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Freebie offers vitiate poll process: SC
Says election promises in manifestoes not a corrupt practice, but affect the playing field
New Delhi, July 5
The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Election Commission to frame guidelines for preventing political parties from offering freebies to voters in return for electing them to power as such practices “shake the root of free and fair elections”.

To bolster ties, Sharif sends envoy to India
New Delhi, July 5
Pakistan Premier Nawaz Sharif, who is touring China, today sent his Special Envoy Shaharyar Khan to New Delhi to meet Indian leaders and convey Islamabad’s keenness to improve relations with India.

Pakistan Premier Nawaz Sharif’s Special Envoy Shaharyar Khan with PM Manmohan Singh in New Delhi on Friday. Tribune photo

Prez signs food security ordinance
Rate of subsidised grains subject to revision after three years
New Delhi, July 5
President Pranab Mukherjee today signed the ordinance on food security, making food a legal right of two-third of Indian population. The largest food intervention scheme of the world will cost the government Rs 1,24, 794 crore annually and require a supply of 61.2 million tonnes of food grain to provide 82 crore people the right to 5 kg of food grain every month at highly subsidised rates of Rs 1 to 3 per kg.

PPSC scam: Nine govt officials get one-year jail
Patiala, July 5
The local court on Friday sentenced nine government officials, some of them now retired, to a year’s imprisonment for paying a bribe to the then Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) Chairman Ravi Sidhu for making it to the PCS (Executive). The Punjab Vigilance Bureau had in its 2002 FIR said that at least 12 officers had paid hefty bribes, ranging from Rs 15 lakh to Rs 45 lakh, through middlemen for selection in the PCS cadre.

SC norms to stop overstay in govt houses 
New Delhi, July 5
The Supreme Court today issued 20 guidelines to prevent ministers, MPs, judges, bureaucrats and other government servants from overstaying in government bungalows and quarters. A Bench comprising Justices P Sathasivam and Ranjan Gogoi directed all judges to vacate their official residences within one month from the date of superannuation or retirement. They could be given one more month if there were sufficient reasons.

Advani meets RSS brass, discusses poll
Nagpur, July 5
Visiting the RSS headquarters for the first time since his June 10 resignation plunged BJP into a crisis, LK Advani today met Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat and had “fruitful” discussions on coming elections to state assemblies and next year’s Lok Sabha poll.
BJP leader LK Advani on his arrival at the airport in Nagpur on Friday. — PTI

Three killed as forces fire on pro-Mursi rallies in Cairo
Cairo, July 5
Security forces shot dead at least three supporters of deposed Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi on Friday as a crowd of hundreds tried to march towards the military barracks in Cairo where he is being held by the military that overthrew him.

Jats get OBC status in Delhi
New Delhi, July 5
The Delhi Government today granted an OBC status to the Jat community in the city, thus providing it the benefits of reservation in government services. The decision was announced by Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today in an All India Jats Convention at Talkatora Stadium.