TOP STORIES

It’s payback time for three Delhi schools
New Delhi, April 29
The Government of NCT of Delhi has “directed” the managements of three schools to “return” the donations taken from parents and cautioned other schools to “take a lesson from this and not resort to such practices.”

Only public schools can choose holiday calendar
New Delhi, April 29
While the public schools in the Capital have been allowed to choose the last working day before they close for summer vacations, the schools run and aided by the government have been issued orders to close on May 1. This is to ensure uniformity, claimed the Director of Education.

Reality check: SAD to project itself as 
real dal
New Delhi, April 29
In a move to strengthen the Shiromani Akali Dal’s bargaining power before the assembly poll in Delhi, the SAD general secretary, Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, has embarked on a party mobilisation drive.

THREE IN ONE: A truck veered out of control near Shanti Van and rammed a car in the rear, which in turn knocked down a motorcycle. No one was injured. — Tribune photo Mukesh Aggarwal

BJP fights shy of contesting corruption charges
New Delhi, April 29
Pushed on the backfoot by the bad press the arrest of an official “hand-picked” by its president, Mr Madan Lal Khurana, generated, the Delhi Pradesh Bharatiya Janata Party wants to steer clear of all controversies, even those involving its own members.

PROBLEM OF PLENTY
Traders cash in on wheat glut
Sonepat, April 29
While the foodgrain markets in the district are bulging with heavy arrivals of wheat, a nexus of traders and buyers has been taking advantage of the glut. The nexus is reportedly cornering huge profits by denying the farmer the minimum support price for his produce.

MURDER AT NOON
72-yr-old wife of transporter found strangled
New Delhi, April 29
The 72-year-old wife of a businessman was strangulated to death by three persons this afternoon in the Malviya Nagar area of South district. The house was found to be ransacked.

SNAPSHOT

For business excellence conforming to global standards, BHEL’s Trichy unit has been conferred the CII-Exim ‘Significant Achievement Commendation Certificate 2002’. The award was received by Mr K.G. Ramachandran, chairman and managing director, BHEL, from Mr Ratan Tata, chairman, Tata Sons Ltd., at a function in the Capital.

DANCE OF DEATH
27 ‘suicides’ in 22 days
Ghaziabad, April 29
There have been 27 suicides in just 22 days in Uttar Pradesh. Of these, 14 persons died in 13 days in Ghaziabad. Incidentally, the deceased in all these cases committed suicide or killed their kin due to acute financial hardship.

Civil hospital blood bank told to close shop
Sonepat
Owing to sheer negligence on the part of the Sonepat district health authorities, the Director-General, Health Services, Haryana, has issued orders for the closure of the blood bank in the local Civil Hospital. The authorities apparently did not bother to deposit the renewal fee.

Govt changing VRS into CRS: Bank union
Sonepat, April 29
The national general secretary of the National Organisation of Bank Workers, Mr V V Indulkar, has accused the Central government of converting Voluntary Retirement Scheme into Compulsory Retirement Scheme by bringing discriminatory changes in the banking working system.

Special Focus on Gurgaon
Uphaar ruling to usher in more accountability : PHDCCI
Gurgaon, April 29
The president of the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr P.K. Jain, has hailed the court judgement on Uphaar tragedy, saying that the ruling will usher in greater accountability by both the public and private sectors.

Noidaites fret and fume over amenities tax
Noida, April 29
Noidaites have started organising themselves to oppose the public amenities tax being imposed on them by the Noida Authority at the behest of the state government.

House tax move rattles Rohtak residents
Rohtak, April 29
The increase in the house tax seems to be a ‘hot potato’ for the district administration here. The municipal councillors have threatened to launch an agitation if the ‘arbitrary’ increase in the house tax was not withdrawn.

Faridabad residents thirst for water
Faridabad, April 29
Several parts of the town and district are reeling from the water scarcity. Even the much-publicised ‘Ranneywell water scheme’ inaugurated by the Chief Minister in January has failed to solve the problem.

Nurse injured in ceiling mishap
Noida, April 29
The condition of the staff quarters in the District Government Hospital in Sector-30, Noida is so bad that ten quarters have been vacated by the staff recently. Particularly bad are 74 staff quarters of Type-II and Type-III. They are in a dilapidated condition.

DELHI DIGEST
Need for active policing emphasised by Delhi Police Commissioner
New Delhi, April 29
The Commissioner of Police, Mr R. S. Gupta emphasized the need to provide a fillip to active policing in all police stations by strengthening investigations and beat patrolling. He emphasised this issue at a meeting with the Lt- Governor, Mr Vijai Kapoor at Raj Niwas.

• SHO to be held responsible

• Load-shedding

• Cops given out-of-turn promotion

• Suicide by NDMC employee

• DDA employee killed

NCR BRIEFS
CM accused of adopting anti-farmer policies
Rohtak, April 29
Charging the Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala of being anti-farmer, the youth wing of the Haryana Vikas Party has alleged that the Chief Minister has betrayed the farmers, who had played a vital role in bringing the Indian National Lok Dal to power.

• Serving the nation

• Science paper cancelled at two centres

LJP nails Bhajan’s remark on poll tie-up
Panipat
The Lok Janshakti Party has pooh-poohed the statement of Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee president Bhajan Lal in which he has stated that some discussions were going on with the CPM leaders for an electoral alliance in Fatehabad Assembly by-election.

EDUCATION

MoU between MDU and Korean institute
Rohtak, April 29
The Maharshi Dayanand University and the Korea Institute of Energy Research will exchange scientific knowledge and conduct joint research in the fields of new materials and energy technology. A Memorandum of Understanding will be signed between the two institutions on May 20 in Korea.

COURTS

Anticipatory bail granted to associate of former minister
Sonepat, April 29
The District and Sessions Judge, Mr S. K. Sardana granted anticipatory bail to Mr Bijender, a close associate of the former Haryana Minister, Ms Krishna Gehlawat, in a criminal case registered against him by the Vigilance Bureau, Rohtak.

Work at Tis Hazari paralysed New Delhi, April 29 Work at the Tis Hazari Courts was affected today as large number of lawyers struck work to protest against the deteriorating law and order situation there, in the wake of the gunning down of a eunuch on Monday. Lawyers relaxing in their chambers. — Tribune photo Mukesh Aggarwal

CULTURE

GLITZ & GLAMOUR
Haute Summer 2003 designs
The Summer 2003 collections adroitly put together by design houses are competing with each other. With each one claiming to have designed the best for the sweltering summer, we take a look at what’s in the show window.

Couturiere Anita sets the tone for fab fashion
Having learnt the nuances of designing from Mumbai’s SNDT College, Anita Dongre decided to repay her alma mater. During her two-year stint as teacher, Anita chose to share her knowledge with the aspiring fashion designers.

Miss India Worldwide in the desert
Umaid Bhavan Palace in the Desert State of Rajasthan has been chosen to host the 13th Annual Miss India Worldwide Pageant 2003. Organised by the Angel World, the show is being held in the country for the first time.

Daljeet Singh Bhatti finds his metier in choreography Some of his best batch-mates from Delhi’s Khalsa College are now successful Punjabi pop singers, but he decided to go into a bit challenging field—choreography. Now this 32 years old young artiste Daljeet Singh Bhatti has carved a niche for himself in this sphere. DANCING TO HIS OWN TUNE!

SPORTS

Top sportspersons nominated for Hero Sports Awards
New Delhi, April 29
Chess master Vishwanathan Anand, cricket stars Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid and tennis ace Mahesh Bhupathi have been nominated for the Hero Indian Sports’ Best Sportsman of the Year Award, which will be presented at an impressive function at Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi on Wednesday evening.

44 women to participate in wrestling championship
Sonepat, April 29
As many as 44 women wrestlers in 22 weight categories of three different age groups have been selected for final trials to select a final wrestling squad, which will participate in 3-day Nation Women Wrestling Championship to be held at Cochin from May 23 to 25.

Ansul, Suresh guide Sahara to victory
New Delhi, April 29
Rapidfire knocks by Ansul Lamba (92) and Suresh Tanwar (79 n o) guided Air Sahara to an eight-wicket victory against Food Corporation of India and entered the quarter-final of the Shera Pandit Memorial Cricket Tournament at the Mohan Meakin ground. Ansul Lamba was named the man of the match.

• Gyan Bharti lose

• Standard Chartered win

Dileep stars in Shastri Club’s victory
New Delhi, April 29
Dileep TT played an all-round role (3 for 37 and 82 n o) and Sandeep Yadav cracked an unbeaten half century to help Lal Bahadur Shastri Club defeat Delhi Administration by nine wickets and entered the semi-final of the second Rajdhani Cup Cricket Tournament at the Najafgarh Sports Club ground. Dileep TT was declared the man of the match.

• Air Force advance

• Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan win

• Parth to lead Delhi

ONGC to meet FCI in Sood cricket final
New Delhi, April 29
Oil and Natural Gas Corporation will take on Food Corporation of India in the final of the 13th All-India Om Nath Sood Memorial Cricket Tournament to be played at the Khalsa College ground on Wednesday.

• University Coaching Centre record thrilling win