In Brief 8212; Pune

HC rejects poll petition against GadakhAhmednagar: The Aurangabad bench of Bombay High Court has rejected a petition which had challenged...

HC rejects poll petition against Gadakh
Ahmednagar: The Aurangabad bench of Bombay High Court has rejected a petition which had challenged the election of Yeshwantrao Gadakh to the State legislative council in 1997.

The election petition was filed by Dr Bharat Dokhane, a defeated candidate.Gadakh8217;s election to the Lok Sabha was declared null and void in response to a petition filed by Balasaheb Vikhe-Patil. Subsequently, Gadakh was forbidden from contesting the elections and his name was also deleted from the voters8217; list, for a period of four years, ending on November 18, 1997.

After the end of this period, Gadakh had sought inclusion of his name in the voters8217; list and when his reject was not conceded, he had filed a writ petition before the high court. The high court had then directed the district election authorities to include his name in the voters8217; list and subsequently Gadakh had contested and won the election to the state legislative council from the local self-government bodies constituency.

2 NDA officers get gallantry awards
Pune: Two officers presently posted at the National Defence Academy NDA were awarded gallantry awards on Independence Day.

While Grp Capt A R Oak was conferred the Yudh Seva Medal YSM for his contribution to Operation Vijay in Kargil, Capt Gaurav Sharma was awarded the Shaurya Chakra SC for gallantry in counter-insurgency operations in Kashmir.

Gp Capt Oak is a fighter pilot with 24 years of experience and also served as a test pilot and pilot attack instructor. An alumni of the NDA, he was in charge of all air operations during the Kargil operations. He is presently posted at the Academy as director, training.

Capt Sharma was warded the SC for leading a successful ambush in the Kupwara sector in Kashmir on July 29, 1997 which led to the killing of eight militants and the recovery of a large cache of arms and ammunition. An alumni of NDA, he is serving as divisional officer at his alma mater.

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Agni award for Brig Prabhu
Pune: Brig V D Prabhu of Armament Research and Development Establishment ARDE, Pune was honoured by Prime Minister Vajpayee with Agni award for excellence in self reliance8217; at New Delhi.

Brig Prabhu is leading a team of scientists at ARDE who have indegenously productionised the Arjun gun ammunition system for the main battle tank Arjun.