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Tuesday, August 22, 2006, Chandigarh, India
Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

Cabinet okays staggered quota
Students’ stir from today
New Delhi, August 21
The Union Cabinet tonight cleared the politically sensitive legislation providing for 27 per cent reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in government-run higher educational institutions, including AIIMS, IIT and IIMs in a staggered manner.

Ustad Bismillah Khan is no more
Thousands bid farewell to shehnai maestro

Varanasi, August 21 The cool shade of a neem tree provides an ideal canopy to shehnai maestro Bismillah Khan’s final resting place at Fatmain graveyard. Editorial: Bismillah! File photo of shehnai maestro Bismillah Khan acknowledging the audience during his ‘jugalbandi’ concert at Balayogi Auditorium in Parliament House on August 7, 2003. — PTI photo

Ustad’s death marks end of an era: Kalam A player of divine melodies Nation page: Village mourns death of illustrious son Hayana page: 'End of golden era in classical music' Delhi page: CM condoles Bismillah’s death

India: The Tasks Ahead
SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT
125TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS,
INAUGURAL SESSION

Teacher’s conviction in rape case upheld
New Delhi, August 21
The Supreme Court has upheld the seven years’ rigorous imprisonment of a Punjab government schoolteacher for raping a class VIII student in the room after inviting her to the school for special tuition in science on a holiday 19 years ago.

Drought-like situation in Punjab, Haryana
Chandigarh, August 21
Punjab and certain parts of Haryana are reeling under a drought-like situation even though it is yet to be declared officially. In fact, the Punjab Government has officially conveyed to the Union Government that its farmers have been finding it hard to save their paddy crop in the absence of adequate rainfall in the region.

Special article: Plight of Punjab’s farmers

SC reprieve for Lalu
PIL to cancel bail rejected
New Delhi, August 21
In a major reprieve to Railway Minister Lalu Prasad and his wife and former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi, the Supreme Court in a two-one majority decision today rejected a PIL by two NDA leaders seeking the cancellation of bail for their alleged interference in the judicial process in the disproportionate assets (DA) and Income Tax cases against them.

Test awarded to Eng after Pak forfeit match
London, August 21
In a first ever instance in cricketing history, the fourth and final Test was awarded to England after umpires “correctly deemed” that Pakistan had forfeited the tie following a ball-tampering row, the International Cricket Council said in a joint statement with England and Pakistan boards here today.

Inzamam defends protest
Islamabad, August 21
Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq today said he kept his team off the field against England in the fourth Test because his country’s pride had been hurt.
(Details in Sports page)

Doc faces GCM for abetting airman’s suicide
Chandigarh, August 21
In an unprecedented case, a lady doctor in the Air Force is to be tried by a general court martial (GCM) for her acts which allegedly led to one of her subordinates committing suicide at Chandigarh a few months ago, it is learnt. The doctor, Sqn Ldr Priya Jairaj, is facing charges of abetment to suicide under various provisions of the Air Force Act and the Indian Penal Code.

Suryakiran crash lands

Pak newspaper praises Manmohan’s humility New Delhi, August 21 A leading Pakistani English newspaper today said the Pakistani leadership should emulate Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in humility and nobility in human  relations.