Cong, Left walkout over women’s Bill
NEW DELHI, Dec 20 — The contentious Women’s Reservation Bill and its non-introduction so far, led to a walkout in the Lok Sabha today with the Congress and Left parties pressing for its passage in the current session while the Samajwadi Party and the Rashtriya Janata Dal opposed it.

A member of the CBI team with the final set of Swiss bank documents related to the Rs 64 crore Bofors payoff case at the Tis Hazari court complex in New Delhi on Monday. — PTI

CBI files Bofors papers NEW DELHI, Dec 20 — The final set of the Swiss Bank papers along with other documents relating to Rs 64-crore Bofors gun deal payoff case were placed by the CBI before a Delhi court today and the agency sought permission to retain them for further investigation. Plea against appointment rejected CHANDIGARH, Dec 20 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court today dismissed a writ petition preferred by Dr R.J. Dash, PGI Professor, contesting the appointment of Dr N.K. Ganguly, Director-General, ICMR, as acting Director of the PGI.

PUNJAB: SHSAD says no to alternative site HARYANA: Dhand to be made sub-tehsil CHANDIGARH: Servicemen take recourse to courts JAMMU & KASHMIR: Strike hits work in offices HIMACHAL PRADESH: Noisy scenes in Himachal Assembly EDUCATION TRIBUNE: Quantum jump in literacy rate

Pro-Kremlin Party surges ahead MOSCOW, Dec 20 —In their best ever electoral performance in the post-Soveit era, the pro-Kremlin Unity Party was today breathing down the neck of the Communist Party, pushing up Russian Premier Vladimir Putin’s presidential aspirations. Earlier story: Unity bloc leads in Duma poll

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin congratulates Unity Party leader Sergei Shoigu (right) in Moscow on Sunday. — AP/PTI

Venezuela flood toll 25,000
CARACAS, Dec 20 — Between 15,000 and 25,000 persons are feared dead following torrential rain that devastated Caracas and surrounding areas, Civil Defence Agency chief Angel Rangel said today.

MDU proceedings annulled
ROHTAK, Dec 20 — The Haryana Governor and Chancellor of Maharshi Dayanand University, Mr Mahabir Prasad, today annulled the proceedings of the 141st meeting of the university’s Executive Council on the grounds that these were not in conformity with the provisions of the MDU Act and Statutes.

HC curbs on ‘people’s panel’ CHANDIGARH, Dec 20 — On a number of writ petitions against the so-called “People’s Commission”, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today restrained the commission from making investigations into the cases which have already been decided or were pending. Towards common medical syllabus CHANDIGARH, Dec 20 — Baba Farid University for Health Sciences has resolved to bring about a uniformity in the syllabi of the medical, dental, Ayurvedic and other health education institutions in Punjab.

IN PASSING Not to worry, Netaji. The Bofors documents are as complex as my jalebis. by Sandeep Joshi

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