Tuesday, April 29, 2003, Chandigarh, India
Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

A-I charge-sheets 12 pilots
Process under way to declare stir illegal
New Delhi, April 28
Even as the full-fledged contingency plan activated by Air-India is expected to stabilise the national carrier’s flight schedule in the next 24 hours, Air-India today reportedly chargesheeted 12 pilots, who were suspended two days ago, for their refusal to operate and `abandoning’ flights at various destinations. Reports here said that the charge sheets were being issued to the pilots, who were suspended on April 26.

In video: Defence Minister George Fernandes has said that the SARS hype is unnecessary. (28k, 56k)

No to negative marking
PCS candidates up in arms
Chandigarh, April 28
While the shoddy preparation of question papers with scores of printing errors led to considerable commotion among candidates who appeared in the Punjab Civil Services Examination, 1998, re-conducted by the Punjab Public Services Commission at Patiala yesterday, today was a day of utter dismay for most of the candidates with news spreading that there was to be no negative marking, unlike the 1998 pattern.

New Bt cotton varieties approved
Complete cotton sowing soon, advises PAU
Chandigarh, April 28
After the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee rejected the commercial release of the Mech-915 variety of Bt cotton for northern states, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research today approved seven alternative Bt cotton varieties for trial sowing in the Punjab-Haryana region this year.

‘USA considering Iraq gurdwara repair’
New Delhi, April 28
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh today said his proposal for carrying out kar seva for the repair and reconstruction of “damaged’’ gurdwara in Baghdad was being “actively looked’’ into by the US Embassy.

‘No gurdwara in Iraq’

ASI submits excavation progress report
Lucknow, April 28
The Archaeological Survey of India, carrying out excavation in Ayodhya to ascertain whether a mosque was built at the religious site atop a Hindu temple, today submitted its progress report to the high court, saying that it had not reached the natural soil and thus digging had to continue for more days.

TRIBUNE SPECIAL  Scam worth crores detected Improvement trust dealings Amritsar, April 28 The state government has detected an alleged scam in the payment of compensation worth crores in lieu of the acquisition of 340 acres land for the New Amritsar Scheme, pertaining to the improvement trust here.