Friday, March 4, 2011, Chandigarh, India
Updated at 2:30 am (IST)

SC strikes down CVC appointment
* Says selection should be transparent
* Criticises PM-headed panel
* Thomas quits
New Delhi, March 3
PJ Thomas resigned as the Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) immediately after the Supreme Court quashed his appointment here today, holding that the high-powered committee (HPC) headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh “has failed” to take into account several factors relating to a corruption case pending against Thomas while recommending his name to the President.

Opposition underplays its vindication
Embarrassment for government
Institution more important than individual: SC
Editorial: CVC loses battle

Uproar in Parliament over Telangana issue
TRS, BJP, Cong members come together despite divergent political leanings
New Delhi, March 3
Parliament today witnessed repeated adjournments following uproar over demands for separate Telangana, an issue which saw members from the TRS, the BJP and the Congress coming together despite their divergent political leanings. Both Houses of Parliament were rocked by the demand as soon as they met for the day.

Congress minister resigns

Chamba mishaps claim 43 lives
Chamba, March 3
As many as 43 persons, including 34 members of a marriage party, were killed and eight others wounded in two separate accidents in Chamba district. A truck carrying baraatis from Chaura to Sherpur rolled down into a deep khud near Kakyana, about 40 km from Chamba, last night, killing 34 persons, the official information revealed this here today. (Details on Himachal page)

Black Money Case
SC slams govt over probe
New Delhi, March 3
The Supreme Court today came down heavily on the Centre on the issue of black money hoarders and asked why stud farm owner Hasan Ali Khan and other alleged offenders were not being subjected to custodial interrogation despite probe agencies possessing sufficient material. "What the hell is going on in this country," the court asked, while virtually snubbing Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium when he tried to make certain submissions.

Plan to raise job prospects of 1 lakh Kashmir youths
Five-year plan talks about training & employing youngsters
New Delhi, March 3
Prime Minister’s Expert Group on Employment in Jammu and Kashmir today recommended a five-year plan worth Rs 761 crore to enhance the skills and employability of up to one lakh youth from the state. The 78-page report, in a departure from the earlier attempts of this kind, talks about educating, training and employing Kashmiri youngsters not essentially in the state but outside it.

Rangarajan panel submits report C Rangarajan submits report to J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in Srinagar on Thursday. Tribune photo: Amin War

BMW enters tie-up with Indian trio for mobile application
New York, March 3
BMW has partnered with three Indians who have created a mobile phone application called MyCityWay, which helps people find everything from a place to eat to the closest park to relax in. BMW has invested USD 5 million in the company. The creators of MyCityWay are Puneet Mehta from Chandigarh, Archana Patchirajan from Chennai and Sonpreet Bhatia from New Delhi. “This is a huge boost and vote of confidence. This brand (BMW) stands for a lot of things,” Puneet Mehta said.

Institution more important than individual: SC Here are excerpts from the Supreme Court judgement in the CVC case. The ruling was given by a Bench consisting of Chief Justice SH Kapadia, Justice KS Panicker Radhakrishnan and Justice Swatanter Kumar: THE government is not accountable to the courts in respect of policy decisions. However, they are accountable for the legality of such decisions. On September 3, 2010, the High Powered Committee (HPC), duly constituted under the proviso to Section 4(1) of the 2003 Act, had recommended the name of Shri P.J. Thomas for appointment to the post of Central Vigilance Commissioner. Guidelines of the court