AIR-INDIA (A-I) is in a piquant situation with respect to promotions of senior executives as deputy managing directors. According to A-I sources, the situation has arisen as the annual performance appraisal (otherwise known as confidential reports) have not been filled in since 1991-92 of all directors reporting to the chief executive.

Under the guidelines of the Bureau of the Public Enterprises the appraisals are done within 45 days of completion of the financial year or before the chief executive demits office. Since 1991-92 to 96-97, three former chief executives -- Chairman and Managing Director Y C Deveshwar and later managing directors, Capt D S Mathur and Brijesh Kumar -- have not filled in the appraisal reports of senior executives who are now eligible to be interviewed for the two vacant posts of deputy MDs.

Youth crushed between buses

A 22-year-old youth was crushed to death between two BEST buses in a mishap near Kurla Depot thismorning.

According to the police, the accident took place when Amirullah Ansari was trying to cross the road between a parked bus (MH01 H 8586) and another bus (MRL 6393). Suddenly the driver of the second bus reversed the vehicle killing Ansari on the spot. The Kurla police arrested the driver Santosh Takle.

Activist's widow demands probe

Widow of a slain student leader from Kashimira in Thane district has demanded the arrest of a police officer for engineering the murder through the underworld gangs. In a complaint to Chief Minister Manohar Joshi Tabassum demanded a probe into the police underworld-nexus which led to the murder of her husband Asmat Patel on February 2 , 1998.