New Delhi, April 11
The Supreme Court today restrained the states from admitting more than 50 per cent students from their quota for the medical PG courses in the colleges run by them and asked the Medical Council of India (MCI) and the Director General of Health Services (DGHS) to explore the feasibility of substantially increasing central quota seats from the existing 2,700 to accommodate more doctors for admission to the specialised courses.

While seeking the report from the MCI and the DGHS about enhancing the central quota seats by April 15, a Bench comprising Mr Justice Y.K. Sabharwal and Mr Justice D.M. Dharmadhikari indicated the deadline of April 17 for PG admissions could be further extended if an appropriate decision was taken by the two agencies.

The court further said the 239 seats of central quota pertaining to unpopular courses like Forensic Science, Anatomy and Clinical Science, for which less students had opted and that had remained unfilled, would not be reverted to the states.

It said every attempt should be made to fill the seats by increasing the number of intake of student for counselling.

MCI counsel Maninder Singh said at least one lakh doctors had appeared in the entrance exam conducted by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences for the PG degree and diploma courses and 3,376 of them were called for counselling by the DGHS to fill the 2,700 available seats against the all-India quota.

He admitted there was need to increase the number of intake under the Central quota to accommodate more doctors for pursuing the specialised studies.

He further said all 2,700 available seats were not for the MD and MS courses as a substantial number of them were merely for certain PG diploma courses.

New Delhi, April 11
British High Commissioner Michael Arthur today embarked on a three-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir to expand his contacts and bring about a closer cooperation between Great Britain and India on socio-politico-economic fronts.

This is Mr Arthur’s second visit to J&K. He plans to visit several more Indian States, including Bihar, in the near future, Mr Jeff Wilson, First Secretary (Press and Communications) in the British High Commission told The Tribune.

During his visit, Mr Arthur will meet Governor Lieut-Gen (retd) S K Sinha, Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, Deputy Chief Minister Mangat Ram Sharma and the state’s Finance Minister. He will also meet representatives of political parties, the security forces and businesspersons in Jammu and Srinagar.

The visit assumes significance as it comes close on the heels of the historic April 7 launch of the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service. The bus service, which brings together the people of Kashmir from either side of the Line of Control, would initially be a fortnightly service. The next bus is scheduled for April 21.

Before his departure, Sir Michael Arthur issued a brief statement in which he hailed the starting of the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service as “an important development”, made a pointed reference to last week’s terrorist attacks and condemned these incidents.

The diplomatic community here sees these terrorist strikes as attempts to force the Governments of India and Pakistan for not going ahead with the bus service.

The British envoy said: “For a decade and a half, ordinary Kashmiris have suffered massive disruption to their lives. It is clear, now more than ever, that violence will never solve the region’s problems. Only a credible political process can do this. Last week’s attacks showed that the militants are out of touch with the wishes of ordinary Kashmiris.”

Mr Arthur noted that the launch of the Kashmir bus service had been warmly welcomed by the vast majority of Kashmiris living on both sides of the Line of Control.

“I congratulate the Governments of India and Pakistan for their flexibility and vision which have turned the bus into a reality as well as the Government of J&K for its persistence in lobbying for it.”

According to Kashmiri sources here, the “real objective” of the British High Commissioner’s visit to J&K was “certain reliable reports” with the British High Commission here that the Government of India was going to launch a major anti-terrorist operation in J&K in near future.

They said the British Government was apprehensive that any such anti-terrorist action by Indian security forces in J&K at this stage could bring the Government of Pakistan under pressure and jeopardise the ongoing Indo-Pak process.

British diplomatic sources, however, rubbished this and said it was a well-known policy of the British Government to deal with terrorists sternly. Moreover, the British High Commissioner’s J&K visit had been finalised about a month ago.

New Delhi, April 11
The Supreme Court today declined to entertain a petition seeking registration of a case against Congress President Sonia Gandhi for allegedly furnishing “false affidavit” before the Election Commission (EC) about her educational qualification, specially regarding her having a certificate in English language from Cambridge University while filing her nomination for the last Lok Sabha election from Rae Bareli.

The petition was filed by Janata Party President Subramanian Swamy, alleging that in her affidavit to the EC, which is a mandatory exercise under the election laws and the Supreme Court ruling, Sonia Gandhi had stated that she had a “certificate in English from Lennox Cook School, University of Cambridge, completed in 1965.”

Claiming that this statement was “totally false and made to impress the voters about her high education”, Swamy said the university in its three letters sent to him had clearly stated that it “had no record of Sonia Gandhi having ever registered as a student at the university.” Her affidavit and the university letters were placed on record by him.

He alleged that the “false information” about her having been studied at the Cambridge University was not only furnished to the EC, but also to the Lok Sabha Secretariat and it was duly published in the ”who’s who” list of MPs’ bio-data brought out by Parliament.

When this matter was taken up with the Ethics Committee of the House, the officials in Sonia Gandhi’s office had explained it away by stating that the “word university” in the Lok Sabha publication was a “typographical error”, Swamy, arguing the case said.

He said Sonia Gandhi might have studied in Lennox School, situated in Cambridge city, but this school was never affiliated to Cambridge University as the university has made it clear, and therefore, her statement to the EC was “a willfully furnished wrong information”, amounting to committing the offence of perjury.

“A case under Section 177 (furnishing false information in a legal matter), 181 (furnishing false statement before a public servant on oath), 191 (giving false evidence) and 193 (dealing with punishment for false evidence) of Indian Penal Code is prima-facie made out against her,” Swamy contended.

He said he had taken up the matter with the EC on October 23, 2004, seeking appropriate action against the Congress leader for filing a “false affidavit” with her nomination paper as Commission’s circular of June 2, 2004 required that the officers involved in conducting elections, were duty-bound to approach the court in such cases.

Since the EC had failed to take any action against Sonia Gandhi for reasons of her “political clout”, the apex court’s intervention was necessary in the matter as the provision for filing of the affidavit was incorporated in the election laws only on its direction, the Janata Party president contended.

But a Bench of Chief Justice R C Lahoti and Mr Justice G P Mathur, refused to interfere in the matter, saying that the information about Sonia Gandhi having a certificate from the Lennox Cook School, was not wrong.

New Delhi, April 11
Concerned at large-scale poaching of the pilots, specially those with the public sector Indian Airlines and Alliance Air, Minister for Civil Aviation Praful Patel today called a meeting of all airlines, including the private ones, and asked them to work out a code of conduct between them to stop the practice. The minister also warned all airlines’ officials that if the practice did not stop then the ministry would have to step in to work out a solution. The meeting was attended by the CEOs of the eight airlines’ — Air India, Indian Airlines, Alliance Air, Jet Airways, Air Sahara, Air Deccan, Kingfisher Air and Spice Air.

The meeting came as a result of the recent large-scale poaching, specially on the Alliance Air pilots, as a consequence of which a large number of its flights had to be cancelled or were rescheduled. Besides suffering losses, the airline had to face the ire of the passengers, who, at the last minute, had to be told the scheduled flight had been cancelled.

The minister reportedly has asked all airlines to arrive at a consensus about a code of conduct by April 18. Failure to do so would result in the ministry getting involved in the issue.

He also told the CEOs that the present trend of poaching did not augur well for the civil aviation sector which, he pointed out, was on the verge of blooming for everybody’s profit. He said the growth of the civil aviation sector would get affected as a result of poaching.

Recently, two IA pilots had put in their papers but sources in the airline said at least 25 more could quit owing to the good pay packets being offered by private airlines.

The IA subsidiary, Alliance Air, has been the worst hit with as many as 12 of its pilots having left the airline. The resignation of at least five more pilots is said to be in dispute with the authorities.

Sources said attempts had been made to bring back the pilots who had resigned. Top officials of the IA apparently held a meeting with these pilots but to no avail. All flight schedules of the airline have gone haywire due to these resignations and there are just 40 more pilots left.

Apparently, one of the private airlines is offering the pilots almost Rs 5 lakh per month. Others have given an offer of a hike of at least Rs 1 lakh over the last drawn pay of the pilot with IA or Alliance Air. The IA and Alliance Air pilots get between Rs 2-3 lakh per month. There are 1,200 trained commercial pilots in the country flying 165 jets. The problem is there are not enough commanders among them.

With an unprecedented boom in the civil aviation sector, the country is running short of pilots. Most carriers, state-owned as well as private, are in a scramble to lay their hands on trained pilots.

New Delhi, April 11
The protocol on modalities for implementation of the CBMs in the military field along the Sino-Indian border specifies avoiding holding large scale military exercises in close proximity to the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

If such exercises are to be conducted, the strategic direction of the main force involved shall not be towards the other side.

In case an exercise is being conducted, then relevant information should be provided to the other side through flag meetings.

The seven-Article protocol initialled here today by Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran and Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister Wu Dawei states that in the eventuality of border personnel coming in face-to-face contact due to differences in the alignment of the LAC or any other reason, they shall exercise self restraint to avoid an escalation of the situation.

Both sides shall then inform their respective headquarters and, if necessary, enter into immediate consultations through border meetings or diplomatic channels.

India and China shall hold two additional border meetings each year at Spanggur Gap in the Western sector, Nathu La in the Sikkim sector and Bum La in the Eastern sector in celebration of the national Day or the Army Day of either side.

The mechanism of border meeting points is being expanded to include Kibithu-Damai in the Eastern sector and Lipulekh/Qiang La in the Middle sector. The precise location of these border meeting points will be decided through mutual consultations.

In the event of alleged air intrusion of its controlled airspace by the military aircraft of the other side, either side may seek a flag meeting within 48 hours of the alleged air intrusion to seek a clarification. The investigation shall be completed by the other side and its results communicated through a flag meeting within a period of four weeks.

If a civilian aircraft of either side is required to fly across the LAC or land on the other side in an emergency situation, the two sides will ensure flight safety in such situations by adhering to procedures to be mutually agreed upon.

In case personnel of one side in the border areas cross over to the other side due to force majeure such as natural disasters: the side having discovered it should promptly contact and notify the other side. The personnel crossing over to the other side should in the light of the prevailing circumstances take measures to return to their own side or proceed to places designated by the other side enroute to return to their own side. The receiving side will provide all possible assistance to the personnel from the other side and ensure their earliest possible return.

At the request of the side affected by the natural disaster, the other side may consider all possible measures to help alleviate the situation.

The protocol takes immediate effect.

Guwahati, April 11
With the next Assembly poll about a year away, all political parties in the state have started showing their strength to attract voters. The BJP organised “Dispur gherao” programme on March 11, which evoked a good response.

On March 28, the principal Opposition, Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), took the initiative for “March to Dispur,” which also drew a good number of people.

Both AGP and BJP, though have not come out in the open about their possible seat adjustment for the elections, lambasted the ruling Congress for its failure to check the insurgency problem, growing unemployment affecting the youth and the alleged involvement of a section of ministers in different scams, including crude oil scandal and coal scandal.

As if this was not enough, the powerful Jamiat-ulema-e-Hind national president, Maulana Asad Madani, at a recent meeting of the outfit in the city, threatened to overthrow the Taru Gogoi-led Congress government if its 18 point demands, including the reservation in jobs for Muslims and the reservation of seats for Assembly and Lok Sabha polls, were not fulfilled in the next six months.

Over 80 lakh Muslims in the state are capable of determining the outcome in at least 40 of the total 126 Assembly seats. Not to be left far behind, another strong support base of the Congress, the All Assam Tea Tribes Students Association has already decided to float a regional party by May this year.

The tea tribes having over 70 lakh of population and capable of determining the outcome in at least 35 Assembly seats are unhappy with the Congress because the growing number of sick tea gardens, poor pay package and related deteriorating health care system. They are also demanding the status of SC/ST.

Another powerful tribal outfit, All Bodo Students’ Union, has also decided to float a regional outfit by April 20. The Bodos are decisive in at least 12 Assembly seats in the state. The Koch-Rajbanshi, another ethnic group, is also in a mood to form its own outfit.

On its part, the AGP already organised conventions involving the Muslims and the tea tribes. The BJP too was making inroads into the tea tribes vote bank of the Congress. Former Chief Minister and AGP leader Prafulla Kumer Mahanta already hinted at the possibility of seat adjustment among like-minded anti-Congress forces.

New Delhi, April 11
A week ahead of the Indo-Pak one-day cricket match at Kotla Grounds here, Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil today convened a high-level meeting to review the security arrangements for the match on April 17, to be witnessed by Pakistan President Gen Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The meeting, attended among others by Union Home Secretary V K Duggal, Security Adviser, M K Narayanan, Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit, chiefs of the Delhi Police, the Intelligence Bureau, the Special Protection Group, RAW and representatives of the BCCI and the DDCA, including Mr Arun Jaitley and Mr Rajiv Shukla, reviewed threadbare all security arrangements being lined up to ensure an “incident-free” match, sources said.

“Since Heads of both India and Pakistan along with several other top dignatories would be witnessing the match, discussions were held at length on the specifics of various security arrangements for VVIPs,” a source told The Tribune.

“Apart from deployment of security forces, including crack commandos, and traffic arrangements, the meeting went into the specifics of timing of VVIPs visits, their seating arrangements, protocol and access management inside and outside VVIP enclosures,” the source said.

“Although so far there has been no specific threat call by any militant group, the meeting took note of various possible threat perceptions and reviewed various security arrangements lined up to pre-empt these,” he said adding “the meeting also debated on the possible security threats to Musharraf, against whom three unsuccessful attempts have already been made by Islamic groups after Pakistan aligned with the United States in the fight against terrorism.”

Mumbai, April 11
Mumbai’s trade unionists are demanding that the Maharashtra Government re-open the police case regarding the murder of trade union leader Datta Samant eight years ago.

A number of trade unionists led by Datta Samant’s elder brother, Dada, have appealed to the state government to start a new probe into the murder after three persons arrested by the Chhattisgarh police on Sunday confessed to the crime.

Datta Samant, a member of Parliament at the time of his death, was shot dead in broad daylight as he drove out of his suburban residence on January 15, 1997. His union was in the midst of a strike at Premier Automobiles’ plant at Kurla and Dombivli where the company was manufacturing cars in collaboration with Peugeuot.

The arrest of Vijay Choudhary (41), Vikram Sapte, alias Vicky (40) and Arjun Singh (25) on Sunday and their subsequent confession to the police regarding their role in the killing of Dr Samant is expected to bring Mumbai’s trade unions into the focus again.