Thursday, August 29, 2002, Chandigarh, India
 Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

SC stays decision on petrol stations
New Delhi, August 28
The Supreme Court today stayed the Centre’s decision to cancel allotments of petrol stations, LPG and kerosene agencies. A three-Judge Bench comprising Chief Justice B. N. Kirpal, Mr Justice K. G. Balakrishnan and Mr Justice Arijit Pasayat made the cancellation orders ineffective by directing “status quo” as of August 9.

TRIBUNE SPECIAL
CJ’s report ‘indicts’ three HC judges
New Delhi, August 28
A day before he restored work to three High Court Judges said to be involved in the Punjab Public Service Commission scam, Mr Justice Arun B. Saharya, Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, handed over his final inquiry report into the matter to the Chief Justice of India here on August 26.

Bar reacts strongly
Restoration of work to three Judges
Chandigarh, August 28
In just over 24 hours after work was restored to three High Court Judges, the Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association today unanimously resolved to boycott the court of the High Court Chief Justice for restoring work, as also the visit of the Chief Justice of India to the city on Thursday and to Hoshiarpur the next day.

In video (28k, 56k) Bollywood actor Sunil Dutt joins other participants of a peace rally in prayer at the main entrance of Hazratbal shrine, on the outskirts of Srinagar, on Wednesday. — Reuters

Dalmiya puts ball in ICC court
Kolkata, August 28
The Board of Control for Cricket in India today said only the International Cricket Council had the authority to take a final decision on any proposal from cricketers to break the impasse over the controversial sponsorship contract.

  In video: Former Indian cricket team manager Ajit Wadekar agrees that the Cricket Board should solve the dispute for players. (28k, 56k)

Rice mill gets Rs 1.5 cr ‘refund’ illegally
It is tip of iceberg in Mandi Board scam
Chandigarh, August 28
The Punjab Mandi Board is scrutinising an inhouse report, wherein, it has been revealed that more than Rs 1.5 crore has been refunded by way of market and rural development fees to a rice mill, which was not entitled to such repayment, as it had not paid either of the two fees.

Punjab Cong holds dharnas Says NDA govt scam-tainted Ropar, August 28 The district unit of the Congress today staged a dharna in the district administrative complex here against the NDA government’s “anti-people” policies, especially favouritism in the allotment of petrol stations and gas agencies. Ms Preneet Kaur, MP, during a Congress protest march outside the Patiala railway station on Wednesday. — Photo Subhash Patialvi