under the control of the Accountant General of India, it was observed.

It later came under the control of the Secretary of the Department of Communications. Thereafter detailed orders were passed separating the two cadres, it said.

The Department of Posts and Telegraph had argued that at that point of time care was taken that the inter se seniority of officers of both the cadres were fixed according to the length of approved service in the corresponding grades.

The Tribunal said that in the earlier phases of completing transfers and streamlining the cadres reference points were maintained for equivalence between the cadres in the respective grades. However, due to efflux of time, since the cadres were separated, similar parity could possibly not be maintained, it held.

Mittal had alleged that some officers junior to him were granted certain service benefits in terms of ante-dating their promotion in 2004. He made a representation to the department saying that he also be extended the same benefit.

The department finally rejected his representation saying that it was not possible to verify the facts and situations prevailing 25-30 years back as no records were available with them. (PTI)

Students, parents at sea on new format
of questions in boards

NEW DELHI, Feb 23: The CBSE’s announcement about introduction of a new pattern of questions just a month ahead of the Class X and XII exams this year has left students and parents clueless about what to expect.

CBSE Chairman Ashok Ganguly had recently announced that some new kind of questions would be introduced in the exams this year that would focus more on understanding and analysis rather than the memorising ability of the students.

A student of Manasthali Public school in the capital, who is appearing in the Class X exams, said she is at sea on what the new type of questions would be like.

"We have 29 chapters in Social Studies. There is a need for some memorising," she said, adding it is not like mathematics where it is about learning the formulae and applying them.

"Twenty per cent of the questions will be based on ‘high-order thinking skills’. But what do they mean by ‘high-order thinking skills’? she asked.

Students have been calling up the helpline numbers and asking about what the new questions would be like.

"I was told by the counsellor that I have to be thorough with the textbook. But this announcement about the new type of questions at the last minute has left me scared. It has also taken a toll on my health," said Mani, another student with a reputed school in the capital.

Board exams are like a family ritual, where everyone at home is involved. "It is the parents who have been of late calling me up since they heard about the new type of questions. The whole family is involved when the child is set for some exam like the boards. Parents ask me as to what sort of questions can be expected," said Dr Sunita Roy, a student’s counsellor in Delhi.

"I remember there was this child whose mother started crying. She was inconsolable," Roy said.

Another counsellor, Dr Reena, said, "I told many parents that this decision was nothing new. It is expected that children be thorough with their textbook. Some parents have talked to me for nearly hours together."

Over 13.13 lakh students are appearing in the exams starting from March one.

While parents and students have approached counsellors and helplines for suggestions on the new question format, very few have turned to the school for help.

The CBSE’s decision has been welcomed by school principals.

"This is something good. It is nothing new and students need not panic. Learning by heart does not help in any stage of life. Understanding helps and it has helped in the past," said Dr Shyama Chona, Principal, Delhi Public School, R K Puram.

"The teachers are there to make them understand. I am sure by the time they are ready for the boards, it is expected that they would have understood. If they have doubts, the students can contact the concerned teacher for help during their preparation leave," said the Principal, Springdales, Jyoti Bose. (PTI)

17-yr-old marriage of BARC official dissolved over cruelty

MUMBAI, Feb 24: The Family Court here has dissolved the 17-year-old marriage of a Scientific Assisstant working at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre on the grounds of cruelty and harassment after his wife moved the court in 2005.

Principal Judge Anand Nirgude allowed the divorce petition filed by Sharda Deshpande (name changed) and ordered Akhil Deshpande (name changed) to pay her a monthly maintenance of Rs 2,000 until she married someone else or for life.

Sharda and Akhil married on April 9, 1991 and they had a daughter a year later on June seven. But Akhil had started harassing her as early as December 22, 1991. In fact, he had physically assaulted her for refusing to bring money from her parents, according to the petition.

Later, after the birth of their daughter, Akhil refused to let her enter their matrimonial home for one and half years. But with intervention and constructive counselling, the couple settled in their marital life again by March 1994.

But Akhil started harassing Sharda again. Finally on August 11, 1997 she left the house and he also stopped contacting her completely, it said.

Sharda lived at her brother’s place along with her daughter. Since the child was ill, Sharda wanted to avail medical facility at the Central Government Hospital as she was working as a clerk with a private school. She contacted BARC in November 2000 and demanded Akhil’s identity card but was informed that he had told office they were divorced.

Judge Nirgude considered her application with one of the grounds being that her signature on the mutual consent divorce decree was found by police to be forged.

On July 19, 2004, however, Sharda lost her 12-year-old daughter after a brief illness. Despite attempts, Akhil could not be contacted. He later filed a complaint with against her alleging she had murdered their daughter.

"I have no doubt in my mind that Akhil is a liar and despite being educated and employed in such a prestigious institution, he is not worthy of belief," the Judge stated.

"I do not know how he could accuse his wife of murdering his daughter... The accusation here is an act in cold blood."

After examining Akhil, the court also pointed out that he was living with another woman since 2000 and has three children from her.

"I think his overall conduct is grossly unbecoming of a Government servant," the court maintained.

Based on these findings, the court finalised the divorce earlier this month and ordered payment of maintenance to Sharda. (PTI)

Fencing in Brahmaputra island to stop illegal activities

NEW DELHI, Feb 24: As part of its ambitious plan to seal the entire Indo-Bangladesh border to stop infiltration and smuggling, the government is erecting a 10-km-long fencing in one of the islands (char) of Brahmaputra, which has become a hub of all trans-border illegal activities.

This is for the first time that such a fencing, between Mantrichar and Masalabari, is being constructed in a ‘char’ of soft soil and shifting sand that keep changing position and size due to the strong current of the river and erosion.

"The fencing is an urgent necessity as the area has become a crucial crossing point for illegal migrants, cattle and ‘ganja’ smuggling. The work is expected to be completed by March 31," a Home Ministry official said.

The project, estimated to be around Rs 25 crore, was a tough challenge for the National Building Construction Corporation as it was very difficult to ferry heavy machines, vehicles and equipments into the ‘char’ by crossing over Brahmaputra and a few of its tributaries.

To ferry dumpers, road rollers, mixers and cranes, 60-foot-long barges were specially built. Each ferry was made by joining two barges and building a platform across the pair.

Materials are transported during May to October and stacked at site for consumption from November to April as working period was available only during that period of time.

Besides, travel time increases when the water level decreases in the river Brahmaputra. At times, boats get struck in the sands of river. Then loaded boats have to be emptied in the river so as to recover the boat from the struck position.

Ghat needs to be constructed at various levels in accordance with the increase/decrease in water level. Carrying capacity of boat gets drastically reduced during the time water is shallow in the river.

The fencing was constructed over embankments. The scope of work broadly includes pitching/laying stone soiling of 300 mm thick. The protection at the toe of the embankment has been given with an apron of 60 cm depth and 1.50 mtr width with boulders crates along the length of the embankment.

Besides this, the scope of work include: composite fencing in deeper foundation, pipe culverts for fencing, slope protection work for earthen embankment, new IBB road, pipe culverts for roads, bailey bridges/causeway and cost of land acquisition for fence and road. (PTI)

US Defence Secy to seek expansion
of military ties with India

NEW DELHI, Feb 24: The controversial Logistics Support Agreement (LSA) and expansion of US military sales to India are expected to figure prominently during the two-day visit of Defence Secretary Robert Gates from Tuesday.

During the security dialogue, the two sides will review their strategic cooperation in various fields and explore ways to enhance the ties, the sources said.

Gates will hold talks with Defence Minister A K Antony on bilateral cooperation and regional issues of mutual interest considering growing threat from terrorism emanating from India’s neighbourhood.

To be accompanied by a 50-member military-cum-business delegation, Gates is also likely to call on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and meet External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and National Security Adviser M K Narayanan.

The two sides are expected to discuss the progress on signing of LSA, under which the two countries will provide their bases, fuel and other kinds of logistic support to each other’s fighters and warships.

The agreement has been under negotiation for over a year, with India insisting that it be renamed.

The pact is pending before the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) for clearance.

The Left parties have opposed this agreement, arguing that it will make India a party to America’s "wrong" designs.

The US has, however, sought to allay fears, insisting that it would "not bind" India but benefit its military by improving its "operational ability".

US Ambassador David Mulford recently said Indian military will need such type of cooperation and change as its capabilities grow.

During Gates’ visit, the two sides are also expected to discuss the Container Security Initiative (CSI) which India is ready to sign.

The two countries will review broad cooperation in defence field and discuss ways to enhance it.

Mulford said the defence relations between the two countries had witnessed "enormous growth" over the last few years, marked by exchange of visits and joint exercises.

The US is looking forward to having cooperation on joint production of C-130J transport planes besides eyeing the contract for 126 multi-role fighter planes. (PTI)