Thursday, March 21, 2002, Chandigarh, India
 Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

Ceiling on RBI Relief Bonds goes

New Delhi, March 20 The Lok Sabha late tonight passed the vote on account for the first few months of the next financial year while Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha indicated a review of some of the proposals of the Union Budget for 2002-03. The House also passed the supplementary demands for grants.

Factfile LS passes vote on account for Budget Sinha hints at review of some Budget proposals House passes supplementary demands for grants

Lucknow, March 20 Accepting a plea by the Centre, the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court today ordered a day-to-day hearing of the Ram Janambhoomi-Babri Masjid title suit and said a commission would also record evidence to facilitate a speedy disposal of the case. Edit page: Ayodhya’s unending challenge

Ram Janambhoomi Nyas Trustee Baba Dharam Das comes out of the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court in Lucknow on Wednesday. — PTI photo

Cong set to defeat POTO
New Delhi, March 20
The Congress today said it was determined to defeat the Prevention of Terrorism Bill, 2002, in the Rajya Sabha tomorrow. 

• Manmohan Singh in AIIMS

• Nation page: SAD MPs issued whip on POTO Bill

Nepal cops kill 25 Maoists; 7 officers die
Deuba rushes to Delhi for help
Kathmandu, March 20
Nepal’s Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba headed for India on Wednesday to seek support in the country’s fight against Maoist guerrillas after fresh clashes on Tuesday night in which at least seven police officers and 25 rebels were killed, officials said.

• Nation page: Deuba arrives on 6-day visit

Murder charge framed against Bibi
Patiala, March 20 Murder charges were framed against Bibi Jagir Kaur and six others for killing Harpreet Kaur, the former SGPC President’s daughter, in a local court here today.
Former SGPC President Bibi Jagir Kaur is produced in the Patiala Sessions Court on Wednesday.  — PTI photo

Ministers’ kin face demotion
Chandigarh, March 20
The Haryana Assembly today adopted a Bill which will have a direct bearing on the close relatives of at least two Ministers of State. 

HC grants pre-arrest bail to VC
Chandigarh, March 20
Issuing notice of motion for April 3, Mr Justice M.L. Singhal of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today ordered that Punjabi University Vice-Chancellor, Dr Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia, will not be arrested till then in the Saru Rana case.

2 kids die in blast
Srinagar, March 20
Two children have been killed and five injured in separate incidents in Kashmir since yesterday. The police here said two children were killed on the spot and five others were injured when an explosive device went off on the Doraswani and Tikipora road in the Sogam area of Kupwara district today.

IAF mum on Bhatia’s plea
New Delhi, March 20
The Air Marshal Sekhon issue continues to rock the Indian Air Force with reports now emerging that Air Marshal V.K. Bhatia, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Air Command, is seeking a fresh probe into his possible crossing of the Line of Control in the Kargil region last month.

TRIBUNE IMPACT Jalandhar MC comes out of slumber Imposes fine of Rs 22.53 lakh on school management Jalandhar, March 20 Taking a tough stand towards those educational institutions which were raising huge buildings in violation of the Punjab Municipal Corporation Act, the Jalandhar Municipal Corporation has finally slapped a penalty to the tune of about Rs 22.53 lakh on the management of the local C.T. Public School, which had allegedly constructed a huge school complex spread over 14 acres of land at Maqsudan near here, sans any sanctioned building plan.