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Mumbai in deep waters, 3 dead
Creamy Layer |
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Doubts loom large over N-Deal
N-deal anti-Muslim, SP opportunist: Maya
Truckers to add to inflation woes
India commissions first research base at North Pole
Major’s court martial begins
Kolkata girl recuperating after ‘reality show’ collapse
Uprising against mega dams in Arunachal Pradesh
‘Attack due to tactical error of Greyhound jawans’
Uma threatens action against Haj houses
Liberhan panel gets another extension
Govt to release 30 lakh tonne non-levy sugar
Rs 172.38 cr for Haryana, K’taka
Delhi-Dehra Dun expressway planned
Modern training for U’khand cops
Amarnath Land Row
Wage Board for journalists
Mystery continues over 5 missing persons
Selection of Judges
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Mumbai in deep waters, 3 dead
Mumbai, July 1 The police said a 15-year-old boy was swept away by strong water current in the Poisar creek in suburban Kandivli while two others were killed in a wall collapse in Thane. With rains showing no signs of abating in the early part of the day, the authorities ordered all schools to be shut as a precautionary measure. This morning, several low-lying areas like Milan Subway, Hindmata Cinema and some parts of downtown Mumbai were submerged. With water logging coinciding with high tides from 11 am to 2 pm, the authorities were on edge. However, the rain gods relented and the downpour was reduced to a drizzle by the noon. Local train services, which were thrown out of gear in the early part of the day, were restored though trains were running 10-15 minutes late, officials of the Western and Central Railways said. Railway lines in a number of areas like Ghatkopar, Kurla Vidyavihar, Matunga and Sion were submerged. The met department said 142.8 mm of rainfall was recorded in its suburban observatory at Santa Cruz while South Mumbai received 200 mm till the morning. Usually, the suburbs receive more rain than the city. Several flights were also disrupted in the morning due to poor visibility, officials said. However, services were restored later in the day though all flights were facing delays. Early in the day, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation advised residents to stay indoors. Deputy municipal commissioner Vilas Vaidya, who heads the disaster management cell, said people should not leave home till 1 pm unless necessary. Meanwhile, reports from the state police said traffic on the Mumbai-Pune expressway had been disrupted due to heavy landslide in Khandala. However, the link had not been cut off and services were being maintained, it said.
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Creamy Layer
New Delhi, July 1 The hike is expected to pacify the Congress allies ahead of general elections. They were miffed over the Supreme Court order barring the creamy layer from the benefit of 27 per cent reservation for OBCs in central higher educational institutions. It is, however, yet to be seen how the allies - the LJP, the RJD, the DMK and the Left - react to the proposed raise in times when the ruling Congress is already sailing in rough weathers. As earlier reported by The Tribune, the NCBC, in its report submitted to the government today suggested raising the upper income ceiling for the creamy layer from the existing Rs 2.5 lakh annually to Rs five lakh annually. Sources in the NCBC confirmed the “double” raise in the reigning income criteria, though the minister for social justice and empowerment Meira Kumar remained silent on the magic figure. After accepting the report of the commission today, she said the ministry would now examine and process the NCBC’s recommendations. Kumar said she had not yet gone through the contents of the report and, thus, could not confirm the income slab fixed by the NCBC to exclude socially advanced sections (creamy layer) among OBCs from the benefit of 27 per cent reservation in the posts and services under the Government of India. The minister, however, added that the government would take a final view on the matter at the earliest. The report of the NCBC is likely to be taken to the very next Cabinet meeting scheduled later this week. She also said the final decision on the matter rested with the Cabinet. The government is as such under tremendous political pressure to accommodate as many OBCs as possible for reservation benefits. The matter is also urgent considering government’s commitment to implement the 27 per cent quota for OBCs in centrally-aided educational institutions from this academic session. Kumar added that she would immediately take up the issue with the Human Resource Development Ministry. The NCBC, for its part, settled for Rs 5 lakh as the income ceiling for creamy layer after factoring in the all-India consumer price index, price rise and inflation, monthly per capita expenditure on the OBCs, economic conditions of the OBCs, per capita national product, recommendations of the Sixth Central Pay Commission, representations of the state backward classes commissions and views expressed by different ministries and departments of Government of India. “Keeping the above points in mind, the commission has enhanced the income limit to a reasonable level,” the NCBC communication stated. The income ceiling for creamy layer was last fixed at Rs 2.5 lakh on March 9, 2004 by the government. Prior to that, it was Rs 1 lakh, as fixed in 1993.
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Doubts loom large over N-Deal
New Delhi, July 1 “The fact is we have cut it too fine. Given the tight schedule ahead, we may just end up losing the support of the Left, the government and the deal,” remarked several UPA ministers and Congress functionaries who believe the government had lost too much time already. The UPA government has to approach the IAEA board of governors for the safeguards agreement not later than July, as it has to be placed on the board’s agenda, 45 days before it meets. India has also to take into account that August is a holiday season in Europe. The ruling coalition is particularly keen that the agency takes up its agenda before IAEA director general El Baradei’s term ends in September as his Japanese successor is not known to be particularly sympathetic to India. There is also a fear that Pakistan’s inclusion in the new IAEA board could mean an endless wait for the safeguards agreement. Even if the IAEA rushes through its agenda, the UPA government has then to approach the NSG to get a waiver from its members to allow nuclear trade with India. Nobody is clear how long this process will take as it could run into opposition from countries like Australia, Japan and Canada who do not favour any special treatment for India since it has not signed the non-proliferation treaty (NPT). Although the American administration has assured India that it will help to fast track the deal through the NSG, there is a growing perception in the UPA government that US president George Bush’s international influence is on the wane since his term is set to end by this year-end. In case India does manage to get past the NSG barrier, it could well be into October when the US will be in the midst of a surcharged presidential election. Also, the American legislative process requires 90 days to complete the process of scheduling and voting on the deal. In such a situation, India could be pinning its hopes on a short lame-duck session of the US Congress in December, which usually does not take up any substantial business but could make an exception in this case as the Democrats would prefer that the Bush administration seals the deal.
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N-deal anti-Muslim, SP opportunist: Maya
Lucknow/New Delhi, July 1 Addressing a press conference in Lucknow, he said the nuclear deal, which was being widely opposed in the country, was “anti-Muslim” and had angered the Muslims. It was being done at the cost of cheap gas from Iran. Accusing the SP and Congress of spreading word that her party was getting close to BJP, Mayawati said the “opportunist” SP appeared to have agreed to support the Congress on the nuclear deal issue to save its top leaders and sympathisers from the CBI clutches. Mulayam and SP leader Amar Singh hit back at Mayawati saying she was trying to align with the BJP and accused her of campaigning for Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi in the Gujarat elections. Mayawati said, “It is my advice to the Left parties, who have been opposing the nuclear deal, that the Samajwadi Party is an opportunist party that for its petty personal interests could join hands with anyone and let down their friends.” — PTI
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Truckers to add to inflation woes New Delhi, July 1 According to reports, around 100 organisations affiliated to the All-India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC), the apex body of road transport industry, have planned to go on an indefinite strike from tomorrow to press for their demands. Officials of the organisation are confident that there would be a complete standstill of the movement of goods and life in many commercial centres of the country would get disrupted. The transporters have called for the strike as they feel that they have been at the receiving end of various governments over the years. Whether it is toll tax or user fee, service tax, or ever-increasing price of diesel, the industry has been put to great disadvantage, they feel. There are as many as 50 lakh commercial vehicles across the country. The transporters warn that the kind of agitation they are planning would be something, which has not been seen before. The officials say they cannot go back as the issues on stake are such that should have been addressed by the government much earlier. This, they point out, is important not only for transporters but for the whole country. “Our demands have been ignored over a long period and we have been left with no other option but to go on strike,” an official said. The AIMTC has been repeatedly projecting its various problems to the ministries and departments, but there has been no response. They have reportedly also written to UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, seeking their intervention. According to them, transporters are paying Rs 5,000 per state per truck per year as national permit fee besides Rs 1.50 per litre of diesel as road development cess and also the road tax. The government is using toll tax as a source of additional revenue, truckers say. They further point out that transporters were kept out of the purview of the service tax in 2004. But now the government has brought in new definitions, which make the operators pay the service tax. The government is reclassifying the activities of road transporters as courier service, material handling, business auxiliary service and forcing them to pay service tax.The service tax officers are allegedly misinterpreting the rules and issuing notices to many transporters for huge arrears. The transporters say they do not want anything new but the implementation of the 2004 agreement in letter and spirit by the government. The latest blow to the body of transport operators seems to be the diesel price hike. The withdrawal of ad valorem duties and other taxes would bring down the cost of diesel that would in turn bring down the inflation.
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India commissions first research base at North Pole Svalbard Seed Vault The Svalbard Global Seed Vault’s mission is to provide a safety net against accidental loss of biodiversity in traditional gene banks due to mismanagement, accident, equipment failures, funding cuts and natural disasters. The Vault is a secure seed-bank located on the Norwegian island of Spitsbergen — an ideal location due to its lack of tectonic activity and permafrost to aid preservation. The location, 130 metres (430 ft) above sea level, will ensure that the site remains dry even if icecaps melt. New Delhi, July 1 Himadri was inaugurated by science and technology minister Kapil Sibal at Ny-Alesund, on the west coast of Spitsbergen, the largest island in the Svalbard archipelago of Norway. With the opening of Himadri India has become the tenth country to have established a full-fledged research station at Ny-Alesund. Sibal also visited the Svalbard Global Seed Vault at Longearbyen and deposited five varieties of Indian seeds, including IR-36 and IR-64 of rice and Lerma Rojo, Sonoro-64 and Ridley of wheat. Situated at 78055' N, 11056'E, Ny-Alesund is only 1,200 km from North Pole and an offers ideal land-based entrance to the Arctic. The research base in the North Pole comes three decades after India set up a permanent station - Dakshin Gangotri - at Antarctica. At present, India has one operational station in Antarctica - Maitri - and is in the process of setting up another one. The country’s first permanent station in Antarctica - Dakshin Gangotri - set up in 1981 lies buried under snow now. However, due to almost zero pollution, Arctic is considered a better option than Antarctica for research activities by scientists. Himadri is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and will be carrying out round-the-year scientific research in contemporary fields with special emphasis on climate change. Himadri will be managed by the National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research, an autonomous institute under the ministry of earth sciences. This premier institute based in Goa has been coordinating entire gamut of Antarctic research for the country.
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Major’s court martial begins
Chandigarh, July 1 Sources in the Army headquarters reveal that four charges have been levelled against Major Rajiv Sirohi under provisions of the Army Act and the Arms Act. These include allegations of bringing Ethiopian girls to his residence, conducting intelligence operations beyond his charter of duties and possession of unlicensed weapons and ammunition. Col P.B.S. Lamba from the Military Training Directorate at the Army headquarters is the court’s presiding officer, with lady officer Capt Alifa Akbar from the Headquarters Western Command being the judge advocate for the trial. A court of inquiry presided over by Col Inderjit Singh, commanding officer of an infantry battalion, had held the officer blameworthy of his acts of omission and commission, following which the Army had initiated the disciplinary action. The incident had occurred in March last year when the officer was officiating as the commanding officer of an intelligence unit based at the Army headquarters. The Army had then maintained that the girls, identified as Samravit Bekele and Rahel Girma, were part of a secret operation and were picked up by the MI for questioning in a drug smuggling case. In their statements to the police, the girls, according to documents pertaining to the case, had denied any kind of abuse and said they had been only questioned. Being foreigners, they were not compelled to undergo medical tests. Though their passports were valid till 2011, their visas to visit India had expired. According to the Army, anti-narcotic operations by the MI are not unprecedented and these are undertaken to cultivate sources for garnering information. MI officers claim that several successful operations claimed by the police have been because of inputs by them. The sources said the officer had maintained that a member of a Delhi University students’ organisation had introduced him to the girls. Thereafter, while conducting the operation, they met another person who had given him a packet that he later found to contain arms and ammunition. The weapons listed in documents include two pistols, about 150 rounds of different types of ammunition, a grenade and a detonator.
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Kolkata girl recuperating after ‘reality show’ collapse
Bangalore, July 1 High drama was witnessed at the campus of NIMHANS (National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences) today as the producer of the reality show, one of the judges and a CPI (M) MP from Kolkata landed in Bangalore to see Shinjini at the state-run institute. Ringo, the judge, and Kaustuv Ray, producer, both men in their early thirties, came to NIMHANS along with Sujan Chakravarty, CPI (M) MP from Jadavpur constituency. Chakravarty had a lengthy meeting with the medical superintendent B.N. Gangadhar. He also met the director of the institute and then went to meet the girl who has been kept in the neuro centre. Chakravarty later told mediapersons that Shinjini was responding to the treatment. Shinjini, Chakravarty said, talked to him and told him in Bengali that she was feeling better. With the improvement in Shinjini’s condition, her parents are also feeling a little relieved now, Chakravarty said. The MP, who said he came to see Shinjini for humanitarian reasons and because her family lives in his Lok Sabha segment, said conversations with doctors gave him the impression of Shinjini’s ailment being a neurological condition. He, however, added that only medical experts could specify the exact nature of her ailment. On whether parental pressure had led to Shinjini’s breakdown, Chakravarty said while he would not like to comment on the specific case, he was of the opinion that parents should not put their young children under too much stress. There was around 25 per cent improvement in Shinjini’s condition, Chakravarty added. Asked whether she would be fully cured, the MP said only medical experts could answer this question. Producer Ray and director Ringo, meanwhile, claimed that Shinjini was ailing for long and her rejection by the judges of the reality show had nothing to do with her collapse subsequently. They mentioned her having a critical problem in the spine for which she underwent treatment in Hyderabad. Ray also claimed having a medical report to prove his point. Media interviews by Ray and Ringo in the Neuro Centre compound, however, was interrupted by angry shouts of a young man who was related to Shinjini and attending her with her parents. “You have insulted her in the show,” he shouted twice before he retreated inside the Centre, where mediapersons have been barred entry.
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Renuka to parents: Don’t send kids to reality shows
Kolkata, July 1 Referring to Shinjini Sengupta, a teenage girl here who became partially paralysed allegedly after being publicly humiliated at a reality show, the minister said despite knowing that the girl had a problem in her spinal chord, her parents had sent her to the show. “The other day, I saw a tiny girl suggestively gyrating to a song whose meaning she obviously did not know. What do we say to parents sending their children to such shows?” Chowdhury said at a workshop on Amendment to the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986. Pointing out that women become instruments of oppression of their own gender in many cases owing to lack of awareness, she said, “My biggest challenge is not so much to educate men but women. They deserve kudos for keeping up the family life despite so much oppression at home.”
— PTI
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Dr J.D. Wig among BC Roy awardees
New Delhi, July 1 The award ceremony took place at Rastrapati Bhavan today. Among the 54 awardees was Dr Sanjay Tyagi, a leading cardiologist, who heads the Department of Cardiology and Arrhythmia Centre at the Maulana Azad Medical College. Dr Tyagi was honoured for his outstanding contribution to the field of medicine. He was awarded under the category of oration, and is credited with initiating several innovative techniques for the first time in the country like techniques of renal angioplasty, peripheral cutting balloon angioplasty and laser angioplasty. Dr Tyagi was the first to introduce renal angioplasty for reno-vascular hypertension in India. He along with his colleagues at GB Pant Hospital had developed non-surgical endo-vascular treatment methods to treat vascular and valvular stenoses. He has 240 research publications to
his credit. Dr Wig got the award in recognition for his selfless and outstanding work in the field of pancreas and related disorders. Dr Wig is the founder of the Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery at PGI, Chandigarh, and a recipient of many awards, including the Dr BC Roy National Eminent Medical Teacher Award (2001). He has authored six books in the field of surgery and 175 research publications in national and international journals to
his credit. The B.C. Roy award is the highest research award of the Medical Council of India, and is given for outstanding work in the
field of medical sciences in India.
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Uprising against mega dams in Arunachal Pradesh
Guwahati, July 1 The All Assam Students Union (AASU) has warned that it will not remain a mute spectator if the government goes ahead with its ambitious plan to construct numerous mega dams in Arunachal Pradesh sans assessing the extent of possible adverse impact on the densely populated areas in Brahmaputra valley of Assam downstream. A report of Human Rights Law Network’s (HRLN) Independent People’s Tribunal on Dams in Arunachal Pradesh has raised apprehension that dams under construction in and those proposed to be built will have grave social, economic and environmental impact on the Brahmaputra valley areas in Assam. The interim report prepared on the basis of independent observations made by the experts and public hearing said, ”These dams will displace many people directly by submergence. More serious impact of the dams is likely to be on the downstream areas due to the changing patterns of the water flows.” Union adviser Dr Samujjal Bhattacharyya said, ”The latest experience with devastating flash floods in North Lakhimpur district of Assam because of sudden release of water from a dam in Arunachal Pradesh has exposed the ominous threat to the Brahmaputra valley areas in case all proposed dams are allowed to be constructed without making a proper assessment of environmental impact in downstream areas. We are going to oppose such random construction of dams tooth and nail, though we are in principle not against development.” “The Hydro-power potential map prepared by the Arunachal Pradesh government projects the generation of 56,539 MW of power completely ignoring the massive threat posed to densely populated areas downstream,” the students’ union leader said. Meanwhile, anti-dam activists in Assam have threatened to go to “extreme limit” to thwart the construction of mega dams in Arunachal Pradesh without properly assessing the affect in the downstream areas. Hundreds of anti-dam activists organised by the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) and the Takam Mishing Porin Kebang (Mishing Students’ Union) staged a demonstration here to protest the construction of dams in the state. “We are prepared to lay down our lives in our quest to prevent the building of mega dams that are going to prove disastrous for people in both Arunachal Pradesh and Assam,” KMSS general secretary Akhil Gogoi said. Noted environmental scientist Prof Dulal Chandra Goswami said, “The construction of mega dams in geologically unstable eastern Himalayas in Arunachal Pradesh is a matter of serious concern. Economics involved in the large scale generation of hydro-power alone can’t be the path to development if the downstream impact of mega dams proves catastrophic for the densely populated areas in the Brahmaputra valley.”
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‘Attack due to tactical error of Greyhound jawans’
Bhubaneswar, July 1 Orissa home secretary T K Mishra said the attack could have been avoided had the jawans either avoided water route while covering long routes or sailed in groups.
Stating that one more Greyhound jawan was rescued from forests near Balimela reservoir this morning, Mishra said that the incident resulted after the tactical "blunder" which made the vessel an easy target for the Maoists. "It was a blunder on the part of the people who sailed in one boat instead of in splits," Mishra said, adding that the jawans (Greyhound) also violated their own guidelines which suggested avoidance of water route while moving for a combing operation. Denying that the boat was overloaded, Mishra said timing of the journey was also faulty. "They began journey at 8.45 am which was not suitable for undertaking movement in Naxal-infested areas," he said, adding that the jawans could have started early in the morning. Rejecting allegations that the Orissa police, which arranged one boat for ferrying the jawans, was responsible for Sunday's incident, Mishra said, "We simply assist them. The Greyhound authorities take decision during joint operations." He made it clear that the Orissa police only provided logistic support and information when the Greyhound force came for joint operation in the state. According to figures given by Mishra, 35 persons were still missing after rescue of 30 persons and recovery of one
body. — PTI
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Uma threatens action against Haj houses
Indore, July 1 Speaking at a seminar on corruption here last night, she said though Muslims went to Mecca for pilgrimage, Haj houses had been built in every state. ''If the state government took the land back from the shrine board, the Haj houses would not be allowed to run,'' she claimed, adding that she also urged the Muslims to protest this decision. Bharti said there should be a uniform policy in all religious matters. About inflation, she said a price hike was a means to bring political instability. The BJP was elated over inflation, as it had no concern for the poor but its votebank only, she added. — UNI
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Liberhan panel gets another extension
New Delhi, July1 It is the 46th extension for the commission and it will be for three months till September 30. The term of the commission, had ended yesterday. The panel was appointed within a fortnight of the demolition of the structure at the disputed site on December 6, 1992, to inquire into the circumstances that led to the incident. As per records the commission has already incurred an expenditure of over Rs 7 crore, the Home Ministry sources said. The commission is one of the longest and costliest ever.
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Govt to release 30 lakh tonne non-levy sugar
New Delhi, July 1 The government also decided to dismantle the second buffer stock of 30 lakh tonnes on its due date August 1. Sugar factories can sell 25 per cent of the stock kept as buffer out of 30 lakh tonnes in the domestic market in two months of its dismantling and the remaining 75 per cent at any point of time during 2008-09 sugar season commencing from October 1 without getting release orders from the directorate of sugar. The government has already allowed the sugar mills to sell 20 lakh tonnes of sugar held in first buffer stock at any point of time during 2007-08 sugar season from May 1 up to September 30. With these decisions, it is estimated that the total availability of non-levy sugar for sale in the domestic market during July-September, 2008, would be 48 lakh tonnes.
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Rs 172.38 cr for Haryana, K’taka
New Delhi, July 1 The amount will be received for the programme by the respective State Rural Roads and Infrastructure Development Agencies. An amount of Rs 107.02 crore has been sanctioned as grants-in-aid as first instalment for Phase-VII (2007-08) Haryana Rural Roads and Infrastructure Development Agency, an autonomous agency for receiving the funds for the PMGSY under the programme. The Karnataka Rural Roads Development Agency (KRRDA) has been allocated Rs 65.36 crore as balance payment of second instalment of Phase VI as grants-in-aid under the scheme. All these agencies will maintain separate account for this grant and submit utilisation certificate and audit reports for the amount already released and amount being released now, to claim further amount due. The grant is towards plan expenditure and is subject to the provisions of the PMGSY programme guidelines and supplementary directions issued there under.
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Delhi-Dehra Dun expressway planned
Dehra Dun, July 1 Khanduri, who himself was union minister of surface transport during the NDA regime, asked his officials to prepare a feasibility report about the project. The eight-lane expressway along the Hindon river, proposed to be built by Uttar Pradesh, will start from the national capital linking cities like Ghaziabad, Meerut, Muzzafarnagar and Saharanpur. As per the proposal of the UP government, from Kalsia in Saharanpur, the Uttarakhand government will further extend the expressway up to Dehra Dun and Hardwar. The total length of the expressway is expected to be around 200 km. Interestingly, work to widen the Delhi-Dehra Dun highway is on, but the pace of work is very slow. So both state governments have shown interest in the project. Gupta said a separate service lane was also being proposed in the eight-lane expressway, which would be toll-free. |
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Modern training for U’khand cops
Dehra Dun, July 1 Joshi said lately a lot of changes have taken place in the methods of investigating crime and a major emphasis is being laid on scientific means. “We do not want to lag behind and hence have decided to impart special training related to investigations to our police officials, for which they would even be sent abroad,” he said. Joshi said nowadays criminals are using modern methods and have changed their modus operandi drastically. “Besides, in case the witness turns hostile, the scientific proofs collected by the police prove extremely handy in court. |
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Amarnath Land Row
New Delhi, July 1 BJP president Rajnath Singh who chaired a meeting of all senior leaders of the party here on Tuesday said later, “The BJP will observe nationwide strike on July 3 and from July 4 to 11 it will hold demonstrations and protest rallies at all important urban centres.” He blamed Central and state governments for doing this to the Hindus. |
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Wage Board for journalists
Hyderabad, July 1 Demanding that the interim relief should be revised with effect from the date the Wage Board was constituted in May, 2007, instead of January 1, 2008, Reddy has appealed to all political parties to impress upon the Centre to raise the interim relief percentage. He said UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi should intervene and render justice to working journalists and other employees of the newspaper industry.
— UNI |
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Mystery continues over 5 missing persons
Dehra Dun, July 1 The five police teams that were dispatched to lookout for Rakesh Pahuja and his four family members, in and nearby towns of Hardwar, had also returned empty- handed. Speaking to The Tribune, investigating officer of the case Inspector A.S. Rawat said that today they had sent a police team to Delhi. "Since, we do not have much information about the missing family, the cops will collect relevant information about the Pahuja family, their business, friends and neighbours," he said.
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Selection of Judges New Delhi, July 1 A suggestion to increase transparency in judicial appointments by revealing the aspirants’ names, along with details on merit and the selection process, has not found favour with law and justice minister H.R. Bhardwaj. “It is not possible. An aspirant becomes a judge only after the President issues the warrant of appointment,” said Bhardwaj, pointing that there is no scope to make any details public before the presidential nod. He also disagreed with the idea of posting details related to various stages in judges’ appointments on the website of departments of justice and home, till the final stage of issuing warrant of appointment. The minister’s disapproval for the proposal is in contrast to views of legal experts who, as part of a House panel, backed a more open system for attracting talented candidates whose shortage has led to a deterioration of quality of language used in judgments. — PTI
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Puducherry youth enters Guinness BookPUDUCHERRY: A 24-year-old youth from Puducherry has gained entry into the Guinness Book of World Records by painting with his tongue a portrait of Mother Teresa on a 30X20 canvass in 12 days. The youth Rajendran said he was awarded the Guinness Book certificate two days ago. He said after drawing the outline with his tongue, he held the brush between his teeth and painted the picture in October 2007 and completed it in 12 days by working on it non-stop. He dedicated this feat to Chief Minister N. Rangasamy, who provided him Rs 1 lakh from his own account for the venture. — UNI Woman burnt alive for dowry 2 suspected militants shot 5 jailed for kidnapping boy 2 farmers commit suicide
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