M A I N   N E W S

3 blown to pieces in AP bomb blasts

Hyderabad, September 5
Three persons were killed and an equal number critically injured in two powerful explosions in quick succession at a platform at the Eluru railway station in Andhra Pradesh last night, the police said.

The twin blasts occurred when boxes of explosives carried by suspected Naxalites accidentally fell off while they were trying to board the train.

The blasts occurred when the Howrah-bound Falaknuma Express from Secunderabad was about to leave the station in West Godavari district at around 11 pm, the police added.

Such was the impact of the blasts that the bodies of three persons, aged between 30 and 35, were blown to pieces.

A mobile phone, belonging to one of the victims, was heard ringing for a few minutes as cries and shrieks of passengers rent the air. PTI

Nagi chosen as PGI Dean
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 5
Speculation over the appointment of PGI Dean came to an end today after counsel for the institute placed before the Punjab and Haryana High Court minutes of the 98th meeting of the Governing Body. As per the minutes, Dr Onkar Nath Nagi — Professor and Head of Department of Orthopedic Surgery — has been appointed Dean with immediate effect for a period of three years.

The result had been kept in a sealed cover following directions by the High Court. Pronouncing the orders on a petition filed by Radio Diagnosis Department Head Sudha Suri, and another professor, Mr Justice R.S. Mongia and Mr Justice K.C. Gupta of the High Court had directed the institute to complete the process of selecting the Dean, but not to declare the result. They had also asked the respondents to produce the result in a sealed cover in court.

The Bench had further directed the respondents to consider both the petitioners, besides, respondent Prof Sarla Gopalan, along with other eligible candidates, for the post as per the rules and the regulations of the Institute.

Taking up the case today, Mr Justice N.K. Sodhi and Mr Justice Jasbir Singh observed: “Minutes of the 98th meeting of the Governing Body in regard to item No 44 pertaining to the appointment of the Dean were produced in the court in a sealed cover in pursuance of the order dated March 1. The sealed cover was opened. It transpires that neither the petitioner nor the respondent has been selected as Dean”.

The Judges added: “A copy of the minutes has been placed on the record. The original minutes produced in the court have been returned to Mr Anil Malhotra, counsel for the Union of India and the PGI. The institute may now declare the result of the selection”.

Prof Sudha Suri, in her petition, had sought directions for quashing a communication dated February 7. Counsel for the petitioner had stated that in this communication, her name had been placed below Professor Gopalan on the seniority list of professors.

In another petition, Prof Suri had sought directions for quashing the appointment of Dr Nagi as Dean. She had stated that even though the High Court had directed the respondents to keep the proceedings of the governing body in a sealed cover, the appointment of Dr Nagi as Dean had been published in complete violation of the orders.

Quoting newspaper reports, Dr Suri had stated that as per certain items a senior politician was instrumental in Dr Nagi’s appointment. Her counsel had added that Dr Nagi was being informed about the developments, evident from the fact that he had filed a caveat on July 26, apprehending a challenge to his selection, even though the Governing Body’s proceedings were kept in a sealed cover.