Tuesday, May 30, 2006, Chandigarh, India
Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

SC notice to govt on quota
Hopes medicos will end agitation
New Delhi, May 29
The Supreme Court today took cognizance of two writ petitions challenging the UPA Government’s decision to introduce 27 per cent reservation for OBCs and sought reply from the Centre as to what formed the basis for fixing the quota.
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Musharraf, a four-year-old from Bareilly, has been lying in the waiting room of G.B. Pant Hospital, New Delhi, for the past 15 days. He has been denied admission because of the anti-quota strike. This photograph was taken on Monday. — PTI photo

Centre sets up panel as docs intensify stir
New Delhi, May 29
The government today announced the constitution of a 13-member Oversight Committee headed by former Karnataka Chief Minister M. Veerappa Moily.

Panel’s terms of reference
Nation page: Keep creamy layer out of quota: BJP
Chandigarh page: Doctors to observe city bandh today

India: The Tasks Ahead
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Curfew in Aligarh after violence
Lucknow, May 29
The murder of a shopkeeper near the Hathiwala bridge in Aligarh late last night has triggered a fresh wave of communal violence. A mob lynched two persons and injured at least 13. Indefinite curfew has been imposed on five police station areas.
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Exams postponed

India steps up diplomatic efforts on nuclear deal
New Delhi, May 29
India has enough reason to feel confident that the US Congress will pass the much-awaited legislation approving the Indo-US civilian nuclear cooperation deal by next month end.

SC stays order on Haryana liquor vends
Chandigarh, May 29
The Supreme Court today stayed the operation of the judgement of the Punjab and Haryana High Court which quashed the allotment of 993 liquor vends in Haryana. The matter came up before the Vacation Bench of the apex court, according to information received here.

SC asks Punjab for fresh PCS promotion list
New Delhi, May 29
In an important ruling pertaining to a dispute on promotion of Punjab officers, the Supreme Court has held that the seniority of Punjab Civil Service (PCS) officers must be determined on the basis of collective interpretation of Rule 18 and 21 of the 1976 Service Rule framed by the state and roster and quota system must be reflected on the seniority list.

Victim identifies 6 involved in Kashmir sex racket
Srinagar, May 29
Yasmeena, the teenager who was allegedly pushed into the sex racket in Jammu and Kashmir, has identified six of the 23 persons, including senior police officials, paraded before her by the CBI and four of them have been arrested, the High Court was informed today.

NBA supports Aamir, flays ban on ‘Fanaa’ New Delhi, May 29 The Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) has appreciated Bollywood star Aamir Khan’s “steadfast upholding of the cause of people displaced by Sardar Sarovar Dam” and termed the boycott of his film “Fanaa” in Gujarat as a “symptom of fanaticism”. “The boycott of 'Fanaa' declared by the BJP Yuva Morcha and hesitatingly supported by the Gujarat Congress is nothing but a symbol of fanaticism.