S P O T L I G H T

Legal abortion made easy
New Delhi, July 17
The Rajya Sabha today unanimously passed a Bill to provide easier access to women to legal abortion facilities while, at the same time, prescribing rigorous punishment ranging from two to seven years to people carrying these out without due authorisation. The Rajya Sabha passed through voice vote the medical termination of pregnancy (amendment) Bill, 2002. UNI

Gutkha banned 
Mumbai, July 17
The Maharashtra government today decided to ban, from August 1, the manufacture, sale, stocking, distribution and display in public places of gutkha and other tobacco-related products. Announcing this after the weekly Cabinet meeting here, Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh told mediapersons that the restriction would remain in force for five years. The state stood to lose Rs 25 crore sales tax revenue as a result, he added. UNI