Briefly Nation

The Delhi High Court issued notices to the Prime Ministers Office and the Railway Ministry on a plea challenging the appointment of Vivek Sahai as Chairman of the Railway Board.

Rly board chiefs selection challenged

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court issued notices to the Prime Ministers Office PMO and the Railway Ministry on a plea challenging the appointment of Vivek Sahai as Chairman of the Railway Board. The court has sought their responses by August 10. The notices were issued on a PIL filed by Suresh Tripathi,editor of Paripurn Railway Samachar,alleging that Sahais appointment was illegal and he be removed. The petition also seeks that Sahai,who retires on June 30,not be granted any extension in service by the government.

Fresh summons to Nirmal Yadav

CHANDIGARH: Special CBI Judge,Ritu Tagore issued fresh summons to Justice Nirmal Yadav Retd,accused in the infamous judge bribery case,on Wednesday,after the court was apprised that the summons issued earlier had not been served,despite repeated attempts. The case will now come up for hearing on July 9. All co-accused in the case were provided with copies of the fresh chargesheet filed by the CBI.

Obama writes letter to Modi

AHMEDABAD: After the Gujarat chief minister sent his book on climate change,Convenient Action 8211; Gujarat Initiatives,to US president Barack Obama,he has received a letter of acknowledgement. In a signed letter,Obama thanked Modi and wrote that he was,hopeful about what our countries can accomplish together. Modi is the lone Indian minister to be denied a US visa.

Custody of Kalmadi,officials extended

NEW DELHI: A Delhi court extended the judicial custody of sacked CWG Organising Committee chief Suresh Kalmadi,Joint Director General Sport A S V Prasad and Deputy Director General Procurement Surjit Lal till June 1. The court also extended the judicial custody of the OCs former Secretary General Lalit Bhanot and former Director General V K Verma,till May 24 ,considering that the 90-day period to file a chargesheet will expire on the same day.

Ponnuchami in judicial custody

JAIPUR: A CBI court in Jaipur on Wednesday sent IPS officer and inspector general of the State Crime Records Bureau SCRB,A Ponnuchami,to judicial custody till May 26,even as his advocate alleged that the CBI had violated custody rules. He was arrested in connection with the Dara Singh fake encounter case,while another IPS officer and additional director general of police ADG A K Jain and additional Superintendent Arshad Ali are presently absconding.

HC judge honoured by PETA

AHMEDABAD: A Gujarat High Court HC judge 8211; M R Shah 8211; has been conferred with the Compassionate Action Award by animal rights organisation,People for Ethical Treatment of Animals PETA for ordering the release of 494 illegally caged birds,and holding that birds too,have the fundamental right to live freely in the open sky. PETA Indias Poorva Joshipura said that Shah has made a powerful statement that violations of laws aimed at protecting animals must be strongly enforced.

4 die in mishap at Vizag dockyard

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HYDERABAD: Two Indian Navy officers and two sailors died in a mishap at the Vizag Naval Dockyard of the Eastern Naval Command. The accident occurred when the floodgate at the ship repair unit of the dockyard collapsed. A commander,a lieutenant commander and a senior sailor died on the spot,while another sailor succumbed at the INS Kalyani hospital. The Navy has ordered a Board of Inquiry to ascertain the circumstances leading to the accident. Officials said that 18 others were also injured.