Mamata Banerjee has reintroduced an administrative structure to bring land and land reforms officials under the district administration’s “direct supervision” in a move aimed at injecting accountability and reining in staff close to the Left that had scrapped the system. The Jyoti Basu government had abolished the British-era structure in 1989, bringing in decentralisation but allowing Alimuddin Street to pack the department with chosen officials who would bypass the district administration...

-IANS   Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Thursday called an emergency cabinet meeting over the leaked contents of a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report allegedly blaming her for irregularities in Commonwealth Games related contracts. "The Chief Minister is holding an emergency meeting at the Delhi secretariat to discuss the further course of action," said a Delhi government official. The opposition has been demanding Dikshit's resignation over the issue. The CAG report leaked Tuesday...

-IANS   The opposition Thursday demanded tabling in parliament of the CAG report on irregularities in the Commonwealth Games. It also asked for Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit's resignation for alleged irregularities in some contracts. As soon as the Rajya Sabha met at 11 a.m., members from all opposition parties were on their feet, demanding that the government table the report soon. 'The CAG (Comptroller and Auditor General) report on the Commonwealth Games should...

Thousands of people here today attended the last rites of the farmer who was allegedly killed in the police lathi charge at Kot Dunna village last evening. The farmers were protesting against the acquisition of their land for a thermal plant at Gobindpura in Mansa. The district administration has agreed to give Rs 5 lakh as compensation to the family of the deceased farmer, besides recommending a job for one member...

-IANS   Karnataka's new Lokayukata (ombudsman) Justice Shivaraj V. Patil Wednesday said he would study the investigation report into the multi-crore mining scam before admitting the petition of former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa challenging its recommendation to prosecute him for alleged graft. 'As I assumed office only today (Wednesday), I need some time to study the voluminous report and its recommendations to act on Yeddyurappa's petition,' Patil told reporters after he was administered...