Monday, April 10, 2006, Chandigarh, India
Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

SBI strike called off
New Delhi, April 9
The week-long strike by State Bank of India employees was called off tonight following a settlement, which gives higher pension to 2.10 lakh staff of the country’s largest commercial bank.

Ludhiana page:
SBI strike adds to riot victims’ woes
PNB staff offers conditional support

Arjun denies EC charge
New Delhi, April 9
Union Human Resources Minister Arjun Singh today denied the Election Commission’s charge that he has prima facie violated the model of conduct for elections by announcing plans for reservation in elite educational institutions and said the Centre has not decided on the percentage of reservation.

Nation page:
Quota row kicks up storm in Cong
IIM directors may discuss reservation issue today
UPA appeasing minorities: Advani
Editorial: Arjun’s quotas
Delhi page: Students cry foul over enhanced quota
Chandigarh page:
OBCs’ reservation: educationists resent govt decision

TRIBUNE EXCLUSIVE
Snooping order to bare your SMS, e-mails
New Delhi, April 9
Big brother has just got bigger. The Department of Telecom (DOT) last week issued an order to all private cellular service providers that they will have to provide ‘‘monitoring’’ on all value-added services. In other words, not content with the right to tap cell phones, the government now wants snooping rights over short message service (SMS) and GPRS-enabled e-mail currently provided through Blackberry and other assorted instruments.

Police personnel arrest a cricket fan who was involved in stone-throwing after the fifth one-day cricket match between India and England was called off due to bad weather in Guwahati on Sunday. — Reuters photo (Details on Sports page)

Private players buy bulk of wheat

Khanna, April 9 Private players seem to have taken over wheat purchase from government agencies here. Private flour mill owners strike a deal while inspecting the wheat brought by farmers to the Khanna grain market on Sunday.

India: The Tasks Ahead
   SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT


125TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS,
INAUGURAL SESSION

	PUNJAB: 3 journalists booked on kidnapping charge
	HARYANA: 2 Haryana officers in race for Cabinet Secretary’s post
	HIMACHAL: Snowfall, rain hit life in Kinnaur
	J&K: Byelections: papers of two rejected
	CHANDIGARH: 5,000 take IIT exam in city
	LUDHIANA: Bhattian murder case: police suspects several persons
	DELHI: Khurana, Uma declare joint fight against BJP
	OPINIONS: Arjun’s quotas
	BUSINESS: Nahar Group plans to list Oswal Woollens
	NATION: Maoists blow up rail tracks in Bihar
	WORLD: Pervez to continue for another 5 years
	SPORTS: Match-less mob plays with fire

D.K. Jain to be sworn in as SC Judge today
Chandigarh, April 9
The Punjab and Haryana High Court Chief Justice, Mr Justice D.K. Jain will be administered the oath as Judge of the Supreme Court tomorrow morning. According to sources, Mr Justice Jain would be administered the oath by Chief Justice of India Mr Justice Y.K. Sabharwal. 

PCS (Judicial) exam from April 25
Chandigarh, April 9
The Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) has decided to hold the examination for filling 63 vacant posts of Punjab Civil Service (Judicial) from April 25 to 29. According to sources, a decision to this effect was taken recently by the PPSC following a go-ahead by the Punjab Cabinet.

Germany rejects asylum plea of five Indians New Delhi, April 9 Germany has rejected the asylum petition of five Indians who were smuggled into Germany as part of a dance troupe, official sources here said today. The five included Randeep Singh, Gurmeet Kaur, Amanpreet Singh and Satnam Singh who had sought political asylum in Germany on the pretext of being “Sikh” who were subjected to gross human rights violations.