New Delhi, April 4
After introducing a centralized process of admissions under the sports quota for undergraduate courses, Delhi University is now reviewing the success of the system and might introduce some substantial changes in the coming academic session.

Senior DU officials claimed that the administration is keen on making changes in the way students are admitted at the undergraduate level through the sports quota. The new chairman of the sports council J. M. Khurana, who is also the dean of students' welfare, already held four meetings with physical education teachers of north and south campuses during the last three months for their feedback on the last year's sports trials.

The move is being seen as a result of the problems that the applicants had to face in the last admission session as the affiliated colleges and the university locked horns over the issue. Sports departments of many regular colleges had also opposed the centralisation last year.

"We introduced central trials for sports admission to ensure transparency and reduce inconvenience to students who had to struggle hard to participate in trials of different colleges. With the colleges refusing to toe the line, there was complete chaos and students suffered the most," a senior university official said.

"This change in policy did not have the benefits we had expected. The centralization introduced common trials for all colleges. Colleges were upset by the change as the central trials couldn't provide candidates according to specific team needs. They were also unhappy over the exclusion of physical education teachers when the decision was taken," the official added.

Students, as a result, felt the heat as there was no proper dissemination of information and several colleges continued to conduct their individual trials even as the university forbade them from doing so.

"We will try to evolve a method through which the participation of the colleges as far as selecting candidates is much larger this time," the official said.

However, the teachers want the university to roll back the centralization. "We need people according to team requirements. As the centralization process excluded the physical education teachers, how they were supposed to know about our needs. We need the autonomy to select our own candidates. We hope that these discussions lead to something meaningful," said Jai Inder Pal Singh, physical education coach, Hindu College.

New Delhi, April 4
Delhi's local boy Gautam Gambhir returned home today after the cricket World Cup win to a rapturous welcome by fans waving national flags.

Crowds shouted "Gautam Gambhir zindabad" (long live Gautam Gambhir) as the city's cricketing hero, who made a fighting 97 in the final against Sri Lanka in Mumbai on Saturday, reached his home in Rajendra Nagar here.

Admirers of all ages, including residents, shopkeepers and students from the nearby government teacher's training school, crowded in front of the house to have a glimpse of Gambhir.

"We have come here to see our hero Gambhir who has made Delhi proud with his brave innings. We all love him for his skills and looks," said Sangeeta Singh, 23.

"He is the future of our Indian team and has got the talent to go miles. May god bless him," said Surendra Mishra, 45, a manager at a restaurant few blocks away from Gambhir's house.

"There was a buzz in the market since morning that Gambhir would be returning home and I came here just to thank him for the wonderful gift he has given to all cricket lovers of the country," added Mishra.

Gambhir did not disappoint his fans. He came to the balcony and waived to the crowd.

"I came here yesterday (Sunday) too in anticipation of his arrival," said 20-year-old Vishal Batra as he jumped with joy the minute he saw Gambhir.— IANS

Ghaziabad, April 4
Two days after India's World Cup victory, visitors haven't stopped pouring into the house of all-rounder Suresh Raina, while his family is still overjoyed but stress it was a team effort that led to India lifting the trophy for the second time after 28 years.

"It was the country's victory, not for the family or the city," said Raina's mother Pravesh.

Saying all the players were like her own children, she said: "I am delighted with the wonderful experience of the victory of Team India."

His father, T.C. Raina expressed similar sentiments. "The victory is for the nation not for the individual," he said.

Raina's father said he was glued to the TV throughout the match.

As the winning runs were scored, Raina's mother distributed laddoos to everyone, while his father began dancing to the beat of dhols and soon the entire family joined in.

Although Raina did not bat against Sri Lanka in the final in Mumbai on Saturday that India won by six wickets, his fielding was excellent and saved a number of runs that contributed to the team's victory.

"It's a proud feeling that India has won the World Cup. It's a very proud moment for us. We are feeling so happy that we don't have words to express our joy in these moments," said Raina's father.

Asked how he viewed Raina's key role in the tournament, his brother Dinesh said: "It is everybody's contribution. It's a collective effort. Suresh is simply a part of the team. It is important that the team wins."

"When Suresh contributes, we feel proud. But it's a different feeling in a mega series like the Wold Cup. The winning of the team, above all, makes us proud," Dinesh said.

Soon after midnight Saturday, all roads leading to Raina's house in Sector 11 Rajnagar were jammed with people coming to congratulate them.

"We were spellbound with the zest and zeal the people showed in front of our house. It was a nice feeling," Dinesh said.

On Sunday, people continued pouring in to the house.

Local MP and former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Rajnath Singh Monday visited Raina's parents and congratulated them. Singh said the country feels proud of the team's performance in the World Cup final. — IANS

New Delhi, April 4
The Delhi High Court's joint registrar today asked Hyderabad-based Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (CDFD) to explain the procedure for conducting DNA test on veteran Congress leader N.D. Tiwari in connection with a paternity suit.

Joint Registrar Deepak Garg has sought a response from the CDFD by April 20.

"The response of the laboratory was required as to how it will go for the test and how much time it will take in ascertaining the outcome," said the registrar.

On March 14, Justice Gita Mittal ordered: "The CDFD will conduct the DNA test on Tiwari."

The joint registrar would record evidence for enabling Justice Mittal to decide the suit filed by Rohit Shekhar, 31, who claims to be Tiwari's biological son.

Shekhar claimed he was born out of the leader's alleged relationship with his mother Ujjwala Sharma.

Tiwari, 85, who held the posts of Chief Minister of undivided Uttar Pradesh and later Uttarakhand, opposed the paternity suit.

A single judge bench of the high court on December 23, 2010, asked Tiwari to undergo a DNA test.

The apex court denied relief to Tiwari and also asked him to undergo the test.

The former Andhra Pradesh Governor said he never had any physical relationship with Ujjwala, who is a Congress activist. Shekhar, he said, was not entitled to seek a DNA test as a matter of right. - IANS

New Delhi, April 4
The Delhi cabinet today gave its nod to a proposal on imposing a blanket ban on manufacture, sale, storage and usage of plastic bags and a proposal for amendment in the agreement in respect of the project on Rajiv Gandhi superspeciality hospital at Tahirpur.

The cabinet also decided to seek suggestions from all the departments concerned on the policy on removal and regularization of unauthorised structures.

While briefing the media after the cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit stated that Delhi is all set to become a plastic-free state.

The MCD, NDMC, and Delhi police are being instructed to strictly enforce the ban.

The Chief Minister stated that the cabinet discussed in length on formulation of a policy on removal, relocation and regularization of unauthorized structure on the direction of the Supreme Court.

The court issued directions to all the states to file the status of their earlier direction that no unauthorized construction will be carried out or be permitted in the name of temple, church, mosque or gurudwara etc. in public streets, parks and other public places.

Dikshit further stated that the cabinet has approved a proposal for amendment in the concession agreement, part of RFP document, in response to bidders' suggestions to ensure sufficient compensation and competitive bidding in respect of the project on the Rajiv Gandhi superspecialty hospital at Tahirpur under public private partnership (PPP) model.

The government has built a 650-bedded hospital at Tahirpur in northeast Delhi.

New Delhi, April 4
The advertisement department, which is the major revenue earning sector of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), has become the record earnings sector with Rs 70.55 crore during the financial year ending on March 31, which is 65 per cent more than the previous fiscal year.

According to the MCD officials, the aggregate revenue in the advertisement sector has gone up from Rs 42.77 crore that was collected during the financial year 2009-10, to Rs 70.55 crore in 2010-11.

The increase in the revenue is thus, Rs 27.78 crore that is 65 per cent.

"It is maximum earnings of the sector in the past 10 years. This has been possible due to various reformatory measures introduced in the sector," said a senior MCD official.

The officials said it was due to the maximum commercial realisation against the displays at the MCD allotted sites that made to it achieve the target.

"The MCD has been able to release Rs 470 per square feet per month of the display area, whereas DMRC released Rs 318 for the same and the Railways Rs 81. This shows that the MCD is getting maximum revenue per square feet, as compared to any other authority in the city," he said.

"The corporation also minimised the unauthorised displays of advertisements in its jurisdiction by sending notices to the advertising agencies, the company whose advertisement is noticed and the owner of the property at which such unauthorised display is put up," said the officer.

Approximately 4,000 notices were issued for damage charges to the companies, advertising agencies and the owners of the lands, buildings for display of unauthorised advertisements.

Also, the corporation issued no new non-objection certificate (NOC) for new sites and are being issued without clearance of past dues and strict action was initiated against defaulters and illegal displays.

New Delhi, April 4
Jamia Millia Islamia university is starting this session by offering an array of new courses which include M.Phil. in Latin, M.Phil. in American studies, European studies, M.Tech. programme in earthquake engineering, M.Arch. in urban regeneration and MA in early childhood development.

Jamia has also reintroduced the BA programme. The programme was cancelled last year. The course structure is modelled on the Tripos programme which is followed in Oxford and Cambridge universities. The programme has been redesigned by a panel of experts who have remodelled it. The number of seats for the course has also been reduced, from 190 students to 50 students. Also, the students who wish to apply for the programme will have to choose three subjects out of geography, economics, history, political science and public administration and one subject from the professional courses.

Jamia spokesperson Simi Malhotra said, "This year a number of new courses have been introduced at Jamia. The course structure has been designed by a panel of in-house experts. A number of M.Phil. courses have been introduced. The BA programme has been reintroduced after being redesigned. Besides, the number of seats available in the BA programme has been reduced to 50."

Jamia has also substantially cut down on the number of entrance exams to be held in the varsity. It has further streamlined the admission process. Now, a mere eight entrance exams will be held as compared to the previous 50 entrance tests.

The spokesperson said, "The varsity took a decision sometime back that students would now be required to sit for one common entrance test in each discipline and there would not be individual tests for each subject. This makes the admission process easier for both the students and the varsity. For instance, there will be only one entrance test for subjects such as BA (Hons) sociology, political science, social work and BA programme. This change takes effect from the 2011-12 admission session."

New Delhi, April 4
A Delhi court today extended the CBI custody of Kusegaon executive Rajiv Agarwal by two days, in connection with his alleged role in the 2G scam.

"Agarwal is accused of playing a pivotal role in the flow of money to Kalaignar TV in which Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi's wife Dayaluammal has 60 per cent stake.... Moreover, he needs to be confronted with the directors of Cineyug Films Pvt Ltd, through which Rs 200 crores were allegedly transferred to Kalaignar TV Pvt Ltd," said

the CBI counsel, seeking the custody for two more days.

Agarwal, associated with the partnership firm of DB Realty promoted by Shahid Usman Balwa, was produced before the court of O P Saini after his three days' CBI custody ended today.

The court allowed the CBI's plea, saying, "Considering the facts of the case and the need of confrontation of the accused with other suspects and documents and his further custodial interrogation, the accused is remanded in further police custody till April 6."

The CBI counsel added that his custody is important as they have to unearth the alleged flow of Rs 200 crore to Kalaignar TV Pvt Ltd.

The agency had earlier said that Cineyug Films Pvt Ltd received a sum of Rs 200 crore from Kusegaon between December 23, 2008 and August 7, 2009.

"An amount of Rs 200 crore had been transferred between December 2008 to August 2009 and we have the records with us which show that the accused entered into an agreement later on to justify the transaction," the CBI said.

The DMK chief's daughter and Rajya Sabha MP M Kanimozhi and Sharad Kumar, the managing director, have 20 per cent share each in the channel.

Meanwhile, the counsel for Agarwal, Vijay Agrawal opposed the agency's plea, saying that his client had already been in CBI custody for the last six days and there is nothing to be disclosed now.

"Agarwal is being unfairly targeted as other accused in the case, like Unitech Pvt Ltd MD Sanjay Chandra and officials of the Reliance Telecom Company, have not been arrested till date," the defence counsel said.

Agarwal was arrested on March 29, along with Asif Balwa, cousin of Swan Telecom Promoter Shahid Usman Balwa, after the CBI conducted searches on the premises of Dynamic Realty, Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables Pvt Ltd and Cineyug films Pvt Ltd in Mumbai.

Agarwal and Asif were directors of Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables Pvt Ltd. Asif was also director of DB Realty Pvt Ltd, a partner of Dynamic Realty, and is in judicial custody at present.

New Delhi, April 4
Six persons, including an immigration officer and an airline official, were arrested for allegedly facilitating travel of passengers on forged documents.

According to the airport police, immigration officer Chaman Azhar and an airline commercial staffer Manoj Satpal, along with four passengers, were arrested on April 1 after the fraud was detected.

"The fraud came to light when one of the airline staffer at the boarding gate found the passport and visa of a woman passenger Anisha Rahimbhai Mardeja as fake. She was arrested upon which she told that her real name was Nazma Maredia and she was helped by Satpal," said a police official.

When Satpal was questioned, he revealed the name of Chaman Azhar.

During investigation, it emerged that Satpal used to contact passengers near gate No 7, collect their passports and then hand them over to Azhar, who would endorse the passports with fake immigration stamps.

These were then given back to Satpal to return the passports to the passengers allegedly for Rs 50, 000 per head.

Three other passengers had taken advantage of this and they too had been arrested.

New Delhi, April 4
A special cell of the Delhi police has arrested a 32-year-old man of Manipur with 200 kg of controlled substances ephedrine with estimated market value of Rs 2 crore.

According to the police, Nepolean Tockchom was arrested on March 31 while he was going to Delhi airport to book the same for Manipur.

Ephedrine is a key precursor for manufacturing amphetamine stimulants such as the ecstasy drug.

According to Arun Kampani, DCP (special cell), Thockchom and his cousin Robindro, who is suspected to be a front man of banned terrorist organisation KCP (MC) Lalihba group, is still at large.

"We received information that Thockchom and Robindro had come to Delhi from Manipur to collect a consignment of ephedrine. A trap was laid following which Thockchom was arrested while he was proceeding towards Delhi Airport to book the consignment to be sent to Manipur by air," Kampani said.

According to the official, the police had earlier received an input that ephedrine in a large quantity is being illegally supplied from Delhi to Mayanmar and China via Manipur.

"The proceeds of these illegal sales were being sent to various banned militant

Organisations of Manipur for conducting their nefarious activities," Kampani added.

During interrogation, Thockchom said he came to Delhi on March 23, along with Robindro, and were staying in a hotel in Gurgaon. "They used to procure these banned/controlled drugs from Delhi and had already sent consignments on two occasions," Kampani said.

Ephedrine has high demand in China for manufacturing of narcotics.