New Delhi, July 26
Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit warned contractors working on CWG projects that they would be blacklisted if they did not meet the deadline.

The deadline for the work is August 31 and Dikshit's warning at a meeting today is seen as the last-ditch effort by the government to ensure that CWG works finish by this deadline, which has been extended time and again.

At a meeting that was attended by all the contractors and Delhi government ministers, the Chief Minister emphasized that it was the responsibility of contractors to complete their work relating to the Commonwealth Games within the specified deadline.

She asked them to concentrate on their works and bring any obstacle coming in their way to the notice of the city government so that it could be resolved immediately.

Dikshit stated that all her cabinet colleagues have been taking rounds of CWG projects every day and apprising her of any deficiency observed by them.

She exhorted the contractors to visit the sites and understand that they are not working only for profit, but also dedicating their services to the nation, which has been allotted an international sports event after a stiff competition.

She reminded them that the work is to be completed by August 31 and the waste material be removed by August 10.

In case they accomplish their work within the stipulated period, their credibility will go high, otherwise they will have to face the music, she warned.

Dikshit stated in plain words that streetlighting, streetscaping, signage and greening work should be of high quality and all the works should be taken up simultaneously. Greening underneath the old flyovers should be completed by August 10 whereas landscaping and beautification beneath new flyovers need to be expedited.

New Delhi, July 26
As the Commonwealth Games are approaching, it has become hard for the politicians to veil their nervousness. After the Delhi government Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit admitting her tension, it is now the union urban development minister, S Jaipal Reddy, who went on record today to say that the whole government is worried.

"We might look confident from outside but inside, we all are very worried," said the minister.

He was speaking at the inauguration and 'handing-over' ceremony of RK Khanna Tennis Sports Stadium to the Organizing Committee. The stadium, renovated at a cost of Rs 200 crore, will serve as a competition venue for tennis events during the Games. It is the first stadium to be handed over to the Organizing Committee (OC) out of the 11 sporting venues.

The minister said Indians are accustomed to organizing things at the last moment. "We are in the habit of doing last-minute preparations, be it a wedding or sports event," said Reddy. Though, he added that the Games would be a big success.

The Chief Minister and the union urban development minister handed over the keys of the complex to OC chairman Suresh Kalmadi and OC vice-chairman Raja Randhir Singh.

"By August 31, we will have everything in place and in September, we will be giving a finishing touch to our preparations. I can ensure that the Games will be organized in the best possible manner," said Sheila.

Kalmadi expressed hope to get the maximum medals in tennis. "With the inclusion of tennis in the Games, I hope this venue will serve Indian players in a big way. They should win medals in front of the home crowd," said Kalmadi. Speaking on the infrastructure being developed for the Games, Kalmadi said it is being built for the people of Delhi.

"Each stadium is of world-class and would remain as a legacy. This is the first stadium handed over to the OC formally and rated one of the best in the Commonwealth countries," Kalmadi said.

The state-of-the-art stadium has a built-up area of 11,500 sq km and consists of 14 courts, including a centre court and six match courts. The centre court has capacity of 5,000 spectators while the number one court has a 1000-seater gallery.

New Delhi, July 26
The high court hearing on differences between Delhi University Teachers' Association (DUTA) and the university administration regarding semester system has been postponed for tomorrow.

On Friday, the mediation process between DU vice-chancellor's team and DUTA on implementing semester system at the undergraduate level broke down in its fourth session.

"The university has refused to budge. We will submit a formal report to the court tomorrow. Let's hope for the best," said Abha Dev Habib, member of DUTA.

Hearing an application submitted by DU, the court had earlier ordered both parties to find a solution through talks, but nothing positive has come out yet. After three rounds of talks, the university's counsel asked for some more time from the court on July 21.

The plea was granted. But many officials and DUTA members now feel that in the fourth session things have gone downhill in stead.

The talks reportedly broke down after DU officials alleged that the DUTA was going already ahead with its "action programme" even as the talks were on. However, the DUTA denied these allegations, saying that whatever the teachers were doing was their own decision.

After the colleges reopened on July 21, most science teachers prepared timetables as per the annual format in stead of the semester format.

The DU administration had appealed to the court to order DUTA to withdraw its appeal, wherein teachers prepared the timetables. However, DUTA has maintained that its appeal is not binding on teachers and the decision to prepare science timetables as per the annual mode was taken by the staff council of individual colleges.

Thirteen science courses were to implement semester system this year. However, with the case sub judice in high court, both teachers and students are facing a dilemma about how to proceed with studies. Most teachers are teaching topics common to both the systems, so that students do not lose out on anything.

New Delhi, July 26
A city court today sentenced three Pakistani nationals-- Sikandar Hayat, Ikram Asif and Saiful Malook, to three years' rigorous imprisonment in a 2006 Jammu jailbreak attempt case.

Metropolitan magistrate Sugandha Aggarwal pronounced the verdict after the convicts pleaded guilty.

In all, there were eight persons accused in the case. The five others were Md Ramzan, Md Farooq, Qurban Ali, Samiullah and Gurbir.

They had pleaded their guilt before.

A total of 50 people lodged in Kot Balawal jail of Jammu had created a ruckus inside the prison and had tried to flee.

A criminal case was registered against them. On the recommendation of the apex court, the case was transferred to the Tis Hazari Courts here for trial in November 2008.

Counsel for the accused, M.S. Khan, submitted before the court that as the matter had been delayed for long and even the charges could not be framed, the accused were ready to plead their guilt.

On December 17, 2006, a case was registered against the accused under various provisions of the Ranbir Penal Code and the Arms Act for making an attempt to break the jail in Jammu.

New Delhi, July 26
The Delhi police has arrested three youths who were allegedly involved in several cases of burglary. They are Rohit (19) ITI student, Ashish Tiwari (20), his classmate and Ranjan Yadav (21), the receiver of stolen articles.

Twice this month, the police received calls from the accused who used to challenge the police saying, "Main chor bol raha hoon. Pakad sakte ho to pakad lo (I am thief speaking, catch me if you can)."

They used to call the police from the mobile phones that they had stolen.

Investigations were taken up and on July 21, Rohit was arrested from his house in Outer Delhi's Pooth Kalan village. On his disclosures, his accomplices Ashish Tiwari and Ranjan were arrested.

However, the police says two other associates Neeraj and Ravi are still absconding.

The accused had allegedly burgled the house of Rajesh Malik in Budh Vihar on July 10 night and fled with gold and silver ornaments, Rs 22,000 and two mobile phones.

Rohit is pursuing an ITI course in Nizamuddin while Tiwari, a resident of west Delhi's Uttam Nagar, is his classmate.

The youths took to crime to lead a luxurious life.