Cap transfer industry, Manmohan writes to CMs
New Delhi, July 18
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today took the growing menace of “transfer and posting industry” in the administrative machinery of the country head on, asking the states to avoid frequent transfers of public servants in key positions.

Delayed monsoon makes farmers jittery
Chandigarh, July 18
Technical and other explanations given by meteorologists notwithstanding, people in general and farmers in particular are both jittery and worried over the failure of the southwest monsoon in the region so far.

Nation page: Rs 1-cr package for fire victims’ kin Congress Party President Sonia Gandhi talks to parents of children, who were killed in a fire in a school building, during her visit to a hospital in Kumbakonam on Sunday. — Reuters photo

SGPC sacks Head Granthi of Golden Temple
Amritsar, July 18
In a surprise move, the SGPC today sacked Giani Mohan Singh, additional Head Granthi of the Golden Temple. Earlier, Giani Mohan Singh had served as Head Granthi of Darbar Sahib for a long period, however, after his retirement, he was appointed as additional Head Granthi by the then SGPC chief, Jathedar Gurcharan Singh Tohra, on February 1. (Details on Punjab page)

12 killed in bus mishap near Chamba
Chamba, July 18
Twelve passengers, including 8 women, were killed and five including driver and the conductor of the bus, were seriously injured when an HRTC bus fell into a gorge at Kalighar near Chowari, about 55 km from Chamba, at about 10.15 a.m.

Vinay Katiyar sacked

Punjab Bill: Haryana BJP MLAs resign Chandigarh, July 18 BJP legislators of Haryana today resigned from the state Assembly to protest against the legislation passed by the Punjab Assembly annulling all water-sharing agreements between Punjab and other states. Haryana page: Cong MLAs’ resignation a gimmick, says CM Himachal page: Chautala wants rivers nationalised Haryana BJP MLAs in a jovial mood before submitting their resignations from the Assembly to the Speaker in Chandigarh on Sunday. — Tribune photo by Pradeep Tewari