Friday, November 1, 2002, Chandigarh, India
Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

Keep off admissions to MEIs, SC tells govt
New Delhi, October 31
In a landmark judgement, the Supreme Court today ruled that the minorities had an unfettered right to establish an educational institution of their choice, but the right to administer these was not absolute as the state could apply regulatory measures for educational excellence even when these were unaided.

Twelve BJP rebels withdraw support to Mayawati govt
Lucknow, October 31
The Mayawati government in Uttar Pradesh was tonight pushed to the brink with 12 dissident of BJP MLAs withdrawing support and demanding a special session of the state Assembly for a trial of strength.

Vij is new Army chief
New Delhi, October 31
The government today announced Lt-Gen Nirmal Chander Vij would succeed Gen S. Padmanabhan as the Chief of the Army Staff. Lt-Gen Vij, who is Vice-Chief of the Army Staff, will take over from Gen S. Padmanabhan when he demits office on December 31.

Mrs Rita Vij offers a ‘laddoo’ to her husband, General N.C. Vij, after he was appointed the next Chief of the Army Staff on Thursday. — Tribune photo Mukesh Aggarwal

SAD expels two members
Akalis to launch morcha from Nov 15
Chandigarh, October 31
In an important decision at the SAD’s political affairs committee today, Mr Mall Singh Ghuman and Mr Partap Singh were expelled for their “anti-party’’ activities.

2,000-cr stamp paper racket unearthed
New Delhi, October 31
A nationwide forged judicial stamp paper racket involving thousands of crores and spanning 17 states, including Punjab and Haryana, has been unearthed. The racket had been thriving for the past 10 years.

Farmers charged for power never used
Indo-Pak Border (Amritsar), October 31
The misery of border farmers can be adjudged from the fact that they are receiving electricity bills for their tubewells and agricultural land which remained inaccessible to them for the past 10 months due to laying of mines by the Army.

Bhagel Singh of Rajatal village, the most mined area, shows the electricity bills received for tubewells situated in areas inaccessible due to the mines. — Photo Rajiv Sharma

No-trust move defeated in Haryana Assembly
Chandigarh, October 31
A motion moved by the entire Opposition in the Haryana Assembly today expressing want of confidence in the state government was defeated by voice vote even as Opposition legislators walked out of the House even before voting.

    No benefits for Haryana judges
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