Delhi Govt invokes ESMA
Postal staff firm on ‘fight to finish’
NEW DELHI, Dec 15 — The Delhi Government tonight invoked the ESMA to prohibit strike in postal services, the first state to do so, while the West Bengal administration refused to take recourse to the measure, as the deadline set by the Delhi High Court to end the stir ended.

Postal workers shout anti-government slogans near Parliament House in Delhi on Friday. — Reuters photo

SC notice to Jagir Kaur
Refuses interim order for custody
NEW DELHI, Dec 15 — The Supreme Court today issued notice to former President of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Bibi Jagir Kaur, on two special leave petitions filed by the CBI and another, challenging the order of the Punjab and Haryana High Court of November 15 granting anticipatory bail to her in the case of alleged murder of her daughter Harpreet Kaur.

Advani: talks with Pak if violence stops
NEW DELHI, Dec 15 — Ruling out tripartite talks on the Kashmir issue, the Centre today said it was prepared for talks with Pakistan if violence comes to an end or reduced drastically in the valley.

Rizvi admits to mafia links
MUMBAI, Dec 15 — Nazim Rizvi, producer of the film “Chori Chori Chupke Chupke”, arrested for his alleged nexus with the mafia “has confessed being in touch with underworld don Chhota Shakeel”, the Joint Commissioner of the Mumbai police, Mr D. Sivanandan, said today.

• Film financier questioned
  MUMBAI, Dec 15 — Leading diamond merchant and film financier Bharat Shah was today questioned by Crime Branch sleuths in connection with the underworld-film industry nexus. (Nation page)
  

Nazim Hassan Rizvi, producer of "Chori Chori Chupke Chupke," after being produced before a Mumbai court on Thursday. 
— PTI photo

Lawyer gets 6-month jail for contempt
NEW DELHI, Dec 15 — A two-judge Bench of the Supreme Court today convicted a Chennai-based lawyer, S. K. Sundaram, for gross criminal contempt of court and sentenced him to 6 months’ imprisonment.

India agrees to meeting of SAARC ministers
NEW DELHI, Dec 15 — India today agreed to consider a Sri Lankan request for a meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation after three months during which the technical committees of the Association would prepare the agenda.

A Tribune Investigation Engg colleges opened sans facilities KARNAL, Dec 15 — Lack of infrastructural facilities is the bane of majority of newly opened engineering colleges in Haryana. There are no proper and fully equipped libraries, laboratories and workshops in many of the colleges.