tribuneindia...Spotlight

			Saturday, October 24, 1998
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HC dismisses plea against Sushma
NEW DELHI, Oct 23 (PTI) — A petition challenging the appointment of Sushma Swaraj as Delhi Chief Minister was today dismissed by the high court saying it was based on "surmises, presumptions and conjunctures". A Division Bench, comprising Acting Chief Justice Y K Sabharwal and Justice K S Gupta, in its order said the petition had "no constitutional merit but involved only political issues". "No political issues should be raised in the forum of the court," the Bench cautioned.

Case against USA
ISLAMABAD, Oct 23 (PTI) — Pakistan will file a lawsuit against the USA next month for the recovery of its more than $ 600 million paid for F-16 aircraft a decade ago. "Pakistan Government does not want to take the risk of becoming incapacitated" by the statute of limitation which expires four months from now and hence steps are underway to file the case in November, informed sources were quoted by the English daily, ‘The Nation’, as saying.

Ordinance on SCs
HYDERABAD, Oct 23 (UNI) — The Andhra Pradesh Governor, Dr C Rangarajan has referred to the President, the Andhra Pradesh Scheduled Castes (Rationalisation of Reservations) Ordinance. The Ordinance, seeking to categorise the Scheduled Castes in four categories, was sent to the Governor by the state Cabinet last week. It was referred to the President under Article 213 of the Constitution, official sources here today said.

SAARC meetings
COLOMBO, Oct 23 (PTI) — Chief Justices and lawyers from the seven SAARC nations began their three-day separate meetings here to deliberate on legal complications emerging out of the Asian currency crisis and their increased trade relations. The Chief Justices would deliberate on the emerging trends in the jurisprudence in South Asia in the wake of growing trade and economic cooperation between SAARC countries, Sri Lanka’s Attorney-General Sarath Silva said.

Special court
COIMBATORE, Oct 23 (PTI) — A special court will be set up to deal with cases relating to caste violence in southern districts of Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister M Karunanidhi said today. The court would be established in Madurai, he told reporters briefing the outcome of the inconclusive all-party meeting held yesterday. At least 11 persons were killed in caste clashes in the southern district of Ramnathapuram last month.

Congress stir
AGARTALA, Oct 23 (UNI) — The Congress today launched a state-wide agitation in Tripura in support of its eight-point demands, including the imposition of President’s rule in the state. The demands included checking price rise, providing compensation to the affected farmers, the implementation of the Fourth Pay Commission recommendations, jobs for the unemployed, the expulsion of Deputy Speaker Subal Rudra and the withdrawal of alleged false cases against Congress, TUJS and T N V workers.

Minister unhurt
SHIMLA, Oct 23 (PTI) — Himachal Pradesh Agriculture Minister Vidya Sagar escaped unhurt when his car collided with a truck near Nadaun in Hamirpur district last evening. In another accident, two persons were killed when a state transport corporation bus met with an accident near Barmana, 75 km from here, today. The driver and the conductor of the bus were seriously injured and shifted to hospital. Mr Vidya Sagar was on his way to Shimla when the accident occurred.

S. Bangarappa
BANGALORE, Oct 23 (PTI) — Former Karnataka Chief Minister S. Bangarappa today appeared before the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) which has been directed by the Karnataka High Court to investigate the acquisition of properties by him in a public interest writ petition. Mr Bangarappa appeared before CBI Deputy Superintendent Mr HS Chopra, CBI sources said. The former Chief Minister would again depose before the investigating agency on Monday and Tuesday.

10 drowned
LUCKNOW, Oct 23 (PTI) — At least 10 persons, including four children and two women, were drowned when a boat ferrying them capsized midstream on a river in Uttar Pradesh’s Jyotiba Phule Nagar district today, a top Home Ministry official said. Twentyseven persons were rescued, Principal Secretary (Home) Naresh Dayal said. He said the boat sank in the Bagad in Gangeshwari village and four men, four children and two women perished.

Panel on power from Pak
NEW DELHI, Oct 23 (UNI) — A committee was set up today to get 2000 mw of power from Pakistan to the energy strapped northern India, Power Minister P. Kumaramanglam said here. The committee will be headed by Additional Secretary of Power Pradeep Baigal, Northern India, the Power Minister said. This is the first time that India and Pakistan has had any such arrangement in this sector.

Salim Khan
MUMBAI, Oct 23 (PTI) – Bollywood actor Salman Khan's father Salim Khan today secured anticipatory bail from the Mumbai High Court, apprehending arrest for alleged violation of the Wildlife Protection Act. The bail was granted by the Vacation Judge, Mr Justice, D.K. Deshmukh, for an amount of Rs 1 lakh and two sureties in the like amount this evening. Salim Khan's plea for anticipatory bail was earlier rejected by a sessions court which said it had no jurisdiction over the matter.