News from India

Fake licences hit hiring at Delhi fire dept

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:25:30 GMT

A two-year wait to recruit much-needed drivers for its fire tenders turned into a nightmare exercise for the Delhi Fire Services (DFS) when a verification drive revealed that 200 of the 500 shortlisted candidates had submitted fake driving licences.

No tarmac drive for Maya: Govt

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:23:12 GMT

The aviation ministry has turned down a request from the BSP government in Uttar Pradesh to allow chief minister Mayawati to be driven right up to the tarmac at all civilian airports in the country.

HC scraps land given to Ghai’s film institute, raps Vilasrao

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:19:47 GMT

The Bombay high court on Thursday ordered filmmaker Subhash Ghai to return the 20 acres allotted to his film institute in Goregaon in 2000 and said then Maharashtra chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh “misused his official position” to allow the deal.

SIT verdict on CM no surprise, says ex-top cop

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:45:48 GMT

Former Gujarat police chief RB Sreekumar on Thursday termed as "subversion of the criminal justice system", the reported decision of the Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) not to proceed against chief minister Narendra Modi in a 2002 anti-Muslim riots case.

Jury's out, but 'clean chit' makes Modi camp smile

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:41:50 GMT

BJP feels SIT report will silence critics, clear Gujarat CM’s road to Delhi; others say it will be difficult to change perceptions, locally Modi will be a hero, communal image will stay outside. HT reports.

Two ministries at war over wildlife zones

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:59:46 GMT

There seems to be a turf war brewing between the environment ministry and misitry of tribal affairs over declaration of critical wildlife habitats in over 600 national parks and sanctuaries. Chetan Chauhan reports.

Age row: Govt set to clarify stand in SC

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:56:15 GMT

The face-off between the government and General VK Singh is likely to take a decisive turn on Friday when the defence ministry would clarify its stand before the Supreme Court on the age row. HT reports.

One for the girl child: MP priests add eighth phera

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:52:11 GMT

In a country where marriage vows mostly remain just that, there is a community in Bundelkhand that has introduced an eighth ‘phera’ to save the girl child. The extra solemn round of the sacred fire would signify a pledge to save the girl child. HT reports.

Grab porngate opportunity to oust BJP: Cong

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:46:10 GMT

“Take full use of the God-sent opportunity or perish” is the message a buoyed Congress has conveyed to its leaders in Karnataka in the wake of the ‘porngate’ scandal that has come as a major embarrassment for the ruling BJP in the state. Aurangzeb Naqshbandi reports.

Tutu praises Nitish Kumar for pro-girl child plans

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:43:27 GMT

Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar has found an admirer in Nobel Laureate and anti-apartheid icon Archbishop Desmond Tutu. HT reports.

Kashmir to start sale of sanitary napkins in rural areas

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:17:43 GMT

The Jammu and Kashmir government is mulling to rope in female teachers, panches and sarpanches to sell low-cost rupee one sanitary napkin in conservative Kashmir's rural areas with around five lakh stock pending unsold. Peerzada Ashiq reports.

Turkmenistan gas pipeline moves closer to reality

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:00:42 GMT

The Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) natural gas pipeline project has moved closer to realisation with petroleum ministry set to approach the cabinet for approval of Gas Sales and Purchase Agreement (GSPA) between GAIL and Tukmen Gaz for delivering hydrocarbon at Fazilka in Punjab.

Green tribunal puts on hold clearance to power project

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:14:52 GMT

The National Green Tribunal has put on hold the environment clearance granted to a power plant in Chhattisgarh on the ground that the Environment ministry failed to get public hearing of the affected persons done.

Two policemen killed in landmine blast in Chhattisgarh

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:49:27 GMT

At least two policemen were killed in a landmine blast allegedly carried out by Naxals in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh, police said today.

Andhra: Mother seeks euthanasia for engineer-son

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:46:13 GMT

Poverty coupled with helplessness has forced an elderly woman in Andhra Pradesh to file a petition in a court seeking euthanasia for her 36-year-old son, who became invalid after an accident 15 years ago.

Crackdown on tiger poachers, 11 held

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:46:00 GMT

A network of tiger poachers spanning across four states has been unearthed with the arrest of eleven members of three gangs in the last fortnight. Skin of eight leopard and tigers and five kilogram of bones have been seized from them. Chetan Chauhan reports.

Narendra Modi among BJP's PM candidates: Gadkari

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:32:34 GMT

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Nitin Gadkari on Thursday said Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi was one of the party's contenders for prime minister.

Mughal Gardens to open for public tomorrow

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:22:15 GMT

The historic Mughal Gardens, with its lush green stretch and colourful blossoms, will be thrown open to public from tomorrow for the month-long annual festival christened 'Rashtrapati Bhavan Udyanotsav'.

Medha Patkar for "one family, one elected rep" formula

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:48:52 GMT

Deprecating rise of political dynasties, activist Medha Patkar today suggested the "one family, one elected representative" cap in politics.

Essar, Loop move SC against trial by CBI court

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:57:40 GMT

The two telecom companies — Loop and Essar — facing cheating charges in the 2G scam moved the SC on Thursday, challenging special CBI judge OP Saini's jurisdiction to take cognizance of the third chargesheet filed against them. HT reports.

Porn scandal: Gowda slams Cong as it steps up attack on BJP

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 08:13:37 GMT

Facing the heat on porn scandal, Karnataka chief minister DV Sadanada Gowda today accused Congress of engaging in petty politics, even as the opposition stepped up its attack demanding the resignation of the BJP government over the issue.

MP can't be disqualified for mere breach of Constitution: SC

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:16:33 GMT

The Supreme Court has held that mere breach of Constitutional provisions does not invalidate an election and quashed Patna high court's judgement disqualifying JD(U) MP Mangani Lal Mandal, for "suppressing" details about his two wives, children and their assets.

Congress vows to unseat Sena-BJP, make Mumbai 'livable'

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:36:27 GMT

Vowing to end the "misrule" of Shiv Sena-BJP combine in the civic body, Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan today said the Congress-NCP coalition was committed to making Mumbai a "livable city".

DNA profiling centre for armed forces set up

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:23:16 GMT

A state-of-the-art DNA profiling centre was opened in Pune on Wednesday to help the armed forces in identifying mutilated or charred dead bodies during a war or mishap.

Singh writes to new Prez, assures support

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:20:21 GMT

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday reached out to new President of Maldives, Mohamed Waheed, expressing India's "continued support" to him.