News / Author / Ifrah Mufti

Ifrah Mufti

She is a staff reporter in Chandigarh. She covers schools and higher education.

Articles by Ifrah Mufti

Cramped rooms, leaky roofs, unpalatable food for PU girls

Even as the Panjab University (PU) students returned to their respective hostels after summer vacation on Monday, a majority of them said the complaints they had left behind before leaving have not been attended to.

Damp walls are an eyesore in Girls’ Hostel No.2 .(HT Photo)

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Updated on Jul 12, 2016 02:30 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIfrah Mufti, Chandigarh

PU website of no help if you need to contact officials, wardens

In an age of instant information and online applications for almost all courses, Panjab University website (puchd.ac.in) does not have updated information on professors, department heads and wardens. In addition to missing information on who is posted where, the website still stills officials who retired six months ago as serving.

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Updated on Jul 12, 2016 01:06 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIfrah Mufti, Chandigarh

Days before new session, Panjab University boys’ hostels in a mess

New academic session (2016-17) is all set to begin at the Panjab University (PU) by the end of July, but the varsity hostels continue to remain in a mess with lack of basic facilities.

Washrooms in a filthy condition at the Boys’ Hostel Number 4 in Panjab University.(HT Photo)

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Updated on Jul 11, 2016 01:29 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIfrah Mufti, Chandigarh

Chandigarh’s Sec-11 Govt College: Once boys’ bastion now teeming with girls

Postgraduate Government College, Sector 11, which was the only men’s college in the city for undergraduate courses till last year, is receiving an overwhelming response from girl students.

Students during the first counselling at Postgraduate Government College, Sector 11, in Chandigarh on Thursday.(Keshav Singh/HT)

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Updated on Jul 09, 2016 12:29 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIfrah Mufti, Chandigarh

15 PU hostels fined for mosquito larvae in cooler water

As monsoon arrived in the city, 15 hostels of Panjab University (PU) were challaned Rs 500 each for mosquito breeding in air coolers, pots, drums and water tanks, on Saturday.

The issue of ill-maintained water tanks and air coolers came to light when the medical surveillance wing of health department, Chandigarh along with chief medical officer Dr Dhawan of BGJ Institute of Health, PU visited all 18 hostels.(Illustration by Sidhharth Sharma/HT Photo)

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Updated on Jul 03, 2016 02:05 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIfrah Mufti, Chandigarh

Grofers withdraws job offer to 10 PEC students 2 days before joining

There couldn’t have been a worst start to a professional career. A grocery delivery start-up—Grofers—withdrew the job offer to 10 graduates of Punjab Engineering College (PEC) University of Technology two days before the joining date, citing adverse market conditions as the reason.

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Updated on Jul 02, 2016 02:14 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIfrah Mufti, Chandigarh

New session approaches, hostels in PU not fit to welcome students

With the academic session about to start in July, Panjab University (PU) hostels continue to grapple with the problems of necessary electricity equipment, quality food, and basic facilities like proper toilets.

A hostel room flooded with water at Panjab University in Chandigarh on Wednesday.(HT Photo)

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Updated on Jun 30, 2016 02:53 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIfrah Mufti, Chandigarh

Three apply for each BCom seat in Chandigarh

As many as 7,412 students have applied for 2,380 BCom seats in the city’s 11 colleges, meaning that for every seat, there are more than three applications with the majority coming from outside the city.

Of the total applications, more than 1,800 have scored 90% in Class 12, with 450 of them being local students.(Anil Dayal/HT Photo)

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Updated on Jun 29, 2016 01:26 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIfrah Mufti, Chandigarh

Rail minister Prabhu promises 2-hr journey from Chandigarh to Delhi

The 3-hour-25-minute travel time between Chandigarh and Delhi in the Shatabdi express will come down to two hours if the modernisation work of railway infrastructure goes as per minister Suresh Prabhu’s plan.

Railway minister Suresh Prabhu (2nd from right) with Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar (3rd from right) and other dignitaries at the Chandigarh railway Railway(Sant Arora/HT Photo)

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Updated on Jun 27, 2016 04:46 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIfrah Mufti, Chandigarh

From an excited PU to an empty stadium, many shades of Yoga Day in Chandigarh

A holistic aura engulfed the City Beautiful Tuesday morning as about 30,000 people of all age groups took part in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s International Yoga Day event here at the Capitol Complex. Many more took part in the event at other venues across the city. A Hindustan Times team visited a number of venues to assess the response to the much-awaited event.

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Updated on Jun 21, 2016 03:06 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByNikhil Sharma, Aneesha Bedi and Ifrah Mufti, Chandigarh

40 yrs and counting, Lall’s Urdu classes in Chandigarh continue to allure many

From retired bureaucrats to brigadiers, from advocates to retired judges and from teachers to youngsters, the free-of-cost Urdu basic course running in the city for past four decades is now attracting people from all walks of life.

HK Lall taking a class at SD College, Sector 32, Chandigarh.(Keshav Singh/HT Photo)

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Updated on Jun 17, 2016 05:38 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIfrah Mufti, Chandigarh

New old adda! Coffee House to have another branch in Chandigarh

You like your coffee and news piping hot. So here’s some of the latter first. The legendary Indian Coffee House is coming up with another branch in Sector 36-D. He further added that the branch will be opening up by the second week of June and tentatively between June 15 and June 20.

The under-construction Indian Coffee House at Sector 36-D market in Chandigarh.(Gurminder Singh/HT Photo)

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Updated on May 31, 2016 05:39 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIfrah Mufti, Chandigarh

Organ donation clause to be part of PU admission forms

To promote the cause of organ donation, Panjab University will add a new clause of ‘signing the pledge for organ donation’ in their admission forms from the 2016-17 session.

Applicants will get a clause in the admission forms for ‘voluntarily’ opting for donating their eyes and vital body parts.(HT Photo)

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Updated on May 30, 2016 01:42 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIfrah Mufti, Chandigarh

Students who furnished false medical certificates can’t take exams: PU

Cancelling all ‘false’ medical certificates, Panjab University (PU) has decided not to allow students, who had furnished the same to fulfil 75% attendance norm, sit for examinations.

When HT spoke to Dr Priyanka Kalia, medical officer with Fortis, whose name and signature was on a medical certificate of a student, said, “Dr Manuj Wadhwa had left Fortis a long time back and his name and my name on the discharge summary of 2016 is impossible. They cannot appear together. I do not understand this. I strongly believe that somebody has forged the papers.”(HT Photo)

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Updated on May 18, 2016 02:43 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIfrah Mufti

False medical certificates: PU to write to medical council

Two days after Hindustan Times highlighted that a city-based doctor, Dr R Gupta, was allegedly issuing false medical certificates to Panjab University (PU) students to help them get leave approved and meet attendance norms, chief medical officer (CMO) of the PU’s on-campus health centre, who is probing the issue, said he would write to the state medical council seeking action.

Dr R Gupta, who runs Gupta Ultrasound and X-Ray Lab in Sector 34, filed a complaint with the police saying that there had been misuse of his name and stamp in case of medical certificates.(Illustration by Daljeet Kaur Sandhu)

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Updated on May 17, 2016 12:58 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIfrah Mufti, Chandigarh

When ‘Rousseau’ turned ‘Russian’ in PU’s BA pol-science paper!

In what signals that the examination branch of Panjab University needs to critically evaluate its working on an urgent basis, BA Political Science (honours) final year students were asked to ‘Critically evaluate the theory of revaluation of Karl Marx’ in the exam held on May 14. The question, of course, should have read Revolution instead of revaluation, but to students taking the exam, the comical error meant a loss of time and focus. There were four other errors of similar nature scattered across the question paper.

BA Political Science (honours) final year students were asked to ‘Critically evaluate the theory of revaluation of Karl Marx’.(HT Photo)

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Updated on May 16, 2016 07:41 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIfrah Mufti, Chandigarh

Doc issues ‘false’ certificates for Rs 2000 each in bulk to PU students

False medical consultation, on-paper advice for bed rest, and now likely police action — a doctor finds himself in the dock as he ‘helped’ students fulfil the 75% attendance norm to appear for exams at Panjab University.

Nearly 800 students have furnished medical certificates in the past eight days that say they required bed rest, ranging from five to 40 days, which was why they had been unable to attend lectures.(Illustration by Daljeet Kaur Sandhu)

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Updated on May 15, 2016 12:18 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIfrah Mufti

Sign it, forget it: PU’s mantra for collaborations with foreign varsities

In the past one year, Panjab University has signed about 10 memoranda of understanding (MoU) with foreign universities, exploring opportunities in student exchange programmes, research and faculty exchange visits. However, there is nothing to show in terms of results, making it nearly a fruitless exercise.

Not a single delegation of students or faculty has visited a foreign varsity all these years despite having agreements for the same.(HT Photo)

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Updated on May 09, 2016 11:47 AM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIfrah Mufti, Chandigarh

Fund-starved Panjab University seeks Rs 100 crore from UGC

After receiving Rs 26 crore as funds from the University Grants Commission (UGC) on March 31 this year Panjab University (PU) is expecting an amount of Rs 100 crore from the UGC this month to fulfil the budgetary requirements of the varsity.

The PU registrar met the officials of the union ministry of human resource development (MHRD) and University Grants Commission (UGC) and submitted the requirements.(HT Photo)

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Updated on May 05, 2016 02:48 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIfrah Mufti, Chandigarh

Panjab University to decide on following govt’s reservation policy

Panjab University (PU) Syndicate meet scheduled for May 1 will take up the issue of guidelines for strict implementation of the reservation policy of the government in universities, deemed to be universities, colleges and other grant-in-aid institutions and centres, along with relevant syndicate and senate decisions.

A sub-committee was constituted in a meeting on April 21 by PU vice-chancellor Prof Arun Kumar Grover to suggest ways and means as to how reservation could be implemented in various constituencies of the senate.(HT Photo)

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Updated on Apr 29, 2016 01:18 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIfrah Mufti, Chandigarh

PU students may lose hostel seat for allowing outsiders to stay in rooms

Panjab University (PU) students may lose their hostel seat permanently from the next academic session starting July this year for allowing ‘outsiders’ to stay in their rooms illegally. Dean student welfare (DSW) Navdeep Goyal told HT a strict action will be taken those found guilty.

The UT police had caught around 30 outsiders staying illegally at the boys’ hostel number 4 on April 21-22 night.(HT PHOTO)

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Updated on Apr 26, 2016 12:34 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIfrah Mufti, Chandigarh

PU ban on outsiders’ vehicles losing steam

Chaos outside gates during checks hindering execution of plan

The ban that came into force on April 18 is also leading to chaos on the roads leading to the entry gates.(HT photo)

cities

Updated on Apr 22, 2016 07:15 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIfrah Mufti, Chandigarh

Vehicles of outsiders not allowed in PU from today

With Panjab University (PU) is all set to implement ban on outsiders’ vehicles from Monday on the campus, manpower to manage the same has not been arranged.

Four nakas will be set up at three entrance gates — Gate number 1, 2 and 3 and administrative block.(HT Photo)

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Updated on Apr 20, 2016 02:38 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIfrah Mufti, Chandigarh

Rs 9-lakh fine recovered from defaulters at Chandigarh railway station

Over Rs 9 lakh was recovered as penalty from total 1,752 passengers found travelling without tickets in trains at the Chandigarh railway station on Saturday.

A team of 60-70 officials, including railway police force and government railway police, conducted the drive.(HT FILE PHOTO)

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Updated on Apr 19, 2016 04:40 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIfrah Mufti, Chandigarh

Rock Garden to feature at architecture festival in Italy

The City Beautiful, in particular the Rock Garden, is being featured in the 15th International architecture exhibition — ‘Venice Biennale exhibition’ — on May 25 in Italy.

The exhibition hosting 37 countries will have on display a replica of the Rock Garden, besides 3D slides of the art concepts, including incomplete works, of its creator, late Nek Chand.(HT File Photo)

cities

Updated on Apr 15, 2016 06:05 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIfrah Mufti, Chandigarh

Using all night facilities okay, but what about security, say PU girl hostellers

Days after girl students residing in hostels of Panjab University got a permission to study in libraries and work in laboratories till late night, girl hostellers have raised question marks over the feasibility of decision, given the lack of security within the campus.

Girl hostellers have raised question marks over the feasibility of decision, given the lack of security within the campus.(HT Photo)

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Updated on Apr 28, 2016 05:13 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIfrah Mufti, Chandigarh

Finally, PU girl hostellers can stay till late in library, work in labs

Finally, Panjab University girl students residing in varsity hostels will be allowed to study in library or work in laboratories during night as well and return to their hostels without paying late entry fee.

According to a circular , girls will have to get a pro forma signed by library security guard on every visit. They will have to return to their respective hostels within 30 minutes and get the second entry marked by hostel security guard.(HT Photo)

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Updated on Apr 28, 2016 05:13 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIfrah Mufti, Chandigarh

Railways offers 13-day pilgrim package to 8 destinations for Rs 10,800

The Indian Rail Catering Tourism and Corporation (IRCTC) will offer a 13-day pilgrim package from June 27 to those who wish to travel to eight destinations by paying Rs 10,790 per head.

The tour package ‘Dakshin Bharat Darshan with Shirdi Ex Chandigarh (NZBD173)’ offers 12 nights/13 days tour.(HT Photo)

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Updated on Apr 04, 2016 02:03 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIfrah Mufti, Chandigarh

Rs 41-crore deficit, PU stares at financial crisis

For Panjab University, the 2015-16 financial year has ended with a deficit of Rs 41 crore even after it received Rs 26 crore as partial grant on the last day of the fiscal, and the university seems to be staring at worst financial crisis.

For 2015-16, the PU’s budget deficit was around Rs 278.55 crore, though it received Rs 182-crore from the UGC, including Rs 150-crore grant in January, and Rs 6-crore grant from the Punjab government.(HT Photo)

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Updated on Apr 01, 2016 10:53 AM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIfrah Mufti, Chandigarh

Sexual harassment policy at PU: Students could be fined up to Rs 50,000

The Panjab University (PU) senate on Sunday approved a new policy on protection, prevention, prohibition from sexual harassment at workplace. The new policy has a provision of penalty for guilty students which may extend up to Rs 50,000. The rest of the policy will be in accordance with ‘The Sexual Harassment of Women (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013’.

The new policy has a provision of penalty for guilty students which may extend up to Rs 50,000.(HT Photo)

cities

Updated on Mar 28, 2016 10:50 AM IST

Hindustan Times | ByIfrah Mufti, Chandigarh

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Ifrah Mufti

She is a staff reporter in Chandigarh. She covers schools and higher education.

Even as the Panjab University (PU) students returned to their respective hostels after summer vacation on Monday, a majority of them said the complaints they had left behind before leaving have not been attended to.

New academic session (2016-17) is all set to begin at the Panjab University (PU) by the end of July, but the varsity hostels continue to remain in a mess with lack of basic facilities.

Postgraduate Government College, Sector 11, which was the only men’s college in the city for undergraduate courses till last year, is receiving an overwhelming response from girl students.

As monsoon arrived in the city, 15 hostels of Panjab University (PU) were challaned Rs 500 each for mosquito breeding in air coolers, pots, drums and water tanks, on Saturday.

There couldn’t have been a worst start to a professional career. A grocery delivery start-up—Grofers—withdrew the job offer to 10 graduates of Punjab Engineering College (PEC) University of Technology two days before the joining date, citing adverse market conditions as the reason.

With the academic session about to start in July, Panjab University (PU) hostels continue to grapple with the problems of necessary electricity equipment, quality food, and basic facilities like proper toilets.

As many as 7,412 students have applied for 2,380 BCom seats in the city’s 11 colleges, meaning that for every seat, there are more than three applications with the majority coming from outside the city.

The 3-hour-25-minute travel time between Chandigarh and Delhi in the Shatabdi express will come down to two hours if the modernisation work of railway infrastructure goes as per minister Suresh Prabhu’s plan.

From retired bureaucrats to brigadiers, from advocates to retired judges and from teachers to youngsters, the free-of-cost Urdu basic course running in the city for past four decades is now attracting people from all walks of life.

You like your coffee and news piping hot. So here’s some of the latter first. The legendary Indian Coffee House is coming up with another branch in Sector 36-D. He further added that the branch will be opening up by the second week of June and tentatively between June 15 and June 20.

To promote the cause of organ donation, Panjab University will add a new clause of ‘signing the pledge for organ donation’ in their admission forms from the 2016-17 session.

Cancelling all ‘false’ medical certificates, Panjab University (PU) has decided not to allow students, who had furnished the same to fulfil 75% attendance norm, sit for examinations.

False medical consultation, on-paper advice for bed rest, and now likely police action — a doctor finds himself in the dock as he ‘helped’ students fulfil the 75% attendance norm to appear for exams at Panjab University.

After receiving Rs 26 crore as funds from the University Grants Commission (UGC) on March 31 this year Panjab University (PU) is expecting an amount of Rs 100 crore from the UGC this month to fulfil the budgetary requirements of the varsity.

Panjab University (PU) students may lose their hostel seat permanently from the next academic session starting July this year for allowing ‘outsiders’ to stay in their rooms illegally. Dean student welfare (DSW) Navdeep Goyal told HT a strict action will be taken those found guilty.

Chaos outside gates during checks hindering execution of plan

With Panjab University (PU) is all set to implement ban on outsiders’ vehicles from Monday on the campus, manpower to manage the same has not been arranged.

Over Rs 9 lakh was recovered as penalty from total 1,752 passengers found travelling without tickets in trains at the Chandigarh railway station on Saturday.

The City Beautiful, in particular the Rock Garden, is being featured in the 15th International architecture exhibition — ‘Venice Biennale exhibition’ — on May 25 in Italy.

Days after girl students residing in hostels of Panjab University got a permission to study in libraries and work in laboratories till late night, girl hostellers have raised question marks over the feasibility of decision, given the lack of security within the campus.

Finally, Panjab University girl students residing in varsity hostels will be allowed to study in library or work in laboratories during night as well and return to their hostels without paying late entry fee.

The Indian Rail Catering Tourism and Corporation (IRCTC) will offer a 13-day pilgrim package from June 27 to those who wish to travel to eight destinations by paying Rs 10,790 per head.

For Panjab University, the 2015-16 financial year has ended with a deficit of Rs 41 crore even after it received Rs 26 crore as partial grant on the last day of the fiscal, and the university seems to be staring at worst financial crisis.

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