Fill up reserved posts, Gujarat told
In a significant judgment, Justice Kundan Singh of Gujarat High Court has directed the State Government to fill up all backlog vacancies for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe by a special recruitment, and effect pending promotions on roster system within six months.

Bengal House seeks fresh probe into Netaji mystery
The West Bengal Assembly yesterday demanded that the Centre should institute a fresh inquiry commission to remove the mystery regarding the whereabouts of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.

BMC to identify families below poverty line
To help more people take advantage of its employment scheme, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is conducting a survey in the 23 wards to identify families living below the poverty line.

  Quicktakes
  In Bihar, people go to Kabuliwallahs for loans
  Sharif introduces Bill to curtail President's power
  We don't have enough money, HRD tells PM
  Clashes spoil Christmas spirit in Gujarat
  If the fog doesn't get you, the ATCs surely will
  Ultras' fear keeps tourists away from J&K
  Minister sends experts to check Wanakbori weir
  Bird-watchers' meet
  Teachers' strike likely to hit HSC exams
  New schemes named after PM
  MSU polling called off due to student unrest
  Boat accident in Calcutta kills 17
  Tribals dare forest officials; fell trees on reserve land
  Monsanto-IISc deal shrouded in mystery
  Animals land Pune labs in a Catch-22 situation
  "What have we to do with 21st century?"
  Clouds loom over "fortune industry"
  Duma backs '99 budget, indicates support for PM
  Kosovo separatists call off cease-fire
  Rebels threaten Sierra Leone capital, foreigners evacuated
  A meteor striking Clinton is more likely than resignation
  China to put labour rights activist on trial
  At A Glance
  Bizarre world of Washington reality
  A fragile Beijing Spring
  People
  Strictures against IGP (rly) expunged
  Mumbai Notes
  Dept enquiry not unfair labour practice
  Thane woman's pooja for road widening project
  Show for a cause has desired effect
  4 injured in stove burst
  Crime and Punishment
  Delhi skies clear, flight schedules limp back to normalcy
  Lies, deception and the plunder of a tribe
  Mumbai police to introduce awards for its personnel
  As corporators ran amok, officials looked the other way
  Chandigarh Headlines
  December is the cruelest month as city records the coldest day
  Crane, ambulances for traffic police
  Overwhelming response to tax scheme
  Bank puts the blame on the customer
  HC notice to V-C on Ajaib's appointment
  Official suspects foul play
  Man crushed by tractor
  Traffic chaos as rehris eat into parking zones
  1998 gives no respite from thefts
  Petrol dealers' strike on Dec 28
  Crime Beat -- Chandigarh
  In Brief -- Chandigarh
  710 examined at two eye camps
  RJD to contest UT panchayat elections
  Talk on Asian economic model
  Tibetans hold peace march
  Takht chief urged to ignore Cong offer
  Pay hike sought
  Badal, Tohra will share Jor Mela stage, says Kanwaljit
  CM orders proper sewage disposal
  Regional Beat -- Chandigarh
  Hartron to start courses through IGNOU
  Capacity of Sirhind canal to be increased
  White Christmas eludes tourists for the third time
  Halwais, bakery owners plan strike
  123rd Harballabh Sammelan gets off to a colourful start
  Use of polybags to be punishable from Jan 1
  HC asks sub-inspector to `release' teenager
  Man dies in road accident
  Essma mill dispute settled
  Three Himachal Pradesh officers promoted
  Built in 1830s, Ludhiana's Christ Church faces trying times
  Coolest of clothes on coldest of days
  Finally, it's Tunak Tunak time
  City wakes up to a white Christmas... almost
  Focussing on photography
  Political groups hail Adiwal's election
  Another power house down, cold days ahead
  Fear of a psychopath murderer grips Saket
  Anti-extortion cell's 1st catch
  Couple leaves dead baby in hospital
  Sullage snuffs out 250 Smriti Van trees
  Police Files -- Delhi
  Why neighbours of the powerful are never powerless
  Lower courts not a rubber stamp for prosecution
  Mother to stage protest after boy beaten up
  Rly enquiry no. engaged because it's busy
  Govt report says Radisson didn't get nod for building
  Rs 16-lakh instrument ridden with cobwebs in Hindu Rao hospital
  Airlines take stock after eight days of fog nightmare in city
  For JNU, 1999 will usher in long-overdue new courses
  Haryana govt's help sought for greening Ridge
  MCD, DVB clerks arrested for graft
  New bus service for North Campus
  Gurgaon registers rising graph of unsolved crime cases
  Green watchdogs say auto pollution checks are flawed
  Party workers slog through PM's birthday
  CM's detractor goes support-hunting
  MLA promises relocation of Jamia encroachers for `their benefit'
  Pune Beat
  Santas and mass bring in Christmas cheer
  Pawar breathes fire at sugar barons
  Cong support for IRA Bill likely
  Khadki sweet home fire chars one
  No let up in dacoities
  Cops recover more arms from Chakan gun dealer
  ARDE on futuristic course, charts expansion
  In Brief -- Pune
  Frustrated over Govt apathy he builds memorial to himself
  VSNL to slash Net tariffs to beat ISPs
  Animals land city labs in a Catch 22 situation
  Patil Sakhar Sangh chief
  Cong divided over fly-overs
  Bank burglary bid fails, one arrested
  KCB awaits nod to widen killer stretch
  Pune varsity passes buck on BEd colleges
  Pune Note
  Patheja Forgings to reverberate again
  Officers mess at Lohegoan burgled
  Net surfing for students launched
  Kerala lottery ind. concerned over decision
  Madras Blood Directory to publish updated version
  Two drowned at Kovalam